Chapter 8 - The Man at the HospitalI ran.
Daniel followed despite his doctor's orders.
We reached the pediatric floor and found two nurses outside my daughters' room.
One was crying.
The other was shaking.
"Where are my children?"
"They're safe."
"What happened?"
"A man entered."
"Who?"
"We don't know."
"Where is he?"
"He left through the service corridor."
I shoved past them.
Ava was awake.
Lily was asleep.
A security officer stood by the door.
Ava grabbed my hand.
"Mommy."
"I'm here."
"That man was looking for the folder."
"What folder?"
"The one Grandpa gave him."
My heart stopped.
"What man?"
"The man from Grandma's house."
Daniel looked at the nurse.
"What did he say?"
Ava answered.
"He said my mommy knew where the papers were."
My throat tightened.
"What papers?"
"The ones that belong to your real family."
Daniel and I looked at each other.
My real family.
The words felt poisonous.
Then Ava whispered:
"Mommy, I remembered something."
"What?"
"When Grandma opened the door, she was talking to the man."
"What man?"
"The black car man."
My pulse raced.
"What did she say?"
Ava closed her eyes.
"She said, 'The girls cannot stay here tonight.'"
I felt the blood leave my face.
She had known.
From the beginning.
This wasn't about being annoyed that I didn't call.
My mother had wanted my daughters gone.
Why?
Officer Harris arrived minutes later.
He had already reviewed the hospital security footage.
The intruder had been wearing a mask.
But he had left something behind.
A glove.
Inside the glove was a tiny silver key.
Daniel picked it up.
"What's this?"
Officer Harris shook his head.
"We don't know yet."
Then my father walked into the room.
He looked at the key.
And froze.
"Where did you get that?"
Officer Harris held up the evidence bag.
"My mother?"
"No."
"Then who?"
My father swallowed.
"Victor."
I looked at him.
"What does the key open?"
He whispered:
"A safe."
"Where?"
He didn't answer.
My phone buzzed.
A new message.
This one contained an address.
My parents' house.
Then another message.
The truth is in the basement.
Daniel looked at me.
"You're not going."
"I am."
"Elena."
"My daughters were nearly killed because someone was hiding something in that house."
Officer Harris blocked the doorway.
"I'll get the warrant."
"No."
He frowned.
"I need to know what my family was hiding."
"You need to stay alive long enough to find out."
My father looked at the key.
Then at me.
"There isn't time for a warrant."
"Why?"
His face had gone pale.
"Because your mother knows I told you."
As if summoned by the words, his phone rang.
He stared at it.
The caller ID read:
MOM
He answered.
My mother said only four words.
May you like
"You should have stayed quiet."
Then the call ended.
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