Chapter 2 - The Man Outside)
After Thomas saw the stranger outside the window, he stopped pretending.
Emily noticed it first.
His posture changed.
The controlled businessman disappeared.
In his place was a frightened man trying to calculate an escape.
"Daniel," Thomas said, "have security remove him."
Daniel did not move.
"He hasn't done anything."
"He's harassing my wife."
Margaret laughed once.
It was a broken sound.
"My wife."
She stared at Thomas.
"That's what you're worried about?"
Thomas lowered his voice.
"Margaret, you're upset. This girl has a necklace that resembles one you remember from twenty two years ago. That's all."
Emily held up the pendant.
"You recognized the man outside."
Thomas looked at her.
"I did no such thing."
"You turned white."
"Don't be ridiculous."
Margaret stepped between them.
"Then let's invite him inside."
"No."
The answer came too fast.
Everyone heard it.
Margaret's eyes narrowed.
Thomas corrected himself.
"I mean there is no reason to bring a stranger into this."
Daniel turned toward the entrance.
"I'll ask what he wants."
Thomas grabbed his sleeve.
Daniel looked down at Thomas's hand.
Slowly, Thomas released him.
Daniel walked away.
Emily watched the stranger through the window.
He was no longer holding the photograph up.
He stood under the restaurant awning, water dripping from his coat.
He looked tired.
Afraid.
And strangely relieved.
Daniel opened the front door.
The man said something Emily could not hear.
Daniel listened, then looked directly toward her.
Thomas moved toward the exit.
Margaret blocked him.
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
"We came together."
"You can follow when you've calmed down."
"Sit."
Thomas stared at her.
Margaret had probably obeyed him thousands of times in small ways during their marriage.
Emily could see that in his expression.
He expected it again.
Margaret pointed toward the chair.
"Sit down, Thomas."
He did not.
Then the stranger entered.
He carried the photograph in a clear plastic sleeve.
Up close, he appeared older than Emily first thought.
Gray threaded through his dark hair.
A scar crossed one eyebrow.
His eyes went immediately to Margaret.
"I'm sorry."
Margaret whispered, "Who are you?"
"My name is Michael Reed."
Thomas closed his eyes for half a second.
It was enough.
Michael saw it.
"So you remember me."
Emily looked at Thomas.
Thomas said nothing.
Michael took another step forward.
"Twenty two years ago I was a paramedic assigned to St. Catherine's Hospital during the fire."
Margaret gripped the back of a chair.
Michael continued.
"I found a baby alive."
Thomas moved.
"No."
Michael looked at him.
"I found her alive, Thomas."
Margaret's knees nearly gave way.
Emily caught her elbow.
Neither woman seemed to notice the gesture.
Michael placed the photograph on the table.
It showed Margaret in a hospital bed holding a newborn.
The baby's left hand rested outside the blanket.
The birthmark was visible.
Emily stared.
"Where did you get this?"
"A nurse gave it to me that night."
"What nurse?"
"Evelyn Price."
Margaret covered her mouth.
"I remember Evelyn."
Michael nodded.
"She was working maternity when the fire started."
Thomas finally spoke.
"Evelyn Price died."
"Sixteen years ago."
Michael's eyes did not leave him.
"But not before she told me what you did."
The restaurant seemed to become colder.
Margaret whispered, "What did he do?"
Michael opened his coat and removed a brown envelope.
Thomas lunged for it.
Emily reacted before thinking.
She stepped between them.
Thomas stopped inches from her.
For the first time, she saw him clearly.
Not as a famous businessman.
Not as Margaret's husband.
As a threat.
"Move," he said.
Emily did not.
Michael handed the envelope to Margaret.
Inside were copies of old hospital forms.
One was marked with a date matching the fire.
Another contained a signature.
Thomas Ashford.
Margaret stared at it.
"What is this?"
Michael answered quietly.
"A transfer authorization."
"Transfer where?"
"That's what Evelyn spent sixteen years trying to find out."
Thomas turned toward the door.
Daniel blocked his path.
"I think you should stay."
Thomas's eyes sharpened.
"You have no authority to hold me here."
"You're right."
Daniel stepped aside.
"But if you leave now, you'll have to explain why."
Thomas stared at the room.
Then at Emily.
Then at the document in Margaret's hands.
He walked back to the table.
Margaret unfolded another page.
At the bottom was a handwritten notation.
Infant female transferred at 2:14 a.m.
Status stable.
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"My daughter wasn't dead."
Michael shook his head.
"No."
Margaret looked at Thomas.
"You buried an empty coffin."
Thomas said nothing.
Emily suddenly felt dizzy.
She sat in the nearest chair.
Michael watched her.
"There is one more thing."
He reached into the envelope.
Thomas whispered, "Don't."
Michael pulled out a photocopy of a hospital identification band.
The name printed on it was faint.
But readable.
Baby Girl Ashford.
And beside the name was a handwritten notation.
Purple mark left hand.
Emily touched her birthmark.
May you like
Michael looked at her.
"I've been trying to find you for twenty two years."
