Chapter 6 - PRESTON'S CONFESSIONThe emergency lights switched on one by one.
Red.
Dim.
Unforgiving.
Marlo heard Poppy's cry again.
“Mommy!”
She ran toward the sound.
Elias grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
“That's my daughter!”
“I know.”
A gunshot exploded.
The bullet struck the wall inches from Marlo's head.
She screamed.
Preston flinched.
Victor didn't move.
“Interesting,” Victor said.
Elias pushed Marlo behind him.
“Who fired?”
Nobody answered.
Then another shot came.
The ceiling light shattered.
Elias drew his weapon.
“Down!”
Marlo crouched.
Preston suddenly grabbed Victor.
“You said nobody would get hurt.”
Victor turned.
“You're becoming inconvenient.”
He shoved Preston aside.
Marlo looked at her ex-husband.
“What did you do?”
Preston's face collapsed.
“I was trying to protect her.”
“Poppy?”
“Yes.”
“From who?”
“You.”
Marlo stared.
He shook his head desperately.
“Not from you. From what you know.”
“I know nothing.”
“You do.”
“What?”
“The envelope.”
Marlo tightened her grip on her bag.
Preston noticed.
His expression changed.
“You still have it.”
Victor smiled.
“So she does.”
Elias pointed his gun toward Victor.
“Where is Poppy?”
Victor's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then looked at Elias.
“She is safe.”
Marlo shouted.
“Let me talk to her!”
Victor handed the phone to Preston.
Preston stared at the screen.
Then at Marlo.
“Poppy wants you.”
His voice broke.
“She keeps asking for her mother.”
Marlo stepped forward.
“Give me the phone.”
Preston handed it over.
A tiny voice came through.
“Mommy?”
Marlo nearly collapsed.
“Poppy, baby, where are you?”
“I don't know.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Are you scared?”
“Yes.”
Marlo closed her eyes.
“I’m coming.”
A male voice took the phone.
“Bring the envelope.”
Victor ended the call.
Marlo turned toward Preston.
“You helped them.”
Preston's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know what they wanted.”
“You signed the custody papers.”
“I had to.”
“Why?”
“Because they told me if I didn't, they'd release the hospital records.”
“What records?”
Preston looked at Elias.
“The original ones.”
Marlo turned to Elias.
“What original records?”
Elias's face was grim.
“Poppy's birth records.”
“And?”
“The original report says you weren't supposed to leave the hospital.”
Marlo felt cold.
“Why?”
Preston answered.
“Because Poppy was born with something they needed.”
Silence.
“What?”
“Compatible blood markers.”
Marlo stared.
Victor smiled.
“She was a match.”
“For what?”
Victor looked at Elias.
“Your brother.”
Marlo's breath caught.
“The brother you said died?”
Elias's face went pale.
Victor continued.
“Your daughter could have saved him.”
“Could have?”
“Yes.”
“So why didn't you?”
Victor smiled.
“Because someone changed the operating orders.”
Marlo looked at Preston.
“Who?”
Preston started crying.
“Your mother.”
Marlo froze.
“My mother was dead.”
“She was alive when Poppy was born.”
Marlo's world shifted.
Victor leaned closer.
“She didn't die eleven years ago.”
“What?”
“She disappeared.”
Elias lowered his weapon.
“You're lying.”
Victor nodded toward the screen behind him.
A surveillance image appeared.
An older woman.
Walking into a hospital.
Marlo knew that face.
Her mother's face.
But beneath the photograph was a date.
TWO DAYS AGO.
Marlo whispered,
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“She’s alive.”
Then the elevator doors opened behind them.
A woman stepped out.
May you like
Marlo saw her.
And forgot how to breathe.
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