Chapter 8: The Hospital That## Chapter 8: The Hospital That Buried the Truth
G Buried the Truth
Gavin read the address again.
The abandoned hospital stood twenty minutesavin read the address again.
The abandoned hospital stood twenty minutes outside the city. It had closed four outside the city. It had closed four years earlier after a financial investigation, but the building remained untouched.
Rachel had died there.
And now someone was using years earlier after a financial investigation, but the building remained untouched.
Rachel had died there.
And now someone was using it to lure him.
Daniel reached for his coat.
“I'm it to lure him.
Daniel reached for his coat.
“I'm coming.””
Gavin shook his head.
“The message specifically said not to bring you.””
“That's exactly why you need me.””
Gavin looked at him.
“Explain.””
Daniel hesitated coming.””
Gavin shook his head.
“The message specifically said not to bring you.””
“That's exactly why you need me.””
Gavin looked at him.
“Explain.””
Daniel hesitated.
“Because I know what happened in that hospital.””
Margaret stood abruptly.
“Daniel, don't.””
He.
“Because I know what happened in that hospital.””
Margaret stood abruptly.
“Daniel, don't.””
He turned toward her.
“You've protected this secret long enough.””
Gavin's patience snapped.
“Someone turned toward her.
“You've protected this secret long enough.””
Gavin's patience snapped.
“Someone has my daughter. I don't have time for another family meeting. Start talking.””
Daniel sat down has my daughter. I don't have time for another family meeting. Start talking.””
Daniel sat down.
“On the night Rachel delivered the twins, I received a call from Kendra. She said Rachel was asking.
“On the night Rachel delivered the twins, I received a call from Kendra. She said Rachel was asking for me.””
Kendra, standing near the living room entrance, shook her head.
“I never called you.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You for me.””
Kendra, standing near the living room entrance, shook her head.
“I never called you.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You called from the hospital's reception desk.””
Gavin turned toward his wife.
“ called from the hospital's reception desk.””
Gavin turned toward his wife.
“Were you there?””
Kendra didn't answer.
Daniel continued.
“When I arrived, Rachel was unconscious. A nurse told me there had been complications. ThenWere you there?””
Kendra didn't answer.
Daniel continued.
“When I arrived, Rachel was unconscious. A nurse told me there had been complications. Then a doctor came out and said one baby hadn't survived.””
Gavin frowned a doctor came out and said one baby hadn't survived.””
Gavin frowned.
“One?””
Daniel nodded.
“He said the other baby was being transferred. But I never saw either child.
“One?””
Daniel nodded.
“He said the other baby was being transferred. But I never saw either child.””
“Why didn't you ask?””
“I did. The doctor told me I wasn't listed as family.””
“Why didn't you ask?””
“I did. The doctor told me I wasn't listed as family and had no right to the information.””
Gavin stared at him.
“And you left?””
Daniel's eyes and had no right to the information.””
Gavin stared at him.
“And you left?””
Daniel's eyes filled.
“I was twenty-nine. I'd just been told the woman I loved might die, and filled.
“I was twenty-nine. I'd just been told the woman I loved might die, and my child was gone. I didn't know what to believe.””
Kendra interrupted.
“You knew my child was gone. I didn't know what to believe.””
Kendra interrupted.
“You knew Rachel was married to Gavin.””
Daniel looked at her.
“And you knew I wasn't the father. Yet you spent six years letting us Rachel was married to Gavin.””
Daniel looked at her.
“And you knew I wasn't the father. Yet you spent six years letting us believe different stories.””
Gavin raised his hand.
“Enough. What happened next?””
Daniel reached into believe different stories.””
Gavin raised his hand.
“Enough. What happened next?””
Daniel reached into his pocket and removed a folded document.
“I found this in the second file.””
Gavin opened it.
It his pocket and removed a folded document.
“I found this in the second file.””
Gavin opened it.
It was a copy of a hospital transfer authorization.
The patient's name was Lily Rachel.
The destination was listed as a private pediatric facility.
But the signature was a copy of a hospital transfer authorization.
The patient's name was Lily Rachel.
The destination was listed as a private pediatric facility.
But the signature at the bottom wasn't Rachel's.
It belonged to Kendra.
Gavin looked up.
“You authorized the transfer?””
K at the bottom wasn't Rachel's.
It belonged to Kendra.
Gavin looked up.
“You authorized the transfer?””
Kendra began crying.
“I was told she needed immediate treatment.””
“By whom?””
She shook her head.
“I don'tendra began crying.
“I was told she needed immediate treatment.””
“By whom?””
She shook her head.
“I don't remember.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You remember everything except the parts that make you guilty.””
