Chapter 9: The Second Baby
The old maternity room had been sealed since 1976.
It was located behind a narrow staircase at the far end of the east wing.
Emily had walked past the staircase dozens of times without noticing the small brass sign above the door.
*FAMILY MEDICAL SUITE.*
Margaret sat in her wheelchair beside her.
Rosa stood behind them, holding a flashlight.
end of the east wing.
Emily had walked past the staircase dozens of times without noticing the small brass sign above the door.
*FAMILY MEDICAL SUITE.*
Margaret sat in her wheelchair beside her.
Rosa stood behind them, holding a flashlight.
Emily examined the lock.
It had been replaced recently.
“James must have known someone might come here,” Rosa whispered.
Margaret shook her head.
She signed something.
He doesn't know.
Emily looked at her.
“Then who replaced the lock?””
Margaret pointed toward the door.
Then she held up two fingers.
Emily understood.
Two babies.
Two names.
Two secrets.
She tried the silver key from the nursery.
ItEmily examined the lock.
It had been replaced recently.
“James must have known someone might come here,” Rosa whispered.
Margaret shook her head.
She signed something.
He doesn't know.
Emily looked at her.
“Then who replaced the lock?””
Margaret pointed toward the door.
Then she held up two fingers.
Emily understood.
Two babies.
Two names.
Two secrets.
She tried the silver key from the nursery.
It didn't fit.
Then she remembered the brass pendant.
The falcon.
She turned it over.
A tiny key was hidden behind the engraved wings.
“Margaret…”
The didn't fit.
Then she remembered the brass pendant.
The falcon.
She turned it over.
A tiny key was hidden behind the engraved wings.
“Margaret…”
The old woman nodded.
Emily inserted the key.
The lock turned.
The door opened.
The room was small and dark.
Two narrow beds stood against opposite walls.
An old medical cabinet rested beside a cracked mirror.
A faded curtain separated the beds.
Emily old woman nodded.
Emily inserted the key.
The lock turned.
The door opened.
The room was small and dark.
Two narrow beds stood against opposite walls.
An old medical cabinet rested beside a cracked mirror.
A faded curtain separated the beds.
Emily stepped inside.
She immediately noticed two brass nameplates above the beds.
The first read:
*SARAH WHITMORE — OCTOBER 12, 1976.*
The second read:
**ELEANOR WHITMORE — OCTOBER 12, 1976 stepped inside.
She immediately noticed two brass nameplates above the beds.
The first read:
*SARAH WHITMORE — OCTOBER 12, 1976.*
The second read:
*ELEANOR WHITMORE — OCTOBER 12, 1976.*
Emily stared.
“Twins?””
Margaret began crying.
She signed.
Yes.
Emily turned toward her.
“Sarah and Eleanor were twins?””
Margaret nodded.
“Why did no one tell me?””
Margaret lowered her head.
Her.**
Emily stared.
“Twins?””
Margaret began crying.
She signed.
Yes.
Emily turned toward her.
“Sarah and Eleanor were twins?””
Margaret nodded.
“Why did no one tell me?””
Margaret lowered her head.
Her hands moved slowly.
Eleanor disappeared.
Emily looked at the second bed.
“What happened to her?””
Margaret signed again.
She was taken.
“By whom?””
Margaret shook her head.
Then she pointed toward the medical cabinet.
Emily opened it.
Inside were several old files, a silver rattle, and a bundle hands moved slowly.
Eleanor disappeared.
Emily looked at the second bed.
“What happened to her?””
Margaret signed again.
She was taken.
“By whom?””
Margaret shook her head.
Then she pointed toward the medical cabinet.
Emily opened it.
Inside were several old files, a silver rattle, and a bundle of hospital identification bracelets.
Two of them were white.
One had the name Sarah.
The other had the name Eleanor.
Emily picked them up.
Both were dated October 12, 1976.
She turned the bracelets over.
On the inside of each was the of hospital identification bracelets.
