Chapter 9: The Three DNA Tests
The police found Vanessa's car twenty minutes later.
It was parked outside a small motel near the highway.
But Vanessa wasn't inside.
Neither was Madison.
A motel employee told officers that a woman matching Vanessa's description had checked out less than fifteen minutes earlier.
She had been carrying a pink suitcase.
And a little girl.
I sat in the back of Detective Morgan's vehicle, staring at Madison's photograph.
The little girl was smiling.
Her birthday crown sat crooked on her head.
She had frosting on her nose.
I remembered how she'd looked when I first met her.
How she had run toward Vanessa when I came home.
How she'd called her Mommy.
I couldn't imagine what she was experiencing now.
My phone rang.
Sarah.
I answered immediately.
"Sarah?""
"Daniel, I heard from the detective. Is it true?""
I swallowed.
"Madison is missing.""
Sarah began crying.
"Is she my baby?""
"We have a DNA report suggesting she is.""
There was a long silence.
Then she whispered:
"I knew it.""
I looked at the detective.
"What do you mean?""
Sarah took a shaky breath.
"When Vanessa first brought the baby home, I knew something was wrong.""
"Why?""
"Because the baby had a small birthmark near her right ear. I remembered it from the hospital.""
I closed my eyes.
The photograph of the twins.
The birthmark.
Everything was beginning to connect.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?""
"I did. I contacted the hospital. But Vanessa showed them a document claiming I had agreed to the transfer.""
"Did they investigate?""
"Not properly. They said it was a private guardianship arrangement.""
I felt anger rising.
"Sarah, did you know Vanessa was keeping Emma?""
"No. I thought Emma had been placed with a relative.""
"She was in my house.""
Sarah began sobbing.
"Daniel, I'm so sorry.""
I closed my eyes.
"Don't apologize. You trusted someone who lied to you.""
She was quiet for a moment.
Then she asked:
"Have you seen the twins?""
"Emma is with me. Madison is missing.""
Sarah made a small sound.
"Can I see Emma?""
"Of course.""
"I want to see my baby.""
"We'll arrange it.""
The detective signaled that we had reached the motel.
I ended the call.
Inside the room, officers found a receipt, an empty suitcase, and a small plastic bracelet.
The bracelet had a name written on it.
*Madison.*
There was also a handwritten note on the bedside table.
You will never understand what I did for these children.
Detective Morgan read it twice.
Then she placed it in an evidence bag.
I looked around the room.
"Where would she go?""
Morgan examined the receipt.
"She paid cash.""
"Does she have family nearby?""
"Her parents live out of state. We're contacting them.""
I paced across the room.
"She's not going to stop.""
Morgan looked at me.
"Why do you say that?""
"Because she thinks she's entitled to these children.""
The detective nodded.
"We're treating this as a serious abduction investigation.""
An officer approached.
"Detective, we recovered a vehicle registration from the parking lot camera.""
Morgan turned.
"Where?""
"An older SUV. Registered to Marcus Bell.""
My stomach tightened.
"Marcus is helping her?""
"We don't know yet.""
The detective immediately contacted the officers at his apartment.
They reported that Marcus had disappeared.
His apartment was empty.
His phone was switched off.
And a neighbor had seen him leaving with two bags.
I stared at the detective.
"He's running with her.""
Morgan's jaw tightened.
"Possibly.""
My phone vibrated.
A message.
From Marcus.
I can tell you where Vanessa is. But you need to promise I won't be arrested.
I handed the phone to Detective Morgan.
She read it.
"Reply that we need the location.""
I typed:
Tell me where she is.
The response came almost immediately.
Old summer house. Route 16. She has Madison with her.
Detective Morgan took the phone.
"That's enough.""
She contacted the local department and requested assistance.
Then she looked at me.
"Mr. Carter, you're staying here.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
"That's not a request.""
"She's my daughter.""
"And you're not trained to handle an armed or unpredictable suspect.""
I stared at her.
"Do you think Vanessa has a weapon?""
"We don't know.""
I swallowed.
"Then let me come.""
Morgan studied me for a moment.
"You can follow in another vehicle. You will not approach the property.""
I nodded.
That was all I could ask for.
The old summer house belonged to Vanessa's family.
It sat beyond a narrow road surrounded by trees.
The police arrived shortly before midnight.
I stayed in the car as instructed.
My hands were shaking.
The radio crackled.
"Units approaching the main entrance.""
A pause.
"Vehicle located.""
Another pause.
"One female subject visible through the window.""
Then I heard a voice.
Vanessa.
"Stay back!""
A police officer spoke calmly.
"Vanessa, we need you to come outside.""
"Go away!""
"We know Madison is with you.""
"She's my daughter!""
I closed my eyes.
Then a child's voice came through the open window.
"Mommy, I want Daddy.""
My heart stopped.
Madison.
The officers continued negotiating.
