Chapter 9: The Girl Who Had My Face
Riverside Academy sat behind a brick wall on the edge of town, its entrance guarded by iron gates and two security cameras.
I arrived at eight-fifteen the next morning.
I hadn't slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the photograph of the little girl in the yellow dress. I imagined her waking in a strange room, wondering why the people she trusted had disappeared. I imagined her growing up without knowing she had a mother somewhere who had never stopped searching for her.
I imagined Maya looking at her and recognizing the same features she saw in the mirror.
The thought made my chest ache.
Daniel had called at six-thirty.
He confirmed that Anna Whitmore was enrolled at Riverside Academy and said he had arranged a meeting with the school administrator.
"Don't approach the child alone," he'd warned.
"Why?""
"Because if she is the missing infant, her guardians may not know the truth. We need to verify her identity before making accusations.""
"Her guardians might be the people who took my daughter.""
"Or they might be innocent people who were told the child was abandoned.""
I hated that he was right.
So I waited in the reception area while Daniel spoke with the headmistress.
A receptionist offered me coffee.
I refused.
Through the glass doors, children crossed the courtyard carrying backpacks. Their laughter floated into the hallway. Teachers stood near the gates, greeting students.
Ordinary life continued.
Meanwhile, I was about to meet a child who might be my biological daughter.
The headmistress, Mrs. Caldwell, emerged from her office.
"Mrs. Bennett?""
I stood immediately.
"Yes.""
"Mr. Reeves explained that you're trying to locate a family member. I understand this is a sensitive situation.""
"Thank you for seeing me.""
She studied my face.
"Before we proceed, I need to be clear. Anna is a minor. We cannot disclose private information about her family without proper authorization.""
"I understand.""
"Mr. Reeves has provided some documentation. However, we will need to verify its authenticity.""
Daniel approached with a folder.
"We're not asking you to release any confidential records," he said.
"We'd like to establish whether Anna's guardians would be willing to meet with us.""
Mrs. Caldwell nodded.
"Her legal guardian is Mrs. Catherine Whitmore. I'll contact her.""
She returned to her office.
I sat down again.
Daniel remained standing.
"Laura, I need you to prepare yourself.""
"For what?""
"If Anna has been raised believing Catherine is her biological mother, learning the truth could be devastating.""
"What do you expect me to do? Pretend I don't exist?""
"No. But you need to remember that she's a child, not evidence.""
His words stung because they were true.
I had spent so long searching for answers that I had begun to think of Anna as a missing piece of my life.
But she was a person.
She had a home, friends, memories, and a family she believed was hers.
Whatever the truth, I couldn't walk into her world and demand that she call me Mom.
A door opened.
Mrs. Caldwell returned with a woman in her late fifties.
Catherine Whitmore wore a navy suit and carried a leather handbag. Her hair was carefully styled, and a small gold pendant rested at the base of her throat.
She stopped when she saw me.
Her face drained of color.
I noticed immediately.
"You know who I am," I said.
Catherine tightened her grip on the handbag.
"I know who you look like.""
"Then you know why I'm here.""
She glanced at Daniel.
"How did you get these records?""
"That's not important right now," he replied.
"It is very important. These documents are confidential.""
"Did you adopt a child named Anna in October 2019?""
Catherine's jaw tightened.
"Yes.""
"Do you know who her biological parents are?""
"Her birth mother was unable to care for her.""
"Who told you that?""
Catherine didn't answer.
I stepped forward.
"Was she born at St. Agnes Hospital?""
The woman looked at me sharply.
"Who have you been speaking to?""
"People who knew my husband.""
At the mention of Michael, Catherine's expression changed.
For the first time, I saw genuine fear.
"Michael Bennett is dead," she said.
"Yes. But before he died, he discovered evidence that a child had been transferred under false records.""
Catherine looked toward the school courtyard.
"I think you should leave.""
"Is Anna my daughter?""
The question came out before I could stop it.
Catherine's eyes filled with something that looked almost like pity.
"You're asking the wrong question.""
"Then tell me the right one.""
She lowered her voice.
"Ask yourself why your husband spent five years trying to find a child he believed was already dead.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"What does that mean?""
Catherine turned toward Mrs. Caldwell.
"I'd like to end this meeting.""
"No," I said.
"You don't get to do that.""
Daniel stepped between us.
"Mrs. Whitmore, nobody is accusing you of anything yet. We need to know whether Anna's adoption records are authentic.""
"They are legal.""
"That wasn't the question.""
Catherine's eyes flashed.
"You have no idea what you're interfering with.""
"Then explain it.""
She looked at me one last time.
"I can't.""
She turned and walked away.
I stood frozen until she disappeared into the headmistress's office.
Then I followed.
Mrs. Caldwell intercepted me near the door.
"Please, Mrs. Bennett. You need to give us time.""
"She's hiding something.""
"I understand your concern, but Anna is in class. We cannot involve her without proper preparation.""
I stopped.
Through the glass panel at the end of the hallway, I could see students moving between classrooms.
Then a girl stepped out of a room carrying a stack of books.
Dark hair.
Hazel eyes.
