Chapter 4: The Baby We Brought Home
For several seconds, Claire couldn't hear anything except the pounding of her own heart.
Nathan's words kept replaying inside her head.
The little girl you raised as our daughter isn't the baby we brought home from that hospital.
Claire gripped the phone so tightly her fingers hurt.
"What are you saying?""
On the other end, Nathan struggled to breathe.
"Claire, you have to listen to me.""
"No. You listen to me. You're going to explain exactly what you just said.""
"I don't have much time.""
"Then use what you have!""
Detective Brooks stepped closer, signaling for Claire to put the call on speaker.
Nathan continued.
"October twelfth. The night Ellie was born. There were two deliveries in the same maternity ward. Yours and Victoria's.""
Claire looked down at the photograph in her hand.
Two newborns.
Two identification bands.
One mother.
One secret.
"I remember giving birth," Claire whispered.
"I remember holding my baby.""
"I know.""
"I remember the nurse bringing her to me.""
"I know, Claire.""
"Then how can you tell me she wasn't my baby?""
Nathan began crying.
"Because someone switched the identification bracelets.""
Claire stumbled backward.
Detective Brooks caught her elbow.
"Who?"" Claire demanded.
"Who switched them?""
Nathan's voice dropped.
"Victoria.""
Claire shook her head.
"That's impossible.""
"She was in the maternity ward that night. Her daughter was born a few minutes before ours. She knew something had gone wrong with her baby, and she believed the hospital would never let her take the child home.""
"What had gone wrong?""
"Her daughter needed emergency treatment. Victoria panicked. She thought the baby might die.""
Claire closed her eyes.
"And she switched them?""
"She thought she could take your healthy baby and protect her own child.""
The room seemed to tilt.
Claire remembered the nurse telling her that Ellie was healthy.
She remembered the tiny pink hat.
The bracelet around the baby's wrist.
The photograph Nathan had taken.
Every memory suddenly felt contaminated.
"Did you know?"" she whispered.
Nathan didn't answer.
"Did you know our daughter wasn't biologically ours?""
"Not at first.""
"When?""
"Six months ago.""
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
"Six months?""
"I found the hospital records while investigating Victoria's financial fraud. She had been paying someone in the maternity department for years.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I wanted proof.""
"You had six months to tell me!""
"I was afraid.""
"Afraid of what?""
Nathan's voice cracked.
"Of losing Ellie.""
Claire covered her mouth.
"She's my daughter.""
"I know.""
"She's the little girl I held when she had nightmares. I kissed her scraped knees. I taught her how to ride a bicycle. I stayed awake when she had a fever.""
"I know, Claire.""
"Then why are you talking like she's someone else's child?""
Nathan began sobbing.
"Because Victoria knows the truth now. And she wants her biological daughter back.""
Claire looked at Detective Brooks.
"Where is Ellie?""
Brooks took the phone.
"Mr. Harper, this is Detective Brooks. We have officers at the old maternity wing. Is Victoria currently with the child?""
"Yes.""
"Is she dangerous?""
A long pause.
"She has been dangerous for a long time.""
"Does she have a weapon?""
"I don't know.""
Brooks exchanged a glance with another officer.
"Mr. Harper, we need you to tell us exactly what happened before your medical emergency.""
Nathan took a shaky breath.
"Victoria contacted me three days ago. She said she had found the original maternity records. She wanted me to meet her.""
"Where?""
"At the hospital.""
Claire stepped forward.
"You went to meet her?""
"Yes.""
"And then?""
"She told me Ellie was her daughter. She said she wanted to take her.""
Claire's jaw tightened.
"What did you say?""
"I told her no.""
"Then she tried to kill you?""
Nathan went silent.
"Claire, I need you to understand something. Victoria didn't just switch two babies. She built her entire life around controlling what happened afterward.""
"What does that mean?""
"She paid people. She destroyed records. She made sure nobody could trace the switch.""
Detective Brooks leaned closer.
"Mr. Harper, what happened to the original medical files?""
Nathan whispered, "Storage locker 417.""
Claire reached into her pocket and pulled out the silver key.
"I have it.""
Nathan exhaled.
"Then you have the evidence.""
Suddenly, an alarm sounded in the background.
A nurse's voice came through Nathan's phone.
"Mr. Harper, you need to stop talking. Your heart rate is rising.""