Vanessa's voice became hysterical.
"Daniel is trying to destroy our family!""
The officer responded.
"Nobody is here to hurt you. We need to make sure Madison is safe.""
"She belongs to me!""
I gripped the steering wheel.
Then the radio crackled again.
"Subject is coming out.""
I held my breath.
The passenger door opened.
An officer stepped out.
Then Vanessa appeared.
She was wearing a gray sweater, her hair disheveled.
Madison stood behind her, holding a small stuffed rabbit.
The officer approached slowly.
"Vanessa, please step away from the child.""
"No.""
"Madison needs to come with us.""
"She's not going anywhere!""
Madison began crying.
"Mommy, please.""
Vanessa crouched and grabbed her shoulders.
"Listen to me, sweetheart. They are trying to take you away from the only mother you've ever known.""
Madison shook her head.
"I want Daddy.""
Vanessa's face changed.
She looked toward the police vehicles.
Then toward my car.
She saw me.
Even from a distance, I could see the hatred in her eyes.
"You!""
She pointed at me.
"You're doing this!""
An officer moved between us.
"Ma'am, step back.""
Vanessa suddenly released Madison.
The little girl ran.
One officer caught her gently.
"You're okay, sweetheart.""
Madison began sobbing.
I opened my car door but stopped when Detective Morgan raised her hand.
She was safe.
I waited until an officer brought her to me.
Then I crouched.
"Madison.""
She threw herself into my arms.
"Daddy!""
I held her tightly.
"I'm here.""
She cried against my shoulder.
"Mommy said you didn't want me.""
I closed my eyes.
"That's not true.""
"She said I wasn't really your daughter.""
I swallowed.
"Madison, we're going to find out the truth. But no matter what the tests say, nobody is going to hurt you.""
She looked up.
"Can I still see Lily?""
I smiled through my tears.
"Yes.""
"And Emma?""
"Yes.""
She nodded.
Then she whispered:
"Mommy said Emma was bad because she took my place.""
I felt my entire body go cold.
"What do you mean?""
Madison wiped her eyes.
"Mommy said Emma was supposed to be me. She said the hospital made a mistake.""
I looked toward Detective Morgan.
The detective had been listening.
She immediately crouched beside Madison.
"Sweetheart, do you remember anything else?""
Madison nodded.
"Mommy had pictures.""
"What pictures?""
"Of three babies.""
My stomach tightened.
"Three?""
Madison nodded.
"She said one baby was supposed to disappear.""
The detective exchanged a look with her partner.
"Did she say which one?""
Madison shook her head.
"She said Daddy would never know.""
I looked toward Vanessa.
She was being placed inside a police vehicle.
Her face was expressionless now.
The detective stood.
"We need to get the girls tested as soon as possible.""
I nodded.
"All three?""
"All three.""
The next morning, the hospital arranged independent DNA testing.
Sarah arrived shortly before noon.
She was pale and thin, still recovering from surgery, but the moment she saw Emma, she began crying.
"Baby.""
Emma looked at her.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Then Sarah knelt.
"Emma, it's Mommy.""
Emma's eyes filled.
"Mommy?""
Sarah opened her arms.
Emma ran into them.
I stood nearby, unable to hold back my tears.
Lily watched quietly.
Madison sat beside me.
Three little girls.
Three complicated lives.
And one woman who had tried to decide who deserved to be loved.
The DNA samples were collected.
A nurse gently swabbed each child's cheek.
Then mine.
Then Sarah's.
The laboratory promised expedited results.
While we waited, Detective Morgan came into the consultation room.
"I need to update you on Vanessa.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"She's been formally arrested on suspicion of child abuse, unlawful confinement, fraud, and child abduction. The investigation is ongoing.""
I nodded.
"Did she say anything?""
The detective hesitated.
"She insists that the children are better off with her.""
I shook my head.
"Of course she does.""
Morgan placed a small recording device on the table.
"She also made a statement about Lily.""
My stomach tightened.
"What statement?""
"She claims Lily isn't your biological daughter.""
I stared at her.
"Why would she say that?""
"She says she has evidence.""
I looked toward Lily.
She was sitting beside Sarah, coloring a picture.
I felt a terrible fear rising.
"Did she explain?""
"Not yet.""
Then Detective Morgan handed me an envelope.
It contained a photograph of a hospital bracelet.
The name printed on it was Lily Carter.
But the date was different from the one on Lily's birth certificate.
I looked at the detective.
"What's this?""
Morgan's voice lowered.
"We believe Vanessa may have altered Lily's birth records too.""
My chest tightened.
"Then who is Lily's mother?""
The detective looked toward Sarah.
Sarah had heard the question.
Her face went pale.
She stood slowly.
Then she whispered:
"Daniel...""
I turned.
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
"I think Vanessa took all three of my babies.""
May you like
Before I could answer, the laboratory called.
The DNA results were ready.
