Chapter 4: The Man With the Ring
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Eli's words hung in the room like smoke.
“He was wearing Dad's wedding ring.””
I looked at Luke.
His left hand was empty.
My eyes dropped to his right hand.
Empty too.
“Where is your ring?”” I asked.
Luke didn't answer.
The security officer holding his arm glanced down.
“Sir?””
Luke's breathing became shallow.
“I took it off.””
“Why?”” I asked.
“It was uncomfortable.””
“You've worn that ring every day for seven years.””
He looked at me.
“I took it off tonight.””
“Where?””
“I don't remember.””
Eli shook his head.
“You gave it to him.””
Luke's face hardened.
“Eli, stop talking.””
“No!””
The boy pressed himself against my bed.
“You gave him your ring in the hallway.””
Luke looked at the security officer.
“Take him out of here.””
I nearly laughed.
It was such an absurd request that for a moment the terror inside me broke.
“Take my son out of here?””
Luke's eyes flicked toward me.
“I'm trying to keep him safe.””
“You've been trying to keep everyone quiet.””
The nurse manager turned to the security guard.
“Keep Mr. Mercer here.””
Then she looked at me.
“Mrs. Mercer, you cannot go anywhere in your condition.””
“I know.””
“But whoever has your daughter may be dangerous.””
“I know that too.””
Madison stepped forward.
“I'll go.””
I looked at her.
“No.””
“She has my baby.””
“And mine.””
Madison's face crumpled.
For the first time, I saw something besides fear in her eyes.
Guilt.
“You don't understand,” she whispered.
“Then explain.””
She looked at Luke.
“I was desperate.””
Luke shook his head.
“Madison.””
“No.””
She turned toward me.
“I was desperate, and he knew it.””
“What did he promise you?””
She swallowed.
“That he could fix everything.””
“What everything?””
“My baby was going to be taken from me.””
“By who?””
“My husband.””
The room went silent.
Madison wiped her cheeks.
“He had money. Lawyers. He'd already filed paperwork saying I was unfit.””
I stared at her.
“And Luke was involved?””
She nodded.
“He said he could make Ava disappear before my husband could get custody.””
I felt sick.
“You agreed to this?””
“I agreed to meet him.””
“That isn't the same thing.””
“I know.””
Her voice broke.
“I didn't agree to steal your daughter.””
Luke suddenly shouted, “That's not what happened!””
Everyone turned.
The security guard tightened his grip.
Luke stared at Madison.
“You don't know what you're talking about.””
“I saw you,” she said.
“You were drugged.””
“I wasn't.””
“You were barely conscious.””
“I remember everything.””
Luke's face tightened.
Madison stepped closer.
“You told me my baby would be born first.””
He said nothing.
“You told me there would be a few minutes when nobody would notice.””
Still nothing.
“You told me Claire's baby would be easier to identify.””
My stomach turned.
“What does that mean?””
Madison looked at me.
“She said she wanted your baby.””
The words hit me like a slap.
I stared at Luke.
“Why?””
He looked away.
“I don't know.””
Madison laughed through her tears.
“You know exactly why.””
The nurse manager stepped forward.
“Mrs. Hale, what does she mean?””
Madison pointed at Luke.
“He said Claire's baby was worth more.””
My mouth went dry.
“Worth more?””
Luke finally looked at me.
“Claire, please.””
“No.””
I could barely breathe.
“You're going to explain.””
He said nothing.
“Why was my baby worth more?””
“I didn't sell anyone.””
“I didn't ask if you sold her.””
His silence grew heavier.
“What did you promise someone?””
Luke's eyes filled with something that looked almost like regret.
Then his phone rang again.
The same unknown number.
The security officer answered.
“Who is this?””
The voice on the other end was calm.
“Put Luke on.””
“No.””
A pause.
Then:
“If Luke doesn't come upstairs, the baby dies.””
Madison screamed.
I felt every muscle in my body go cold.
The nurse manager grabbed the phone.
“Who are you?””
The caller laughed softly.
“You're wasting time.””
The line went dead.
I looked at Luke.
“You're going upstairs.””
He stared at me.
“What?””
“You heard him.””
“You don't understand.””
“I understand enough.””
The security officer shook his head.
“You're not going anywhere.””
I looked at him.
“If he knows where my daughter is, you need him alive.””
The officer hesitated.
The nurse manager's expression hardened.
“I agree.””
She pointed at Luke.
“But he does not go alone.””
Luke shook his head.
“No.””
I watched him carefully.
“Why not?””
“Because whoever is up there wants me.””
“Exactly.””
His eyes met mine.
I saw the calculation happening behind them.
He didn't want to go.
Not because he was afraid for himself.
Because he was afraid of what was waiting upstairs.
I turned to the nurse manager.
“Get the police.””
“Already called.””
“Good.””
Madison grabbed my hand.
“Claire.””
I looked at her.
“I need to tell you something before they come.””
“What?””
She glanced at Luke.
“He wasn't alone when he switched the babies.””
Luke's face went blank.
“Madison.””
“There was another person.””
“Who?””
She lowered her voice.
“The nurse.””
The nurse manager stiffened.
“Which nurse?””
“I don't know her name.””
“What did she look like?””
“Dark hair. Small. She had a tattoo behind her ear.””
The nurse manager exchanged a glance with the other nurse.
Then she turned pale.
“That's impossible.””
“Why?””
“She wasn't assigned to this floor.””
My pulse jumped.
“Who was she?””
The nurse manager didn't answer immediately.
Then she whispered,
“Dr. Grant's surgical assistant.””
Luke suddenly stepped backward.
The security officer caught his arm.
“Sir?””
Luke looked toward the door.
“Get me out of here.””
“Why?””
His voice broke.
“Because she wasn't supposed to be here tonight.””
I stared at him.
“Who?””
He looked at me.
And this time, he didn't lie.
“Rachel.””
Madison's eyes widened.
“No.””
Luke nodded slowly.
“She came back.””
A sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Getting closer.
The nurse manager raised her hand.
Everyone fell silent.
The footsteps stopped outside the door.
Then someone knocked.
Three times.
Luke whispered one word.
“Run.””
May you like
The door opened.
And the woman standing there was wearing my husband's wedding ring.
