Chapter 12
Inside.
The word spread through the hospital like poison.
Every doctor was checked.
Every nurse.
Every visitor.
Every elevator camera.
Victor was not found.
Then Sarah noticed something.
“He doesn’t need to be in the hospital,” she said.
“What?”
“He needs access to hospital systems.”
Detective Ellis ran to the nurses’ station.
Five minutes later, she returned with a face like stone.
“Someone changed Lily’s discharge order.”
My arms tightened.
“To where?”
“A private neonatal transport.”
The fake ambulance had already arrived at the loading bay.
Dad ran with Ellis.
I stayed with Lily and Sarah, shaking with rage.
Security footage showed the ambulance driver leaving when police approached.
But he left behind one thing.
A phone.
On it was a live video.
Victor sat in a dark room.
Older.
Silver-haired.
Smiling.
“Hello, Emily.”
My skin crawled.
“You killed my mother.”
He sighed.
“Rebecca made poor choices.”
“You cut her brakes.”
“She stole from me.”
“She exposed you.”
His eyes sharpened.
“And you have her diary.”
Sarah signaled Detective Ellis to trace.
Victor smiled wider.
“Do not bother. I called to offer a trade.”
“No.”
“You have not heard it.”
“No.”
He leaned closer.
“I have the original DNA report. The one proving who you are.”
Dad returned and heard him.
His face changed.
Victor laughed.
“Thomas never told you everything, did he?”
I looked at Dad.
Dad looked at me.
May you like
And I realized Victor’s last weapon was not money.
It was doubt.