A crooked smile.
My heart stopped.
She looked up.
Our eyes met.
The books slipped from her hands and scattered across the floor.
For a long moment, neither of us moved.
Then she whispered something to the teacher beside her.
The teacher looked at me.
Anna backed away.
I took one step forward.
"Anna?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
Her voice trembled.
"You're not supposed to be here.""
I stopped immediately.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you.""
She stared at my face.
Then she touched the small scar near her chin.
I realized she had the same scar I did.
Not a similar mark.
The same small, pale line.
"Who are you?"" she whispered.
I swallowed hard.
"My name is Laura.""
Her eyes widened.
For a second, I thought she might cry.
Instead, she took a step backward.
"Catherine said you'd come someday.""
I felt the world narrow around us.
"What did she tell you about me?""
Anna looked toward the office.
"She said my birth mother had died.""
My throat tightened.
"Anna, I don't know whether I'm your birth mother. But I think there may have been a mistake when you were born.""
She shook her head.
"No.""
"I know this is confusing.""
"No!""
Her voice echoed down the hallway.
Students stopped talking.
A teacher approached, but Anna raised a hand to stop her.
"She said you would try to take me away.""
I felt tears sting my eyes.
"I'm not here to take you anywhere.""
"Then why are you here?""
Because I had spent thirteen years loving a child who might not have been biologically mine.
Because another child might have been taken from me without my knowledge.
Because the man I loved had died trying to uncover a truth that everyone else had buried.
But none of those explanations would help a frightened girl standing in a school hallway.
So I told her the simplest truth I had.
"Because I think someone lied to both of us.""
Anna stared at me.
Then she asked, "Did you know my father?""
My breath caught.
"Your father?""
She nodded.
"He used to visit me when I was little. He told me my real name was different.""
I gripped the edge of the nearest desk.
"What did he look like?""
Anna closed her eyes.
"Dark hair. A little gray. He had a scar on his left hand.""
Michael had a thin scar across his left palm from an accident with a kitchen knife years before Maya was born.
I remembered how he used to hide it when we held hands.
"What did he call you?"" I whispered.
Anna looked directly at me.
"Little bird.""
The hallway disappeared around me.
Michael had called Maya the same thing.
He had whispered it when he tucked her into bed, when she scraped her knee, and when she fell asleep on his chest.
I could barely stand.
"Anna, when did you last see him?""
She glanced toward the office.
"Five years ago.""
"Do you remember the date?""
She nodded.
"The day before he died.""
Daniel went completely still beside me.
"Laura," he whispered, "we need to talk to her guardian.""
But Anna reached for my hand.
Her fingers were cold.
"There's something else," she said.
I bent toward her.
"What is it?""
She leaned closer, speaking so softly that only I could hear.
"Mr. Reeves told Catherine that my mother was dead.""
I turned toward Daniel.
He looked horrified.
Anna continued.
"But Catherine said that wasn't true. She said my mother was alive, and that if she ever found me, everyone would be in danger.""
My heart pounded.
"Who told Catherine that?""
Anna's eyes filled with tears.
"Your husband.""
I stared at her.
Michael had known where Anna was.
He had visited her.
And he had told her that her mother was dead.
"Why would he do that?"" I whispered.
Anna shook her head.
"I don't know. But he left me something before he disappeared.""
"What?""
She looked toward the courtyard.
"A key.""
I felt a terrible chill.
"What key?""
"A small brass key. He said it would lead me to the truth when I was old enough.""
My mind raced.
The key from the garage.
The key marked seventeen.
The key that had disappeared from Michael's box.
"Do you still have it?""
Anna nodded.
"It's hidden at home.""
"Where?""
She hesitated.
Then she looked at me with an expression so familiar that I felt as if I were looking into a mirror from my childhood.
"Inside the music box he gave me.""
Before I could ask another question, Catherine appeared at the end of the hallway.
Her face was white with fury.
"Anna, come with me. Now.""
Anna stepped away from me.
Catherine seized her hand.
I moved forward.
"Don't touch her like that.""
Catherine turned toward me.
"You have no right to interfere with my daughter.""
"Then stop treating her like a secret you can lock away.""
For one terrible second, I thought Catherine might strike me.
Instead, she leaned close and whispered, "You have no idea what your husband did to protect that girl.""
Then she pulled Anna toward the office.
Anna looked back once.
Her lips formed three silent words.
*Find the key.*
And as the office door slammed shut, my phone rang.
Daniel answered his own phone at the same moment.
We both listened.
A man's voice spoke through the speaker.
"Mr. Reeves, I assume you've met Anna.""
Daniel's face went pale.
"Who is this?""
The man ignored the question.
"Tell Laura to stop searching. She's already lost one daughter. She doesn't need to lose the other.""
The call ended.
Daniel stared at his phone.
I looked toward the closed office door.
Then I understood something that made my blood run cold.
Whoever had arranged the baby transfer wasn't afraid that I would discover what happened thirteen years ago.
They were afraid I would discover what Michael had done five years ago.
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And if Anna's words were true, my husband had taken a secret to his grave that could destroy every person involved.
Including me.