Kendra turned toward him.
“You have remember.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You remember everything except the parts that make you guilty.””
Kendra turned toward him.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed!””
Gavin put the document down.
“Then tell us.””
Kendra looked at him for a long time no idea what I sacrificed!””
Gavin put the document down.
“Then tell us.””
Kendra looked at him for a long time.
Finally, she spoke.
“The doctor told me Lily had a serious condition. He said the family wouldn't be able.
Finally, she spoke.
“The doctor told me Lily had a serious condition. He said the family wouldn't be able to care for her.””
Gavin frowned.
“What condition?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you see the medical report?””
“No.””
“Did you speak to another doctor to care for her.””
Gavin frowned.
“What condition?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you see the medical report?””
“No.””
“Did you speak to another doctor?””
“No.””
“Then why did you sign?””
Kendra covered her face.
“Because someone told me Rachel had?””
“No.””
“Then why did you sign?””
Kendra covered her face.
“Because someone told me Rachel had asked me to protect her children.””
Gavin's expression hardened.
“Rachel was unconscious.””
“I know.””
“Then how could she have asked asked me to protect her children.””
Gavin's expression hardened.
“Rachel was unconscious.””
“I know.””
“Then how could she have asked you?””
Kendra lowered her hands.
“She told me before the delivery. She said if anything happened, I had to make sure nobody separated you?””
Kendra lowered her hands.
“She told me before the delivery. She said if anything happened, I had to make sure nobody separated the twins.””
Margaret began crying.
“You separated them yourself.””
Kendra looked at her.
“I thought I was saving them.””
Gavin turned the twins.””
Margaret began crying.
“You separated them yourself.””
Kendra looked at her.
“I thought I was saving them.””
Gavin turned away.
He couldn't bear to hear another excuse.
His phone vibrated.
A new message.
**Come to the east away.
He couldn't bear to hear another excuse.
His phone vibrated.
A new message.
*Come to the east entrance. Bring the pink bracelet.*
Gavin looked at the photograph of the entrance. Bring the pink bracelet.**
Gavin looked at the photograph of the bracelet lying on the table.
Daniel leaned forward.
“That's the one Rachel gave you?””
Gavin nodded.
Daniel's expression changed.
“Then bracelet lying on the table.
Daniel leaned forward.
“That's the one Rachel gave you?””
Gavin nodded.
Daniel's expression changed.
“Then they know about the letter.””
“What letter?””
Daniel reached for his phone again.
“Rachel left instructions for the person they know about the letter.””
“What letter?””
Daniel reached for his phone again.
“Rachel left instructions for the person who received that bracelet.””
Gavin looked at him.
“What instructions?””
Daniel opened an old photograph of a handwritten note who received that bracelet.””
Gavin looked at him.
“What instructions?””
Daniel opened an old photograph of a handwritten note.
The writing was faint, but readable.
*If Lily ever becomes separated from Eli, the person.
The writing was faint, but readable.
If Lily ever becomes separated from Eli, the person holding the pink bracelet must show it to the head nurse.
Gavin stared.
“Why?””
Daniel swallowed holding the pink bracelet must show it to the head nurse.*
Gavin stared.
“Why?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Because the bracelet contains the number of the original medical record.””
Margaret whispered, “The original file wasn't.
“Because the bracelet contains the number of the original medical record.””
Margaret whispered, “The original file wasn't destroyed.””
Gavin looked at Kendra.
“Where is it?””
Kendra slowly shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Daniel stood.
“Then we're destroyed.””
Gavin looked at Kendra.
“Where is it?””
Kendra slowly shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Daniel stood.
“Then we're going to find out.””
They did not go alone.
Gavin contacted the authorities and shared the threatening message, the hospital transfer document going to find out.””
They did not go alone.
Gavin contacted the authorities and shared the threatening message, the hospital transfer document, and the information about Lily's disappearance.
Daniel provided his account and the location.
Margaret remained at home with the children.
K, and the information about Lily's disappearance.
Daniel provided his account and the location.
Margaret remained at home with the children.
Kendra was asked to stay and answer further questions.
Before Gavin left, Ava ran downendra was asked to stay and answer further questions.
Before Gavin left, Ava ran down the stairs.
“Daddy!””
He crouched.
“What's wrong, sweetheart?””
She held out a drawing.
It showed three the stairs.
“Daddy!””
He crouched.
“What's wrong, sweetheart?””
She held out a drawing.
It showed three children holding hands beneath a yellow sun.
“Can you give this to Lily when you find her?””
Gavin felt his eyes burn.
“I promise I'll do everything I can.””