Two of them were white.
One had the name Sarah.
The other had the name Eleanor.
Emily picked them up.
Both were dated October 12, 1976.
She turned the bracelets over.
On the inside of each was the same tiny falcon.
She looked at her own wrist.
Three generations.
Three marks.
Or perhaps something much more complicated.
Rosa pulled out a file.
“This looks important.””
Emily opened it.
The first document was a birth record.
**Sarah Whitmore — healthy same tiny falcon.
She looked at her own wrist.
Three generations.
Three marks.
Or perhaps something much more complicated.
Rosa pulled out a file.
“This looks important.””
Emily opened it.
The first document was a birth record.
*Sarah Whitmore — healthy female infant.*
The second read:
*Eleanor Whitmore — female infant, transferred to private care.*
The transfer form was signed by Margaret.
But beneath her signature was another name.
*Dr. Thomas Bell.*
Emily frowned.
“Who's Thomas Bell?””
Margaret began signing.
The female infant.*
The second read:
*Eleanor Whitmore — female infant, transferred to private care.*
The transfer form was signed by Margaret.
But beneath her signature was another name.
*Dr. Thomas Bell.*
Emily frowned.
“Who's Thomas Bell?””
Margaret began signing.
The family doctor.
“Was he involved in the transfer?””
Margaret nodded.
“Where did Eleanor go?””
Margaret pointed toward the second file.
Inside was a letter.
Margaret,
The child is safe. You must keep Sarah away from the truth until the arrangement is complete. The two girls must never be raised together. Their identities must remain separate.
When family doctor.
“Was he involved in the transfer?””
Margaret nodded.
“Where did Eleanor go?””
Margaret pointed toward the second file.
Inside was a letter.
Margaret,
The child is safe. You must keep Sarah away from the truth until the arrangement is complete. The two girls must never be raised together. Their identities must remain separate.
When the time comes, the falcon will bring the family back together.
The letter was unsigned.
Emily looked at Margaret.
“You knew Eleanor was alive?””
Margaret nodded.
“How long?””
Margaret looked down.
Then raised both hands.
Always.
Emily felt a painful knot form in her throat.
“You knew your the time comes, the falcon will bring the family back together.*
The letter was unsigned.
Emily looked at Margaret.
“You knew Eleanor was alive?””
Margaret nodded.
“How long?””
Margaret looked down.
Then raised both hands.
Always.
Emily felt a painful knot form in her throat.
“You knew your daughter was alive, and you never told Sarah?””
Margaret shook her head.
She signed rapidly.
I tried.
Emily watched.
*I daughter was alive, and you never told Sarah?””
Margaret shook her head.
She signed rapidly.
I tried.
Emily watched.
I was threatened.
“By whom?””
Margaret turned toward the wall.
A small wooden cabinet stood beneath the mirror.
She pointed to it.
Emily opened the drawer.
Inside was a photograph.
Two newborn babies lay side by side.
Their wrists were marked with white hospital bands.
A woman stood behind them.
It was Margaret.
But there was another person in the photograph.
A man holding one of the was threatened.*
“By whom?””
Margaret turned toward the wall.
A small wooden cabinet stood beneath the mirror.
She pointed to it.
Emily opened the drawer.
Inside was a photograph.
Two newborn babies lay side by side.
Their wrists were marked with white hospital bands.
A woman stood behind them.
It was Margaret.
But there was another person in the photograph.
A man holding one of the babies.
Emily brought the picture closer.
The man was young.
Dark-haired.
His face was familiar.
She felt her stomach drop.
“That's Daniel.””
Marg babies.
Emily brought the picture closer.
The man was young.
Dark-haired.
His face was familiar.
She felt her stomach drop.
“That's Daniel.””
Margaret nodded.
Emily looked at the baby in Daniel's arms.
The identification bracelet was visible.
It read:
*ELEANOR.*
Emily's voice cracked.
“Dad was holding Eleanor?””
