Chapter 9 - The Empty CribSarah's scream shook the entire house.
“NOAH!”
She tore through the nursery.
Blanket on the floor.
Window locked.
Door open.
Crib empty.
Daniel froze.
“No.”
Maria stared at the empty crib.
She felt the same cold terror as the night before.
But this time, there was no falling baby.
Someone had taken him.
Daniel grabbed his phone.
“Call the police.”
Olivia was already doing it.
Sarah ran into the hallway.
“Who took him?”
Daniel looked at Maria.
Then immediately looked away.
“Not her.”
Sarah stared.
“What?”
Daniel's voice was firm.
“Maria didn't do this.”
He pointed toward the crib.
“She was standing beside me in the basement.”
Maria felt something break inside her.
For the first time since the accusation, Daniel sounded certain.
Then Olivia returned.
“Dad.”
“What?”
“I found something.”
She pointed toward the ventilation grate.
It had been removed.
Inside was a narrow tunnel.
Daniel realized the connection.
“The wall passage.”
He looked toward the nursery.
“He came through here.”
Maria stared.
“Who?”
Daniel didn't answer.
He climbed into the tunnel.
The passage was barely wide enough for a person.
Behind him, Maria followed.
They crawled through darkness.
Then Daniel saw something.
A red light.
A small camera.
Someone had installed a hidden camera inside the wall.
Maria whispered,
“They were watching Noah.”
Daniel ripped it from the wall.
Behind it was a tiny speaker.
A voice suddenly came through.
“Too late.”
Daniel froze.
“Who are you?”
The voice laughed softly.
“You should have listened.”
“Where is my son?”
“You still don't understand.”
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“Tell me where he is.”
“No.”
Daniel's fists clenched.
“Bring him back!”
“He was never supposed to be yours.”
Maria's heart stopped.
Daniel whispered,
“What?”
The voice continued.
“Ask your wife who Noah's real father is.”
Sarah screamed from the nursery.
Daniel rushed back.
“What did you hear?”
She looked at him.
Tears filled her eyes.
Then she said something that silenced the entire house.
“Noah's father is dead.”
Daniel stared.
“What?”
Sarah shook her head.
“I mean the man listed as his father on the original hospital paperwork died before Noah was born.”
Maria felt confused.
“Then how?”
Sarah looked at Daniel.
“Because the paperwork was changed.”
Daniel's face went blank.
“Changed to what?”
Sarah whispered,
“Your name.”
Nobody moved.
Daniel stepped back.
“You're telling me Noah isn't my biological son?”
Sarah started crying.
“I didn't know.”
Daniel's voice became cold.
“Who is?”
Sarah closed her eyes.
“I don't know.”
Then Olivia entered.
She held up the hospital file.
“Dad.”
“What?”
“I found the original birth record.”
Daniel took it.
The father's name had been blacked out.
But the mother's name was clear.
Sarah Carter.
Then a second line.
May you like
Biological father: Ethan Carter.
Daniel dropped the paper.
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