"Nathan?"" Claire called.
"Claire...""
"I'm here.""
"Don't let Victoria tell Ellie she's been abandoned.""
Claire began crying.
"I won't.""
"Tell her I love her.""
"Tell her yourself when I bring her home.""
A pause.
Then Nathan whispered something that made Claire's stomach twist.
"There's another thing you need to know.""
"What?""
"Victoria isn't the only person who knew about the switch.""
The call ended.
Claire stared at the screen.
Detective Brooks immediately instructed the officers to prepare transport.
"We're going to the old maternity wing.""
The abandoned wing sat behind the main hospital building.
Its windows were dark, and the entrance was secured with a rusted metal gate.
Two police vehicles were parked outside.
Claire stepped out before the car had fully stopped.
"Where is my daughter?""
An officer approached.
"Inside, ma'am.""
"Is she hurt?""
"We haven't confirmed that.""
Detective Brooks raised her badge.
"What's the situation?""
"One adult female located in the east corridor. A child was seen with her. The woman refused to cooperate.""
Claire pushed forward.
"Ellie!""
Brooks caught her arm.
"Stay behind us.""
They entered through a side door.
The hallway smelled of dust and disinfectant.
Old patient rooms stood empty on either side.
A broken clock hung above the nurses' station.
Then Claire heard a small voice.
"Mommy?""
Her heart nearly stopped.
"Ellie!""
She ran toward the sound.
At the end of the corridor, a woman stood beside a wheelchair.
Blonde hair.
Dark coat.
Victoria Shaw.
And beside her was Ellie.
Her daughter wore pink pajamas and held her stuffed rabbit.
Claire rushed forward.
"Baby!""
Ellie began crying.
"Mommy!""
Victoria stepped between them.
"Don't come any closer.""
Claire stopped.
"Move away from my daughter.""
Victoria looked at her.
"Your daughter?""
"Yes. My daughter.""
Victoria's eyes filled.
"You have no idea what it feels like to lose a child before you've even had the chance to hold her.""
Claire's voice trembled.
"Then you should understand why you need to let her go.""
Victoria glanced at Ellie.
"She belongs with me.""
Ellie clutched her rabbit.
"I want my mommy.""
Victoria knelt.
"Sweetheart, I'm your real mother.""
Ellie shook her head.
"No.""
"Emily, listen to me.""
"My name is Ellie!""
Victoria's face tightened.
For the first time, Claire saw something frightening beneath the woman's sadness.
Anger.
"You've spent four years lying to her," Victoria said.
Claire stepped forward.
"I didn't know.""
"That doesn't change anything.""
"I never knew about the switch.""
Victoria's lips trembled.
"You got four years with my daughter.""
"And you got four years with yours!""
Victoria went still.
Claire continued.
"Where was my baby? The little girl I gave birth to? Where was she while you were pretending to be Ellie's mother?""
Victoria looked away.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"She's dead.""
Claire felt the words strike her like a physical blow.
"What?""
Victoria lowered her head.
"Your biological daughter died six months ago.""
Claire's knees nearly buckled.
"No.""
"I'm sorry.""
"No!""
Detective Brooks stepped forward.
"Victoria, put your hands where I can see them.""
Victoria ignored her.
She looked directly at Claire.
"I didn't come here to hurt Emily.""
"Her name is Ellie!""
Victoria flinched.
Then she reached into her coat.
Every officer raised a weapon.
"Don't move!"" Brooks shouted.
Victoria slowly pulled out a folded document.
"It's her birth certificate.""
She held it toward Claire.
"Read it. Then tell me I have no right to her.""
Claire stared at the paper.
Before she could take it, a sudden movement came from the far end of the hallway.
A man in a hospital uniform rushed through the emergency exit.
He grabbed Ellie.
The little girl screamed.
"Mommy!""
Claire lunged.
Detective Brooks shouted.
Two officers chased the man.
Victoria dropped the document.
And in the confusion, Claire saw something that made her blood run cold.
The man wasn't running away from the police.
He was running toward Victoria.
She caught his arm.
Then she whispered:
"You were supposed to keep the other baby dead.""
Claire froze.
The other baby.
Not Ellie.
Her biological daughter.
May you like
The little girl Victoria had just claimed was dead.
Could she still be alive?
