Chapter 2 - The Papers in the Fire
The ambulance carried Sophie to St. Catherine’s Children’s Hospital.
Daniel drove behind it with Thomas and Mary.
During the journey, he called Clara six times.
She did not answer.
He called the housekeeper.
No answer.
He called the estate’s security office.
The line had been disconnected.
Daniel’s anger gave way to dread.
His mother had anticipated something.
At the hospital, Sophie was taken through double doors into emergency imaging. Daniel tried to follow, but a nurse blocked him.
“Only a legal parent or authorized guardian.”
“I am her stepfather.”
“Her biological mother?”
“Not answering.”
The nurse checked the screen.
“There is another authorized guardian listed.”
Daniel already knew the name.
“Vivian Mercer.”
The nurse nodded.
Daniel placed the fraudulent document on the desk.
“That authority was obtained through deception.”
The nurse’s expression changed.
“I’ll contact hospital administration.”
“Contact the police.”
Thomas stood nearby, his cap crushed between his hands.
Mary sat with her face buried in a handkerchief.
Daniel turned to Thomas.
“Tell me about the fire.”
Thomas lowered his voice.
“Three weeks ago, your mother came to our farm.”
“Vivian went to your farm?”
“She said she wanted to apologize for the way she had treated Clara over the years.”
Daniel almost laughed.
Vivian had never apologized sincerely in her life.
“She brought a lawyer,” Thomas continued. “A thin man with a gray briefcase. He said there were forms for the birthday party, travel permission, emergency contacts.”
“And you signed them.”
Thomas looked ashamed.
“I didn’t have my reading glasses.”
Daniel immediately regretted the accusation in his tone.
“What happened after?”
“They left close to midnight. I went outside because I smelled smoke. Behind the equipment shed, your mother was burning papers in an old drum.”
“What papers?”
“I couldn’t see much. But one page blew out before it burned. There was a symbol printed at the top.”
“Three circles?”
Thomas nodded.
“Your mother stepped on it. She told me it was part of a private medical research project.”
“What kind of research?”
“She said Clara had agreed to it.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Clara would never enroll Sophie in medical research without telling me.”
Mary lifted her head.
“Maybe Clara didn’t know.”
Daniel’s phone rang.
It was Leo.
“Dad?”
His son’s voice shook.
“Leo, where are you?”
“In my room.”
“Is your mom there?”
“No. Grandma took her.”
Daniel stood so fast that his chair struck the wall.
“What do you mean she took her?”
“Grandma came upstairs after everyone left. She was angry. She told Mom they needed to talk privately.”
“Where did they go?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you alone?”
Leo hesitated.
“Uncle Adrian is downstairs.”
Daniel’s brother had supposedly been in Geneva for a banking conference.
“Lock your door,” Daniel said. “Do not open it for anyone except the police.”
“Dad, Grandma said Sophie ruined my birthday.”
“She didn’t.”
“She said Sophie is sick because her real family is dirty.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Listen to me. None of this is Sophie’s fault. None of it is your fault either.”
“Did you really destroy my party because of Grandma?”
“I ended the party because Grandma hurt people we love.”
A knock sounded through Leo’s phone.
He whispered, “Someone’s at my door.”
“Do not open it.”
The handle rattled.
“Leo?”
A man’s voice came through the phone.
Adrian.
“Your father needs you downstairs.”
Daniel spoke loudly.
“Adrian, step away from my son’s door.”
The rattling stopped.
“Daniel,” Adrian said through the wood, “you are making this worse.”
“What did Mother do to Clara?”
“You don’t understand what she is trying to prevent.”
“Prevent?”
Adrian lowered his voice.
“Sophie should never have been brought into this family.”
The line went dead.
Daniel immediately called emergency services.
As he gave the dispatcher his address, the doors to the imaging department opened.
A doctor in dark blue scrubs approached.
“Mr. Mercer?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Dr. Lena Ortiz.”
“What’s inside Sophie’s neck?”
Dr. Ortiz glanced toward Thomas and Mary.
“We found several foreign objects.”
“How many?”
“At least nine.”
Mary made a choking sound.
Daniel felt his pulse hammer in his ears.
“What kind of objects?”
“Microcapsules. They appear to be arranged along the lymphatic chain beneath her jaw.”
“Can you remove them?”
“We’re preparing for surgery.”
“Then do it.”
“There’s a complication.”
Daniel stared at her.
“One of the capsules is transmitting a signal.”
The doctor held up a tablet.
A pulse moved across the screen at regular intervals.
“Transmitting to where?” Daniel asked.
“We don’t know.”
A hospital technician approached and whispered something in Dr. Ortiz’s ear.
The doctor’s face changed.
“What?” Daniel demanded.
May you like
Dr. Ortiz looked at him.
“The signal just received a response.”
