Chapter 7 - THE SECOND CHILD
Dominic stared at the note.
For the first time since this nightmare began, he felt genuinely afraid.
Not for himself.
For the children.
He picked up the doll.
The clicking mechanism was silent.
He checked the hidden compartment.
Empty.
The metal capsule was gone.
“Who took it?”
Marco shook his head.
“No one entered the library.”
Dominic looked at the security footage.
The cameras showed the hallway.
No one passed.
Not once.
“Then how did it get here?”
Marco didn't answer.
Rachel stepped into the room.
She looked exhausted.
“Lily is asleep.”
“Where is Rose?”
“With her brothers.”
Dominic nodded.
Then he looked at the note.
“Someone wants us to find a second child.”
Rachel whispered,
“What if that child is still missing?”
The question stayed with them.
They searched old records.
Hospital archives.
Family documents.
Shelter records.
Nothing.
Then Lily woke.
She walked into the library holding a crayon drawing.
“Grandpa.”
Dominic knelt.
“What is it?”
She handed him the paper.
It showed two little girls.
One wore a blue dress.
The other wore a pink dress.
Between them stood an old woman.
Above the girls was a large rose.
Dominic pointed.
“Who are they?”
Lily answered simply.
“Me and Rose.”
Rachel covered her mouth.
Dominic stared.
“Why are you both wearing bracelets?”
“Grandma said that's how we know.”
“Know what?”
“That we're sisters.”
Rachel sat down.
“No.”
Lily looked at her.
“Mommy said I wasn't supposed to tell.”
Dominic looked at Rachel.
“You told her?”
“I didn't know what she was talking about.”
Lily frowned.
“Grandma told me.”
“Which grandmother?”
“The one who lives by the lake.”
Rachel shook her head.
“My mother never lived by a lake.”
Dominic remembered the old family property.
There was a lake house.
His grandfather's.
It had been sold twenty-five years ago.
Dominic called Marco.
“Find out who owns the old Caruso lake house.”
An hour later, Marco returned.
“Still owned by a trust.”
“Whose?”
“Unknown.”
Dominic stared.
“Take me there.”
Rachel stood.
“I'm coming.”
So was Lily.
Dominic hesitated.
Then nodded.
The lake house was two hours north.
It stood empty.
At least officially.
The front door opened with the key from his father's coat.
Inside, the air smelled of dust and cedar.
There were old family photographs on the walls.
Dominic found his mother immediately.
She was younger.
Smiling.
Holding a baby.
Beside her stood Eleanor Bennett.
Rachel gasped.
“My mother.”
Dominic found another photograph.
The two women were holding hands.
Between them were two infants.
One baby wore the rose bracelet.
The other wore the Mara bracelet.
Rachel whispered,
“They were sisters.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Twins?”
She nodded.
“Maybe.”
Then a floorboard creaked upstairs.
Dominic signaled Marco.
They moved quietly.
A bedroom door stood open.
Inside was a small wooden crib.
Empty.
Beside it was a child's drawing.
The same house.
The same two girls.
And the same old woman.
Dominic picked it up.
On the back was a date.
Five years ago.
His chest tightened.
Someone had been bringing children here recently.
Then they found the nursery wall.
There were height marks.
Names.
Dates.
MARA — 5
ROSE — 5
Dominic stepped backward.
Rose had been three.
The marks were wrong.
Someone had been recording her growth two years before she was born.
Then Rachel noticed something.
A small photograph pinned beneath the marks.
It showed a woman.
Dominic recognized her.
Dr. Melissa Grant.
His private pediatrician.
Rachel whispered,
“Why is she here?”
Dominic didn't answer.
They drove back in silence.
When they arrived, Dr. Grant was waiting.
Dominic confronted her immediately.
“You were at the lake house.”
She looked at him.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Why?”
She closed her eyes.
“Because your father asked me to.”
Dominic's voice hardened.
“Were you involved in the children?”
“Yes.”
Rachel looked shocked.
Dr. Grant quickly added,
“Not in the way you think.”
“Then explain.”
She took a breath.
“Your father believed someone was trying to find the two girls.”
“Why?”
“Because one of them carried information that could destroy the Caruso organization.”
Dominic frowned.
“What information?”
“A ledger.”
“Where?”
Dr. Grant looked toward Lily.
“The doll.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“What ledger?”
“Your grandfather's.”
The room went silent.
Dr. Grant continued.
“Your grandfather discovered that several members of the family were stealing from the company.”
“Who?”
“I don't know all of them.”
“Then why protect the girls?”
“Because your grandfather had proof.”
“Where is it?”
Dr. Grant looked at Lily.
“She has it.”
Lily hugged the doll.
“No.”
Dominic knelt.
“Lily, nobody is taking it from you.”
She looked at him.
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Dr. Grant whispered,
“The ledger is not inside the doll.”
Dominic frowned.
“Then what is?”
“A key.”
“To what?”
Dr. Grant looked terrified.
“The family archive.”
Dominic felt his stomach tighten.
“What archive?”
“The one your grandfather sealed.”
“Where?”
Dr. Grant took a small piece of paper from her pocket.
An address.
Dominic read it.
Then looked up.
“That building was demolished fifteen years ago.”
Dr. Grant shook her head.
“No.”
She looked toward the window.
“The building was never demolished.”
May you like
She whispered,
“Someone only made you believe it was.”
