Chapter 7: The Mother Who Returned With a Gun
Sarah stared at the photograph.
Her mother.
Alive.
Standing beside Ben's hospital bed with a gun in her hand.
For eleven months, Sarah had visited a cemetery, brought flowers, and spoken to a grave.
For eleven months, she had believed she was an orphan in everything but name.
And now her mother was standing in front of her husband.
“That's her,” Sarah whispered.
Rachel leaned over her shoulder.
“Oh, my God.””
“She's alive.””
Rachel's eyes filled with tears.
“Sarah, we have to get to the hospital.””
Sarah was already moving.
She called the emergency department while Rachel started the car.
“St. Vincent's, emergency department. How can I help you?””
“This is Sarah Mitchell. My husband is in Room Twelve. I need you to tell me whether he's still there.””
“Mrs. Mitchell, please hold.””
Sarah heard frantic voices in the background.
Then a different nurse answered.
“Mrs. Mitchell, your husband is no longer in Room Twelve.””
Sarah's heart stopped.
“Where is he?””
“I don't know. Dr. Arnold said he was transferring him for additional testing.””
“Which department?””
There was a pause.
“I'm sorry. I can't find an authorized transfer order.””
Sarah gripped the phone.
“Then find him!””
The nurse lowered her voice.
“Mrs. Mitchell, there's something else. The security cameras in the corridor stopped recording approximately ten minutes ago.””
Sarah looked at Rachel.
“Ten minutes?””
“Yes.””
“Who disabled them?””
“We're investigating.””
Sarah ended the call.
“Drive faster.””
At the hospital, Sarah ran through the emergency department doors.
The reception nurse immediately recognized her.
“Mrs. Mitchell!””
“Where is Dr. Arnold?””
“He's upstairs.””
“Where's my husband?””
The nurse looked uncomfortable.
“I don't know.””
Sarah slammed her palm against the desk.
“Stop telling me you don't know!””
A security officer approached.
“Ma'am, please calm down.””
“My husband disappeared from a hospital bed while your cameras were switched off!””
Rachel stepped forward.
“Check the service elevators. Now.””
The officer frowned.
“And who are you?””
“Someone who knows exactly what happens when Dr. Arnold wants a patient to disappear.””
The officer reached for his radio.
Before he could speak, a familiar voice came from behind them.
“Sarah.””
She turned.
Her mother stood near the entrance to the administration corridor.
Margaret Collins.
Her hair was shorter than Sarah remembered, and there were deep lines around her eyes. She wore a dark coat and held a leather handbag against her side.
She looked older.
Thinner.
But she was unmistakably alive.
Sarah couldn't move.
“Mom?””
Margaret's lips trembled.
“My baby.””
Sarah took one step toward her.
Then another.
And suddenly she was running.
She threw her arms around her mother, sobbing into her shoulder.
Margaret held her tightly.
“Oh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry.””
Sarah pulled away.
Then she slapped her.
Margaret accepted it without resistance.
“You let me bury you!”” Sarah cried.
“You let me stand beside an empty grave and think my mother was dead!””
“I know.””
“I cried every night!””
“I know, darling.””
“You watched me suffer!””
Margaret began crying.
“I never stopped loving you.””
Sarah shook her head.
“Then why?””
Margaret looked toward Rachel.
“Because I was trying to keep both my daughters alive.””
Rachel approached slowly.
“Mom?””
Margaret turned.
For the first time, her composure completely broke.
“Rachel.””
The two women embraced.
Sarah watched them, unable to decide whether she wanted to hug her mother again or demand that she explain every lie she'd ever told.
Finally, she stepped forward.
“Where is Ben?””
Margaret immediately released Rachel.
“Dr. Arnold took him to the old cardiac wing.””
“Why?””
“Because Ben found the original trust records.””
“What's in those records?””
Margaret looked at her daughter.
“The truth about the seven million dollars.””
Sarah's voice trembled.
“Why was Ben's signature used to transfer the money into my name?””
“Because someone wanted to make it look as though Ben had stolen it and transferred it to you.””
“Who?””
Margaret glanced toward the elevators.
“Thomas.””
Sarah went still.
“My father?””
Margaret nodded.
“He discovered the trust years ago. He believed the money should have belonged to him because he raised you.””
“But you said it was Daniel's money.””
“It was. And Daniel wanted it for himself. That's why I created the trust.””
Sarah shook her head.
“This makes no sense. Dad loved you.””
Margaret's expression softened.
“He did once.””
A noise echoed from the corridor.
A door slammed.
Margaret grabbed Sarah's arm.
“We have to move.””
“Not until you tell me where Ben is.””
“Your husband is being held in a room beneath the old cardiac wing. Arnold plans to move him before midnight.””
“Why?””
“Because Ben has the original recording of the financial meeting. It contains evidence against everyone involved.””
Rachel stepped closer.
“Who is everyone?””
Margaret looked at her.
“Thomas. Arnold. And Daniel Reed.””
Sarah felt the blood drain from her face.
“Daniel is alive?””
Margaret nodded.
“He never stopped looking for the money.””
Sarah looked toward the corridor.
Then she saw him.
Dr. Arnold stood at the far end, holding a clipboard.
Beside him was her father.
Thomas Collins.
He looked directly at Sarah.
Then he smiled.
Not warmly.
Not apologetically.
Like a man who had finally found something he had been searching for.
“Margaret,” he called.
“You should have stayed dead.””
Sarah stepped in front of her mother.
“Don't you dare speak to her like that.””
Thomas's eyes moved toward his daughter.
“Sarah, sweetheart. Come here.””
“Stay away from me.””
He sighed.
“You've misunderstood everything.””
Margaret reached into her handbag.
Sarah heard the metallic click of a safety mechanism.
“Mom?””
Margaret raised the gun.
“Don't come any closer, Thomas.””
Thomas looked at the weapon.
Then he laughed.
“You still think you can protect them?””
Margaret's hand trembled.
“Where is Ben?””
Thomas glanced at Dr. Arnold.
The doctor looked toward the elevator.
Then Thomas said the words that made Sarah's blood freeze.
“Your husband isn't the only patient we've been keeping downstairs.””
A door opened behind them.
And a man's voice called out:
“Margaret? Is that you?””
Her mother turned.
The gun slipped slightly in her hand.
Because the man standing in the doorway was Daniel Reed.
May you like
Sarah's biological father.
And he was holding a hospital file with her name on it.
