Chapter 6 - Vanessa’s Baby Was Missing
Vanessa had no child.
At least, that was what every public record suggested.
She had never filed for maternity leave, never posted a pregnancy photograph, and never listed a dependent on her health insurance.
Yet a sealed birth certificate recorded that Vanessa Cole had delivered a girl on February 11 at a private maternity center outside Alexandria.
The attending physician had worked at Hawthorne.
The father’s name was blank.
Claire demanded to confront Vanessa.
Nathan refused until her doctor approved the interview.
By late afternoon, Claire sat behind protective glass in a secure federal interview room. Vanessa entered wearing an orange detention uniform and wrist restraints.
Without makeup, she looked younger and far less certain.
She sat across from Claire but avoided her eyes.
Nathan remained near the door.
Claire placed a copy of the birth certificate on the table.
“Where is the child?”
Vanessa stared at the paper.
“I don’t know.”
“You are listed as her mother.”
“I never gave birth.”
“Then why is your name here?”
Vanessa’s lips trembled.
“Daniel said it was insurance.”
“For what?”
“He needed someone unmarried to sign temporary custody documents.”
Claire leaned forward.
“Whose baby did you take?”
“I didn’t take anyone.”
“Do not lie to me.”
“I held her once.”
Claire stopped breathing.
Vanessa’s gaze dropped to Claire’s stomach.
“She had dark hair. Gray eyes. Daniel said she was the future of the Bennett family.”
“Where did you hold her?”
“At a house near the river.”
“What house?”
“I don’t know the address. They covered the car windows.”
“Who was there?”
“Daniel. His mother. A nurse named Paula.”
“And the baby?”
“Margaret took her.”
Claire looked at Nathan.
“Your mother-in-law has no infant registered at any property,” he said.
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Margaret doesn’t register anything she values.”
Claire fought to control her voice.
“What did Daniel tell you about the child?”
“He said Claire’s embryo belonged to him because you were married when it was created.”
“That is not how consent works.”
“He said the law would agree once the documents were corrected.”
Claire stared through the glass.
“You believed him?”
May you like
“I believed he was leaving you.”
“You attacked me
