Chapter 4 - THE JUDGE’S DAUGHTER
Rebecca stared at her father’s name until her hands began shaking.
Judge Thomas Hale had died five years earlier.
At least, that was the public record.
He had presided over juvenile and family court for three decades. He also signed the sealed adoption that gave Sarah custody of Lily.
Rebecca denied knowing anything about his involvement.
Detective Ortiz did not soften.
“Your father signed away a minor’s child without a hearing.”
“I was in medical school. I never saw the file.”
“His name is also on Emily’s current competency petition.”
Rebecca looked at me.
“What petition?”
Michael had filed papers claiming I was mentally incapacitated. If approved, he could make medical decisions for me and the baby.
The hearing was scheduled in forty-eight hours.
Judge Hale’s electronic signature appeared on the filing despite his supposed death.
Someone was still using his judicial credentials.
Rebecca searched an old family storage account. A monthly payment had been made from her father’s trust to a nursing facility in Vermont.
The resident name was Thomas Henry.
Ortiz requested surveillance footage.
The image showed an elderly man in a wheelchair, partially paralyzed but unmistakably alive.
Judge Hale had faked his death.
Rebecca turned away from the screen.
“My father is alive.”
Lily watched her carefully.
“Did he steal me?”
Rebecca could not answer.
The transplant alert on Lily’s bracelet suddenly disappeared. Her procedure was canceled.
Relief lasted less than a minute.
A new entry replaced it.
TRANSFER APPROVED — SAINT AGNES PRIVATE MEDICAL CENTER.
Sarah still had administrative access to Lily’s records from jail.
Hospital security rushed to lock the system down.
Then the fire alarm sounded.
A nurse entered with an evacuation chair.
She wore an identification badge, mask, and blue scrubs.
Rebecca checked the badge.
“Wait.”
The woman shoved the chair into her and grabbed Lily.
I pulled myself from bed, ignoring the pain in my ankle.
Lily screamed.
The woman dragged her toward the service stairs.
Ortiz tackled her before she reached the door.
Her mask came off.
It was not Sarah.
It was our mother.
My mother had supposedly died eight years earlier.
She looked older, thinner, but her eyes had not changed.
She stared at me without warmth.
“You were always the difficult one.”
I could barely speak.
“You gave Lily away.”
She looked toward my pregnant belly.
“I saved this family.”
Ortiz handcuffed her.
My mother smiled.
“You still think Sarah is the one selling children?”
May you like
She nodded toward Rebecca.
“Ask the doctor how many babies her father buried without names.”
