Chapter 3 - The Paperwork That Made No Sense)
The luggage tags stayed on Claire's kitchen table.
Vanessa did not.
After the confrontation on the patio, Claire locked herself, Noah, and Emma inside the house while Vanessa and Brooke remained in the sunroom.
Claire called the county office first.
Then Dr. Evelyn Ross.
Then a family attorney Emma knew from college.
The answers did not come quickly.
That frightened Claire even more.
Emma sat at the kitchen island holding a cold cloth near her injured eye.
Noah slept against Claire's chest.
Every few seconds Claire looked toward the windows.
Vanessa stood outside making phone calls.
Brooke sat on a patio chair with her face in her hands.
"Why aren't they leaving?" Claire asked.
Emma glanced toward them.
"Because Vanessa thinks whatever she has in that folder protects her."
Claire remembered the leather folder Vanessa had carried on the first morning.
It was gone.
"Where's her folder?"
Emma's eyes narrowed.
"She had it before I went outside."
They searched the downstairs rooms.
Nothing.
At 4:12 p.m., Dr. Evelyn Ross arrived.
She was in her late fifties, dressed in a navy blazer and carrying a tablet.
The moment she entered, she looked at Claire and said, "Do not hand your child to Vanessa Hale."
Claire's knees nearly gave way.
Emma pulled out a chair.
"What is happening?"
Evelyn placed a stack of printed forms on the table.
"This was filed electronically at 7:18 this morning."
Claire looked down.
The first page contained Noah's full legal name.
The second contained Claire's medical information.
The third contained a statement supposedly written by Claire.
It said she had suffered a severe postpartum psychological crisis.
It said she had repeatedly expressed fear that she might harm Noah.
It said she voluntarily requested emergency temporary transfer of custody.
Claire stared at the signature.
It looked like hers.
Almost.
But not quite.
"I never signed this."
"I know."
"How?"
Evelyn pointed to the date.
"The form claims you signed at St. Matthew Regional Hospital yesterday afternoon."
"I was here yesterday."
Emma leaned over the paper.
"So someone forged it."
"It appears that way."
Claire looked toward the patio.
"Then why is she so confident?"
Evelyn's expression was grim.
"Because a preliminary electronic order was generated before the inconsistency was discovered."
Claire felt sick.
"An order?"
"For temporary protective authority."
"Meaning she could take Noah?"
"Under certain circumstances, yes."
Emma stood.
"That's insane."
"It was supposed to be suspended the moment the discrepancy was detected."
Claire remembered Vanessa telling her to call anyone she wanted.
"Was it?"
Evelyn hesitated.
"That is where we have another problem."
"What problem?"
"The suspension notice was entered into the system, but someone withdrew it twenty three minutes later."
"Who?"
"We don't know yet."
Claire looked at the luggage tags.
"The flight leaves tonight."
Evelyn picked one up.
"Where did you get this?"
Claire explained.
As Evelyn studied the flight information, her expression changed.
"This destination is wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"The custody order requires Noah to remain within the county."
Emma stared at her.
"Then taking him on that plane would violate even the fake order."
"Yes."
Claire felt a brief wave of relief.
Then Evelyn turned the tag over.
There was a tiny printed code near the bottom.
She photographed it.
"What is that?"
"Private booking identifier."
Claire held Noah closer.
"Can you find out who paid for it?"
"I can try."
The back door rattled.
Vanessa stood outside.
Claire stepped toward it.
Evelyn stopped her.
"Do not argue with her."
Vanessa knocked.
"Claire."
Nobody answered.
"Claire, Brooke needs to use the restroom."
Emma looked at Evelyn.
"Can Brooke come in alone?"
Vanessa heard her through the glass.
"No."
Brooke stood behind Vanessa.
Her eyes were red.
Claire studied her.
Something about Brooke's expression did not look like loyalty.
It looked like terror.
Claire opened the door three inches, keeping the chain lock secured.
"Brooke can come inside. You stay out."
Vanessa's face hardened.
"No."
Brooke whispered, "Vanessa."
"Be quiet."
"I need to talk to Claire."
Vanessa grabbed Brooke's wrist.
Brooke jerked away.
"No."
It was the first time Claire had heard her raise her voice.
Vanessa stared at her sister.
"Think very carefully."
Brooke's hands trembled.
"I have."
She stepped toward the door.
Vanessa moved to block her.
Emma immediately pulled out her phone and started recording.
"Touch her again."
Vanessa looked directly into the camera.
She stepped aside.
Brooke entered.
Claire locked the door.
For several seconds Brooke could not speak.
Then she looked at Noah and began crying.
"I didn't know they were going to take him."
Claire's stomach twisted.
"They?"
Brooke nodded.
"Vanessa isn't doing this alone."
"Who else?"
Brooke looked toward the patio.
Vanessa was watching through the glass.
"I don't know everyone."
Emma leaned forward.
"Who do you know?"
Brooke wiped her face.
"A man named Richard Vale."
Evelyn froze.
Claire noticed.
"You know that name?"
Evelyn sat very still.
"Richard Vale used to supervise emergency family placements for this county."
"Used to?"
"He was fired seven years ago."
"For what?"
Evelyn looked at Noah.
"For manipulating custody transfers."
The room went silent.
Claire whispered, "Why would he want my baby?"
Brooke shook her head.
"He doesn't."
Claire almost laughed from confusion.
"Then what is happening?"
Brooke looked at the luggage tag.
"Someone else wants Noah."
"Who?"
"I never met them."
"Then how do you know?"
Brooke swallowed.
"Because Vanessa said the family already paid half."
Claire felt the kitchen tilt beneath her.
Emma's voice was barely audible.
"Paid for what?"
May you like
Brooke looked at them.
"For a child they were told had been legally surrendered."
