Chapter 10 - The Mother Who Had Never Abandoned Her
Arthur's first instinct was to return to the hospital.
Daniel stopped him.
"That's what Mercer expects."
"My responsibility is that baby."
"Her mother is the reason she's alive."
Arthur froze.
Daniel continued.
"Anna didn't abandon her."
Emily looked at him.
"The transport team said there was no parent."
"They lied."
Daniel opened a folder Claire had carried into the church.
Inside were photographs of Anna during pregnancy.
Hidden cameras.
Clinic corridors.
Parking lots.
A small apartment.
Daniel said, "Anna learned the truth about her identity six months ago."
"How?"
"Rebecca left a letter with her adoptive parents. They were supposed to give it to her if anyone connected to Sterling research ever approached."
"And someone did."
"Mercer."
Arthur examined one photograph.
Anna was talking to an older woman outside a grocery store.
"Who's that?"
Daniel's voice hardened.
"Dr. Lena Cross. Reproductive endocrinologist."
Emily recognized the name.
"She sits on the Sterling Medical Ethics Board."
Richard laughed bitterly from the floor.
"Ethics."
Daniel continued.
"Lena convinced Anna she had a hereditary condition requiring specialized monitoring. By the time Anna understood what they were doing, she was pregnant."
Arthur stared.
"You mean they impregnated her without informed consent?"
Daniel nodded.
Emily looked sick.
"That is rape through medical deception."
Nobody disagreed.
Daniel said, "Anna tried to run at thirty weeks."
"What happened?"
"She contacted me."
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
"How did she know you existed?"
"Rebecca's letter."
Daniel opened another photograph.
Anna and Daniel at a roadside motel.
"I reached her two days later."
Arthur pointed.
"Then why didn't you take her somewhere safe?"
"I tried."
Daniel's eyes filled with guilt.
"Mercer had tracking hardware embedded in her prenatal monitor."
Emily cursed quietly.
"They found us."
Daniel nodded.
"Anna went into premature labor during the escape."
Arthur understood.
"The baby was born at their facility."
"Yes."
"And then transferred to Sterling Memorial."
"Anna forced them."
"How?"
"She threatened to destroy the archive location in her memory if the baby didn't receive proper neonatal treatment."
Arthur looked toward Richard.
"Why Sterling Memorial?"
Daniel's eyes moved to his father.
"Because Anna knew Richard still had enough influence to prevent Mercer from simply killing the child."
Richard whispered, "I didn't know she was Rebecca's daughter until the transfer."
Daniel laughed.
"You expect us to believe that?"
"I knew the genome. Not the woman."
Arthur had heard enough.
"How do we get Anna back?"
Daniel looked at him.
"We give Mercer what he wants."
"No."
"We make him think we are."
Claire asked, "The archive?"
Daniel nodded.
"Anna remembers the location, but Mercer doesn't know she already told me."
"Where is it?"
Daniel looked at Arthur.
"In the one place my father would never voluntarily enter."
Richard's eyes widened.
"No."
Daniel smiled without humor.
"Yes."
Arthur asked, "Where?"
May you like
Daniel answered.
"Rebecca's grave."