Margaret nodded again.
Emily studied the second baby.
The one in Margaret's arms wore the bracelet marked Sarah.
Then she noticed something strange.
The photograph was dated October 12, 1976.
The same date as Sarah and Eleanor's birth.
But Daniel had claimed Saraharet nodded.
Emily looked at the baby in Daniel's arms.
The identification bracelet was visible.
It read:
*ELEANOR.*
Emily's voice cracked.
“Dad was holding Eleanor?””
Margaret nodded again.
Emily studied the second baby.
The one in Margaret's arms wore the bracelet marked Sarah.
Then she noticed something strange.
The photograph was dated October 12, 1976.
The same date as Sarah and Eleanor's birth.
But Daniel had claimed Sarah gave birth to Emily in 2000.
Emily felt her thoughts collide.
“Margaret, why is this photograph here?””
Margaret looked at her.
She signed slowly.
Eleanor grew up.
“Where?””
Margaret pointed toward Emily.
Then signed:
Sarah found her.
Emily stopped breathing.
“My mother found Eleanor gave birth to Emily in 2000.
Emily felt her thoughts collide.
“Margaret, why is this photograph here?””
Margaret looked at her.
She signed slowly.
Eleanor grew up.
“Where?””
Margaret pointed toward Emily.
Then signed:
Sarah found her.
Emily stopped breathing.
“My mother found Eleanor?””
Margaret nodded.
“Who was she?””
Margaret took Emily's wrist.
She traced the falcon tattoo.
Then pointed at the photograph.
Emily looked from the baby to the image of the woman holding her.
The child's eyes were closed.
The face was too small?””
Margaret nodded.
“Who was she?””
Margaret took Emily's wrist.
She traced the falcon tattoo.
Then pointed at the photograph.
Emily looked from the baby to the image of the woman holding her.
The child's eyes were closed.
The face was too small to recognize.
But the hospital bracelet was unmistakable.
Margaret signed one more sentence.
Eleanor became Sarah.
Emily stumbled backward.
“No.””
Margaret nodded through her tears.
Emily shook her head.
“You're saying my mother wasn't Sarah?””
Margaret grabbed her hand.
She signed to recognize.
But the hospital bracelet was unmistakable.
Margaret signed one more sentence.
Eleanor became Sarah.
Emily stumbled backward.
“No.””
Margaret nodded through her tears.
Emily shook her head.
“You're saying my mother wasn't Sarah?””
Margaret grabbed her hand.
She signed desperately.
Sarah was raised as Eleanor.
Emily stared at the old woman.
The room seemed to tilt.
“Then who was the baby named Sarah?””
Margaret looked toward the ceiling.
Her hands trembled.
She signed a name.
*Evelyn.*
Emily's mouth fell open.
“ desperately.
Sarah was raised as Eleanor.
Emily stared at the old woman.
The room seemed to tilt.
“Then who was the baby named Sarah?””
Margaret looked toward the ceiling.
Her hands trembled.
She signed a name.
*Evelyn.*
Emily's mouth fell open.
“Evelyn was Sarah?””
Margaret nodded.
The woman who had been reported dead.
The woman who had appeared in the conservatory.
The woman who had been shot.
She had not been an aunt.
She had beenEvelyn was Sarah?””
Margaret nodded.
The woman who had been reported dead.
The woman who had appeared in the conservatory.
The woman who had been shot.
She had not been an aunt.
She had been Emily's mother.
Emily covered her mouth.
“No…”
Margaret tried to speak, but only a strained sound escaped her throat.
She pointed toward the photograph again.
Then made a gesture of rocking Emily's mother.
Emily covered her mouth.
“No…”
Margaret tried to speak, but only a strained sound escaped her throat.
She pointed toward the photograph again.
Then made a gesture of rocking a baby.
Emily understood.
Sarah Whitmore had been raised under the name Eleanor.
Evelyn had been raised under the name Sarah.