A children holding hands beneath a yellow sun.
“Can you give this to Lily when you find her?””
Gavin felt his eyes burn.
“I promise I'll do everything I can.””
Ava hugged him.
“Tell her I saved her the pink crayon.””
Gavin kissed her forehead.
Then he looked at Eliva hugged him.
“Tell her I saved her the pink crayon.””
Gavin kissed her forehead.
Then he looked at Eli.
The boy stood behind his sister.
“Are you going to bring Lily home?””
Gavin placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Yes, buddy.””
E.
The boy stood behind his sister.
“Are you going to bring Lily home?””
Gavin placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Yes, buddy.””
Eli hesitated.
“Even if she's scared?””
“Especially if she's scared.””
The old hospital stood behind a rustli hesitated.
“Even if she's scared?””
“Especially if she's scared.””
The old hospital stood behind a rusted metal fence.
Its windows were dark.
Weeds had grown through the parking lot.
An officer accompanied Gavin and Daniel toed metal fence.
Its windows were dark.
Weeds had grown through the parking lot.
An officer accompanied Gavin and Daniel to the east entrance while others secured the surrounding area.
The door was already open.
Inside, the air smelled of dust and the east entrance while others secured the surrounding area.
The door was already open.
Inside, the air smelled of dust and damp plaster.
Gavin switched on his flashlight.
“Lily?””
His voice echoed down the corridor.
No answer damp plaster.
Gavin switched on his flashlight.
“Lily?””
His voice echoed down the corridor.
No answer.
They reached the old maternity wing.
A faded sign hung above a doorway.
*NEONATAL CARE UNIT.*
Gavin stopped.
Daniel stood.
They reached the old maternity wing.
A faded sign hung above a doorway.
*NEONATAL CARE UNIT.*
Gavin stopped.
Daniel stood beside him.
“This is where they took the babies.””
Gavin walked inside.
Metal beds had been removed, leaving empty spaces beneath the windows beside him.
“This is where they took the babies.””
Gavin walked inside.
Metal beds had been removed, leaving empty spaces beneath the windows.
Then he noticed something on the floor.
A pink hair clip.
He picked it up.
“Lily wears.
Then he noticed something on the floor.
A pink hair clip.
He picked it up.
“Lily wears these.””
Daniel crouched.
Beside the hair clip was a small piece of paper.
Gavin unfolded these.””
Daniel crouched.
Beside the hair clip was a small piece of paper.
Gavin unfolded it.
Three words.
*ASK ABOUT THE NURSE.*
Daniel looked around.
“What nurse?””
A faint it.
Three words.
*ASK ABOUT THE NURSE.*
Daniel looked around.
“What nurse?””
A faint sound came from the end of the corridor.
A door clicked.
An elderly woman appeared.
She wore a dark coat and held a folder against her chest.
G sound came from the end of the corridor.
A door clicked.
An elderly woman appeared.
She wore a dark coat and held a folder against her chest.
Gavin recognized her face from an old photograph in Rachel's hospital records.
He stepped forward.
“Are you Nurse Collinsavin recognized her face from an old photograph in Rachel's hospital records.
He stepped forward.
“Are you Nurse Collins?””
The woman nodded.
“Who are you?””
“Gavin. Rachel's husband.””
Her eyes filled instantly.
“Oh, God.””
Daniel moved beside him.
“Do you know where Lily?””
The woman nodded.
“Who are you?””
“Gavin. Rachel's husband.””
Her eyes filled instantly.
“Oh, God.””
Daniel moved beside him.
“Do you know where Lily is?””
The woman looked toward the stairwell.
Then she whispered:
“She's not the only child they moved is?””
The woman looked toward the stairwell.
Then she whispered:
“She's not the only child they moved.””
Gavin felt his heart stop.
“What do you mean?””
Nurse Collins opened the folder.
Inside were copies of three birth certificates.
Two carried Rachel's.””
Gavin felt his heart stop.
“What do you mean?””
Nurse Collins opened the folder.
Inside were copies of three birth certificates.
Two carried Rachel's name.
The third carried another woman's.
And the date was exactly six name.
The third carried another woman's.
And the date was exactly six years earlier.
Gavin looked up.
“Who is the third mother?””
The nurse's lips years earlier.
Gavin looked up.
“Who is the third mother?””
The nurse's lips trembled.
“Kendra.””
At that moment, a door slammed behind them.
The lights went out.
And from somewhere inside the dark maternity wing, trembled.
“Kendra.””
At that moment, a door slammed behind them.
The lights went out.
May you like
And from somewhere inside the dark maternity wing, a little girl screamed.
“DADDY!””
