Chapter 13 - The Person Who Knew Everything
The name on the document burned into my mind.
Camille Ross.
I stared at the paper.
Then at the woman standing beside me.
The nurse who held my hand after surgery.
The woman who discovered the broken bracelet.
The woman who helped find my daughter.
My mind refused to accept it.
“No.”
My voice came out quietly.
“That’s not possible.”
Detective Harris looked uncomfortable.
“We’re not saying she did it.”
“Then why is her name here?”
Nobody answered.
Camille stood frozen.
Her face had lost all color.
“Mia…”
I looked at her.
“Tell me.”
A long silence passed.
Then she whispered:
“I knew this day would come.”
My heart sank.
“What does that mean?”
Camille sat down.
“I wasn’t just a nurse.”
The room became silent.
“I worked with Vanessa Reed six years ago.”
Luke looked up sharply.
“You knew about the fertility records.”
Camille nodded.
“Yes.”
My chest tightened.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Tears appeared in her eyes.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Of what would happen if the truth came out.”
I stared at her.
“You knew children were taken from their families.”
Camille closed her eyes.
“I knew records were changed.”
“Records?”
She looked at Eli.
“I didn’t know babies were physically switched.”
The distinction didn’t make me feel better.
Because the result was the same.
Families were destroyed.
Children grew up believing lies.
Mothers lost years they could never recover.
Detective Harris opened another folder.
“We found financial transfers.”
Everyone turned.
“Between Daniel Cross and someone using a private account.”
“Whose?”
The detective looked at Camille.
“Someone using your identity.”
Camille covered her mouth.
“I didn’t do this.”
“I believe you,” Harris said.
“But someone wanted us to believe you did.”
A terrifying realization hit me.
Someone was still moving pieces.
Still controlling the story.
Then Eli suddenly spoke.
“I know who.”
Everyone looked at him.
The little boy was staring at the photograph on the table.
A photograph of Luke’s old office.
“The person in the picture.”
I frowned.
“What picture?”
Eli pointed.
“The person who came to Dad’s office.”
Detective Harris leaned closer.
“Who?”
Eli swallowed.
“She wore the same necklace.”
Camille looked at the image.
Then her expression changed.
“No…”
“What?”
Camille whispered a name.
“Victoria Hale.”
Nobody moved.
May you like
Because Victoria Hale was not supposed to exist.
She had been listed as deceased six years ago.