The sisters' identities had been switched at birth.
And the woman Emily had called Sarah Carter had been Eleanor Whitmore.
Her real mother.
The woman she had just met in the conservatory, a baby.
Emily understood.
Sarah Whitmore had been raised under the name Eleanor.
Evelyn had been raised under the name Sarah.
The sisters' identities had been switched at birth.
And the woman Emily had called Sarah Carter had been Eleanor Whitmore.
Her real mother.
The woman she had just met in the conservatory, the woman believed to be Evelyn, was actually the twin who had been given the name Sarah at birth.
Emily's head spun.
She remembered the old woman's face.
The similarity.
The falcon tattoo.
the woman believed to be Evelyn, was actually the twin who had been given the name Sarah at birth.
Emily's head spun.
She remembered the old woman's face.
The similarity.
The falcon tattoo.
Her words.
Your mother didn't hide it here.
But why had she said that?
Emily looked at Margaret.
“Why did they switch the names?””
Margaret signed.
*One child was born with a heart conditionHer words.
Your mother didn't hide it here.
But why had she said that?
Emily looked at Margaret.
“Why did they switch the names?””
Margaret signed.
One child was born with a heart condition.
“Which child?””
Margaret pointed toward the photograph of the baby marked Eleanor.
Then she pointed toward Emily.
Your mother.
Emily stared.
“Sarah was sick?””
Margaret nodded.*
“Which child?””
Margaret pointed toward the photograph of the baby marked Eleanor.
Then she pointed toward Emily.
Your mother.
Emily stared.
“Sarah was sick?””
Margaret nodded.
The doctors said she would not survive.
Emily's eyes filled.
“So Evelyn took.
The doctors said she would not survive.
Emily's eyes filled.
“So Evelyn took her place?””
Margaret shook her head.
Then signed something that made Emily's blood run cold.
No. The names were switched because one baby was stolen.
Emily looked at the two bracelets.
“Who stole her?””
Margaret pointed to the medical file.
Emily opened it again.
Behind the transfer form was a letter dated October 13, 1976.
her place?””
Margaret shook her head.
Then signed something that made Emily's blood run cold.
No. The names were switched because one baby was stolen.
Emily looked at the two bracelets.
“Who stole her?””
Margaret pointed to the medical file.
Emily opened it again.
Behind the transfer form was a letter dated October 13, 1976.
It had been written by Margaret's father.
*I have made arrangements for the child to be removed from the family records. She will be raisedIt had been written by Margaret's father.
I have made arrangements for the child to be removed from the family records. She will be raised elsewhere until the matter is settled.
At the bottom was his signature.
*Edward Whitmore.*
Emily looked up.
“But Edward died before I was born.””
Margaret nodded.
Then she pointed toward the family register.
A page had been folded inside the file.
Emily pulled elsewhere until the matter is settled.*
At the bottom was his signature.
*Edward Whitmore.*
Emily looked up.
“But Edward died before I was born.””
Margaret nodded.
Then she pointed toward the family register.
A page had been folded inside the file.
Emily pulled it out.
There were two names.
Eleanor Whitmore.
Sarah Whitmore.
And beside them, a third name.
*James Whitmore.*
it out.
There were two names.
Eleanor Whitmore.
Sarah Whitmore.
And beside them, a third name.
*James Whitmore.*
Emily stared.
“James was involved?””
Margaret nodded.
She signed urgently.
He found out years later.
“About the babies?””
Margaret nodded.
“And he used itEmily stared.
“James was involved?””
Margaret nodded.
She signed urgently.
He found out years later.
“About the babies?””
Margaret nodded.
“And he used it to control you?””
Margaret looked away.
Emily gently took her hand.
“Grandmother, why did you let him?””
Margaret began signing.
Because I was protecting the wrong child.
Emily frowned.
“What does to control you?””
Margaret looked away.
Emily gently took her hand.
“Grandmother, why did you let him?””
