Chapter 5 - THE OTHER OFFICER REED
Daniel Reed had an identical twin brother named David.
Their father worked security for Saint Matthew’s and enrolled both boys in behavioral studies after their mother died.
Daniel entered law enforcement publicly.
David entered private security under Dr. Vale.
For years, David used Daniel’s identity to access police databases, evidence rooms, and victim reports.
Daniel knew his brother was alive.
He did not know David impersonated him.
Or claimed not to.
Internal Affairs opened an investigation.
The missing syringe resurfaced at a television station inside a package labeled POLICE COVER-UP.
Someone wanted public panic before lab verification.
The station evacuated.
Forensics confirmed the syringe had been cleaned again.
The blue cap remained our strongest sample.
David contacted Daniel directly.
He said Vale planned to frame him for evidence theft, then remove Emma and Olivia during the confusion.
He offered help if Daniel brought the girls to an abandoned church.
Daniel refused.
For once, the family pattern met a direct no.
David released police records showing Daniel ignored two earlier welfare calls at the Carter home.
Daniel had reviewed both.
Each report described children crying at night.
He believed Michael’s explanation that Olivia suffered stomach disease.
He did not visit personally.
His failure helped the abuse continue.
Daniel admitted it.
Protection today did not erase inaction yesterday.
That accountability strengthened trust with Emma.
She asked, “Why didn’t you come before?”
“I should have.”
No excuse.
Then David’s location pinged near Saint Matthew’s.
Federal agents entered a closed surgical wing.
They found Caroline Brooks alive in a recovery room.
She had undergone repeated sedation but retained memory.
She identified David as her guard.
She also revealed the third mother’s name.
Sarah Mitchell.
Michael’s wife.
Emma and Olivia had been raised inside the home of the woman who gave birth to Lily.
Sarah knew all three children existed.
Michael told her Lily died.
Vale raised Lily nearby.
Sarah helped care for Emma and Olivia while grieving her own daughter.
The cruelty depended on crossed motherhood.
Each woman raised another woman’s child while believing hers was dead.
Then Lily Vale disappeared from school.
Dr. Vale had not taken her.
Security footage showed Sarah Mitchell collecting the girl with valid maternal documents.
Sarah had finally learned which child was hers.
She took Lily.
But she also left a note:
I WILL NOT LET THEM USE ANY OF THE THREE AGAIN.
That sounded protective.
Police records showed Sarah had purchased three one-way airline tickets.
She intended to take all the girls.
May you like
Without asking them.
Protection was becoming another abduction.
