Chapter 10 - Inside the WombThe doctor ordered emergency imaging.
The capsule was small.
Too small to be accidental.
I demanded an explanation.
Nobody had one.
The surgeon said it might have been introduced during a previous medical procedure.
Evelyn shook her head.
“I've never had surgery.”
The doctor looked at her chart.
“Then someone put it there.”
My stomach dropped.
“Can you remove it?”
“Not without significant risk.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“I don't care.”
“You should.”
The doctor explained the danger.
Removing it could trigger premature labor.
Leaving it inside could expose the baby to an unknown chemical or electronic component.
I looked at Claire.
“A tracker?”
She nodded.
“Possibly.”
My mother stood near the doorway.
She looked horrified.
“I didn't know.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You always seem not to know.”
Then the door opened.
Detective Reeves entered.
“I need everyone outside.”
My mother looked relieved.
Reeves handed me a folder.
“We found the person who accessed the house cameras.”
“Who?”
He turned toward my mother.
She froze.
“Her name is Linda Mercer.”
“Victor Mercer’s wife?”
Reeves nodded.
“She disappeared eleven months ago.”
Claire whispered:
“She's alive?”
“Apparently.”
I opened the folder.
There was a photograph.
Linda Mercer.
Behind her stood Noah.
Alive.
Older.
And wearing the same blue sweater.
There was another photograph.
Linda standing outside our hospital.
Taken that morning.
“She’s here?”
“Yes.”
My heart started pounding.
“Where?”
Reeves showed me a map.
A hotel across the street.
I ran.
Claire followed.
My mother stayed behind.
We entered the hotel.
Second floor.
Room 214.
The door was open.
Inside was empty.
A laptop remained on the bed.
And a video was playing.
Linda appeared on the screen.
“Julian.”
I stepped closer.
“If you're watching this, your mother failed.”
My blood went cold.
“Your father discovered what they were doing.”
She continued.
“He hid Noah.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Your father didn't die before he could save your son.”
The video paused.
Then resumed.
“He faked Noah's death.”
My mind shattered.
“Why?”
“To protect him.”
Linda leaned closer to the camera.
“But your mother found out.”
The video ended.
A second file opened automatically.
It showed my father.
Alive.
Sitting in a room.
Talking to someone off camera.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
The date was twelve years ago.
Then he said something that made my knees weak.
“If they ever come for my son, I want them to believe the boy is mine.”
The video cut.
Another file started.
Three years ago.
My father appeared again.
But he shouldn't have been alive.
He looked older.
Exhausted.
And he was holding Noah.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Julian, if you're seeing this…”
He paused.
“…then I failed.”
The screen went black.
May you like
A final message appeared.
YOUR FATHER IS STILL ALIVE.
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