Margaret began signing.
Because I was protecting the wrong child.
Emily frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Margaret pointed toward the medical cabinet.
Then toward the photograph.
Then she made a gesture of two fingers separating.
Emily looked down.
A final page had been hidden behind the photograph.
It contained an original family statement.
The handwriting was old.
The paper was brittle.
But the signature at the bottom was clear.
*Margaret Whitmore.*
The statement read:
I, Margaret Whitmore, acknowledge that the infant known publicly as Sarah is not the child who was born under that name. The original child was removed under my instructions. The surviving child was given the identity of her sister to prevent the destruction of the family trust.
Emily's mouth went dry.
The surviving child.
Who was she?
Margaret took Emily's hands and signed.
*You that mean?””
Margaret pointed toward the medical cabinet.
Then toward the photograph.
Then she made a gesture of two fingers separating.
Emily looked down.
A final page had been hidden behind the photograph.
It contained an original family statement.
The handwriting was old.
The paper was brittle.
But the signature at the bottom was clear.
*Margaret Whitmore.*
The statement read:
I, Margaret Whitmore, acknowledge that the infant known publicly as Sarah is not the child who was born under that name. The original child was removed under my instructions. The surviving child was given the identity of her sister to prevent the destruction of the family trust.
Emily's mouth went dry.
The surviving child.
Who was she?
Margaret took Emily's hands and signed.
You are not the first child I lost.
Emily stared at her grandmother.
“Then who was I?””
Margaret turned toward the medical cabinet.
She pointed to the bottom drawer.
Inside was a small envelope sealed with wax.
The falcon.
Emily opened it.
A single page lay inside.
It was a hospital are not the first child I lost.*
Emily stared at her grandmother.
“Then who was I?””
Margaret turned toward the medical cabinet.
She pointed to the bottom drawer.
Inside was a small envelope sealed with wax.
The falcon.
Emily opened it.
A single page lay inside.
It was a hospital record.
The date was October 12, 2000.
The child's name was *Emily Sarah Whitmore*.
But the mother listed was neither Sarah nor Eleanor.
It was *Margaret Whitmore*.
Emily looked up, confused.
“That's impossible.””
Margaret nodded.
Then she signed record.
The date was October 12, 2000.
The child's name was *Emily Sarah Whitmore*.
But the mother listed was neither Sarah nor Eleanor.
It was *Margaret Whitmore*.
Emily looked up, confused.
“That's impossible.””
Margaret nodded.
Then she signed slowly.
I gave birth to you.
The room went silent.
Emily felt the words land like stones.
“Then Sarah…”
Margaret's eyes filled.
She signed:
She raised you as her own because I couldn't.
Emily looked at the record again.
Her slowly.
I gave birth to you.
The room went silent.
Emily felt the words land like stones.
“Then Sarah…”
Margaret's eyes filled.
She signed:
She raised you as her own because I couldn't.
Emily looked at the record again.
Her grandmother had been her biological mother.
Sarah had been the woman who raised her.
Daniel had been her father.
And the falcon had marked the child who had been hidden from the entire family.
But there was still one question.
“Why did Sarah take me away?””
Margaret reached for the final document.
Her hand grandmother had been her biological mother.
Sarah had been the woman who raised her.
Daniel had been her father.
And the falcon had marked the child who had been hidden from the entire family.
But there was still one question.
“Why did Sarah take me away?””
Margaret reached for the final document.
Her hand shook.
She turned it over.
On the reverse side was a short note in James's handwriting.
The child must be removed before the mother discovers what the original agreement means.
Emily felt sick.
“James knew?””
Margaret nodded.
“Then he knew you were his mother?””
Margaret suddenly shook shook.
She turned it over.
On the reverse side was a short note in James's handwriting.
The child must be removed before the mother discovers what the original agreement means.
Emily felt sick.
“James knew?””
Margaret nodded.
“Then he knew you were his mother?””
Margaret suddenly shook her head.
