Chapter 5 - The Woman From Luke’s Past
The police searched Luke’s house before midnight.
I watched through a video call from my hospital room as officers moved through the rooms where I had built my life.
The kitchen where we celebrated birthdays.
The living room where Eli played with his toys.
The nursery we painted three months ago.
The nursery where my daughter was supposed to sleep.
Every corner of that house now felt like a stranger.
Detective Harris called after the search.
“We found documents.”
My fingers tightened around my phone.
“What kind of documents?”
“Adoption records.”
I frowned.
“Adoption?”
“Yes.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Harris was quiet.
“Mia, the records are not normal.”
My heart started beating faster.
“What do you mean?”
“The names were changed.”
I closed my eyes.
“How many?”
“Three.”
Three.
Three different babies.
Three different identities.
I felt sick.
“Was Luke involved?”
The detective didn’t answer immediately.
That was enough.
After the call ended, Camille stayed beside me.
“You need to rest.”
I looked at her.
“How can I sleep when my baby is somewhere out there?”
Camille didn’t have an answer.
Nobody did.
Then Rachel entered my room.
The other mother.
The woman whose baby was in my room.
She looked broken.
But she also looked determined.
“I need to tell you something.”
I nodded.
“What?”
She sat down.
“Luke wasn’t a stranger to me.”
My body went cold.
“You knew him?”
Rachel nodded.
“Six months ago.”
“How?”
“He contacted me.”
The room became silent.
“Why?”
Rachel looked down.
“He said he was helping families with medical expenses.”
My hands curled into fists.
“He lied.”
“Yes.”
Rachel pulled out her phone.
“There are messages.”
She showed me the screen.
Luke’s name appeared.
The messages were polite.
Friendly.
Almost caring.
But then I saw the last one.
Your daughter will be safe if you cooperate.
My blood froze.
“He threatened you?”
Rachel nodded.
“He knew things about my family.”
“What things?”
“My financial problems.”
My stomach turned.
Luke had chosen her.
Not randomly.
He studied her.
He planned everything.
Then Detective Harris rushed back into the room.
“Mia, we found your husband.”
My heart jumped.
“Where?”
“At the old Callahan property.”
The detective looked serious.
“He was trying to access a locked storage room.”
“What was inside?”
Harris stared at me.
“Something connected to Eli’s childhood.”
A few minutes later, they showed me a photo.
A small room.
Dusty.
Hidden behind a false wall.
Inside were dozens of files.
Photographs.
Hospital bracelets.
And one picture.
I knew immediately who it was.
A younger Luke.
Holding a newborn baby.
Standing beside another woman.
The woman was crying.
May you like
And written on the back of the photo were four words:
She was never found.
