Chapter 59 - SOFIA TRUSTED THE DOCTOR WITH HER FAMILY—UNTIL A SECRET VIDEO SHOWED WHAT SHE DID TO THE CHILDREN
By dawn, the storm had weakened.
Hawthorne Villa stood beneath a gray sky, its enormous windows reflecting the pale light of morning.
But Sofia had not slept.
She sat beside Daniel in the security office, watching a recording from the foundation's medical center.
On the screen, Dr. Helen Morrow walked through a corridor carrying a folder.
Mateo followed several steps behind her.
Nothing seemed unusual.
Until Helen stopped outside a locked examination room.
She looked directly toward the security camera.
Then she reached into her pocket.
A small device appeared in her hand.
The video briefly distorted.
When the picture returned, Helen and Mateo were gone.
Sofia leaned forward.
"Play it again."
The technician obeyed.
The same sequence appeared.
Helen.
Mateo.
The device.
The distortion.
Daniel looked toward Marcus.
"Was the recording altered?"
"We're investigating."
Sofia stared at the screen.
"Where did they go?"
Marcus hesitated.
"That corridor connects to the pediatric research archive."
Sofia felt cold.
"The children?"
"The records are stored there. The children themselves were not scheduled to be present."
Daniel stood.
"Get me the facility director."
Minutes later, a frightened administrator appeared on the video call.
He confirmed that Mateo had been working late with Helen.
But he had not seen either of them leave.
Sofia's voice sharpened.
"Did Helen have authorization to enter the archive?"
"Yes, Ms. Ramirez."
"Who approved it?"
The administrator hesitated.
"You did."
Sofia closed her eyes.
She remembered signing the authorization.
Helen had presented herself as a specialist in medical ethics, offering to help the foundation identify victims of Meridian and protect their records.
Sofia had believed her.
Daniel touched her shoulder.
"We don't know she's done anything wrong."
Sofia shook her head.
"We know she's been hiding her identity."
"Yes."
"And she had access to the children."
Daniel did not answer.
That silence frightened her more than reassurance would have.
They traveled to the medical center under police escort.
By the time they arrived, investigators had sealed the building.
Mateo's office was empty.
His laptop remained open.
A half-finished cup of coffee sat beside the keyboard.
Sofia stared at it.
Mateo never abandoned his coffee.
He complained about it constantly.
But he always finished it.
"Something happened here."
Daniel examined the computer.
A document was open.
PROJECT MERIDIAN — FAMILY REUNIFICATION REVIEW.
Below the heading was a list of names.
Noah.
Claire.
Several other children.
And one unfamiliar entry.
ELENA KANE — PRIMARY WITNESS.
Sofia frowned.
"Why is Elena listed with the children?"
A voice answered from the doorway.
"Because she was the first person who could testify about what Meridian did."
Sofia turned.
Elizabeth stood beside Thomas.
She looked at the screen.
"Elena was never simply a patient."
Daniel frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"She helped document the program from the inside."
Thomas nodded.
"After she escaped, she spent years gathering evidence."
Sofia stared.
"Then why hide from us?"
Elizabeth's expression became grim.
"Because someone convinced her the Hawthorne foundation was continuing Meridian under a new name."
Daniel stiffened.
"That's a lie."
"Probably," Elizabeth answered. "But someone gave her convincing documents."
Sofia looked at Mateo's computer.
"Who?"
Before anyone answered, the screen changed.
A video file opened automatically.
Mateo appeared.
He was sitting in the same office.
His face looked exhausted.
"Sofia," he said.
Her breath caught.
"If you're watching this, then Helen has probably disappeared."
Daniel moved closer.
Mateo continued.
"I know who she is."
Sofia covered her mouth.
"And I know why she came."
The recording briefly distorted.
Then Mateo leaned toward the camera.
"She's not trying to hurt the children."
Sofia exhaled.
"But someone else is."
Daniel's expression hardened.
Mateo looked over his shoulder.
His voice dropped.
"There's a second registry. It identifies the adults who authorized the experiments."
Sofia stared.
Mateo continued.
"One of those people is still working with the foundation."
The video ended.
Silence.
Sofia turned toward Daniel.
"Who has access to the records?"
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"Get the full list."
Marcus began typing.
Then stopped.
His face changed.
"Sir."
Daniel frowned.
"What?"
Marcus turned the screen toward them.
A name appeared among the authorized administrators.
Someone who had worked beside Sofia for years.
Someone who knew the children.
Someone who had helped rebuild Hawthorne Villa after the first scandal.
May you like
MARGARET HALE.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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