She signed one final sentence.
He knew I had given birth to you. He did not know why.
Emily frowned.
“Why does that matter?””
Margaret looked toward the door.
Then she made a sign Emily had never seen before.
A sign for death.
She pointed toward the conservatory.
Then toward the photograph her head.
She signed one final sentence.
He knew I had given birth to you. He did not know why.
Emily frowned.
“Why does that matter?””
Margaret looked toward the door.
Then she made a sign Emily had never seen before.
A sign for death.
She pointed toward the conservatory.
Then toward the photograph of Evelyn.
And finally, she signed:
The wrong sister died.
Emily's heart stopped.
Because she suddenly remembered the gunshot.
The woman in the conservatory had called herself Evelyn.
But of Evelyn.
And finally, she signed:
The wrong sister died.
Emily's heart stopped.
Because she suddenly remembered the gunshot.
The woman in the conservatory had called herself Evelyn.
But what if she had been telling the truth about who she was?
What if the identity switch had continued for another twenty-five years?
A knock sounded at the door.
Rosa hurried inside, pale and breathless.
“Emily, the police have called.””
“What happened?””
She swallowed.
“They've identified the woman from the conservatory.””
Emily gripped the edge of the cabinet.
“Who is she?””
Rosa looked at Margaret.
Then back at Emily.
“The hospital says what if she had been telling the truth about who she was?
What if the identity switch had continued for another twenty-five years?
A knock sounded at the door.
Rosa hurried inside, pale and breathless.
“Emily, the police have called.””
“What happened?””
She swallowed.
“They've identified the woman from the conservatory.””
Emily gripped the edge of the cabinet.
“Who is she?””
Rosa looked at Margaret.
Then back at Emily.
“The hospital says her real name is Eleanor Whitmore.””
Margaret began sobbing.
Emily looked toward the photograph.
The woman who had just been shot was not the sister everyone believed.
And the person who had ordered the shooting was still free her real name is Eleanor Whitmore.””
Margaret began sobbing.
Emily looked toward the photograph.
The woman who had just been shot was not the sister everyone believed.
And the person who had ordered the shooting was still free.
A final message appeared on Emily's phone.
It was from Daniel.
Emily, don't trust Margaret. The first page isn't in the nursery. And there's something else I never told you.
A second message followed.
James has been protecting the real killer.
Then came a photograph.
It showed the original witness register.
And standing beside it was a woman Emily recognized immediately.
Margaret.
But she wasn't old.
She was young, smiling, and holding a newborn baby.
The caption beneath the photograph read:
*October 12, 2000 — The night the second child was born.*
Emily slowly turned toward her grandmother.
.
A final message appeared on Emily's phone.
It was from Daniel.
Emily, don't trust Margaret. The first page isn't in the nursery. And there's something else I never told you.
A second message followed.
James has been protecting the real killer.
Then came a photograph.
It showed the original witness register.
And standing beside it was a woman Emily recognized immediately.
Margaret.
But she wasn't old.
She was young, smiling, and holding a newborn baby.
The caption beneath the photograph read:
*October 12, 2000 — The night the second child was born.*
Emily slowly turned toward her grandmother.
“Who else was in that room?””
Margaret closed her eyes.
And for the first time, she signed a name that made Emily understand why James had been so desperate to keep the register hidden.
*Thomas Whitmore.*
The man who had supposedly died before Emily was born.
The man whose signature appeared“Who else was in that room?””
Margaret closed her eyes.
And for the first time, she signed a name that made Emily understand why James had been so desperate to keep the register hidden.
*Thomas Whitmore.*
The man who had supposedly died before Emily was born.
The man whose signature appeared on the original agreement.
The man who, according to the newest photograph, had been holding Emily when she was born.
And the man on the original agreement.
May you like
The man who, according to the newest photograph, had been holding Emily when she was born.
And the man Daniel had just revealed was still alive. Daniel had just revealed was still alive.
