Chapter 43 - THE SECOND BABY WAS TAKEN BY SOMEONE INSIDE SOFIA'S FAMILY—BUT THE SECURITY VIDEO SHOWED A FACE EVERYONE TRUSTED
The video was grainy.
The timestamp read 2:14 a.m.
A woman entered New Dawn Children's Center through the rear medical corridor.
She wore a dark coat and a surgical mask.
Her face remained partially hidden.
But Sofia recognized the way she walked.
The slight stiffness in her left knee.
The careful movement of her shoulders.
The familiar gesture of adjusting her sleeve.
Sofia whispered, "No."
Daniel leaned closer.
"What?"
The woman removed her mask.
Isabella Ramirez.
Sofia's mother.
The room became silent.
Daniel looked at Sofia.
"That can't be right."
Sofia stared at the screen.
Isabella approached the nurse.
They exchanged a few words.
Then the nurse handed her the infant carrier.
Isabella signed a document.
And walked away.
Sofia felt as though the floor had disappeared beneath her.
"Call her."
Daniel hesitated.
"Sofia—"
"Call her."
He dialed.
No answer.
Sofia called.
Again.
And again.
Finally, Isabella answered.
"Sweetheart?"
Sofia closed her eyes.
"Mom."
"What's wrong?"
"Where are you?"
"At home."
"Are you alone?"
A pause.
"Yes."
Sofia stared at the video.
"Did you go to Pennsylvania last night?"
Silence.
"Mom?"
Isabella's breathing changed.
"Sofia, listen to me."
"Did you take a baby from New Dawn Children's Center?"
Another silence.
Then Isabella whispered, "Yes."
Sofia felt tears fill her eyes.
"Why?"
"Because someone called me."
"Who?"
"I can't tell you over the phone."
"Where is the baby?"
"Safe."
Sofia's voice broke.
"Please don't say that word unless you can prove it."
Isabella began crying.
"I know."
"Mom, we've spent years trying to stop people from hiding children."
"I know."
"Then why would you do this?"
Isabella whispered, "Because I recognized the person who brought her there."
Sofia froze.
"Who?"
"Someone from before you were born."
"Name."
Isabella hesitated.
Then the line went dead.
Sofia stared at her phone.
Daniel immediately called Marcus.
Security confirmed Isabella's house was empty.
Her car was gone.
Her phone had been switched off.
For the next hour, Sofia fought the instinct to race blindly toward every possible location.
Instead, investigators obtained the relevant transport records.
A traffic camera showed Isabella's vehicle leaving Pennsylvania.
She had been alone when she arrived.
But the infant carrier was visible in the back seat when she departed.
Sofia studied the image.
"She's protecting somebody."
Daniel nodded.
"Maybe."
"Or somebody is using her."
"Also possible."
David entered.
"I know where she might have gone."
Sofia turned.
"Where?"
"There's a house Charles kept outside Baltimore."
"Another secret house?"
David shook his head.
"Not secret. It was used to shelter people escaping Meridian."
Sofia looked at him.
"How do you know?"
"Evelyn tracked it for years."
They gave the address to investigators.
The property was surrounded before dawn.
Inside, they found Isabella.
Alive.
Exhausted.
Holding a sleeping newborn.
Sofia entered only after the officers confirmed the scene was safe.
"Mom."
Isabella looked up.
Tears streamed down her face.
"I'm sorry."
Sofia approached slowly.
"Is she hurt?"
"No."
"Does she need medical attention?"
"She's been checked by a pediatrician."
"Who authorized you to take her?"
Isabella lowered her head.
"Nobody."
Sofia felt the familiar disappointment.
"Then you know this can't continue."
"I do."
Isabella handed the baby to the medical team.
She did not resist.
Then she looked at Sofia.
"I didn't take her because I thought she belonged to us."
"Then why?"
Isabella's voice shook.
"Because the woman who gave birth to the genetic material used to create her asked me to protect her."
Sofia frowned.
"Who?"
Isabella reached into her coat.
She removed an old photograph.
A young woman stood outside the original Meridian facility.
Dark hair.
Serious eyes.
A black star tattoo on her wrist.
Sofia stared.
"Naomi Cross?"
Isabella shook her head.
"No."
"Then who?"
Isabella's expression collapsed.
"Her twin sister."
Sofia stopped breathing.
Isabella continued.
"Her name was Rebecca."
"Was?"
Tears rolled down Isabella's face.
"Rebecca died twenty-five years ago."
Sofia looked toward the newborn.
"And someone used her genetic material?"
Isabella nodded.
"Without her consent."
Sofia felt anger rise.
"Who kept it?"
Isabella looked at her daughter.
May you like
"Charles Hawthorne."
TO BE CONTINUED…
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