Chapter 4: The Message Beside Her Empty Bed
“Ava!””
I rushed into the bedroom.
The curtains moved gently in the night breeze. The window stood open, and the white blanket had been pushed onto the floor.
Her teddy bear lay beside the bed.
The little girl who had been sleeping there less than a minute earlier was gone.
“AVA!””
I searched beneath the bed, inside the closet, and behind the bathroom door.
Nothing.
My hands began shaking.
“Marcus!”” I shouted.
“Call the police!””
Footsteps thundered up the staircase.
Maria appeared first, followed by Simone.
“What happened?”” Simone demanded.
I turned toward her.
“Where is my daughter?””
She stared at the empty bed.
“Oh, my God.””
“Don't.””
I held up the folded note.
“Did you put this here?””
Simone shook her head.
“Daniel, I swear—”
“Someone has taken Ava out of her bedroom, and you want me to believe you know nothing?””
Maria rushed to the window.
“Mr. Carter, look!””
A small red ribbon was caught on the edge of the garden trellis outside.
It belonged to Ava's dress.
I looked down into the garden.
The security lights were still on, but the back gate stood open.
Marcus arrived with his phone against his ear.
“The police are coming. I've also contacted the security company.””
“Get the camera footage!””
“I already requested it.””
Simone grabbed my arm.
“Daniel, we have to find her.””
I pulled away.
“You don't get to tell me what we have to do.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“She's my daughter!””
Maria stepped between us.
“She is my daughter too.””
Simone turned toward her.
“You should have stayed away!””
Maria's face hardened.
“You had six years to tell the truth. Six years to do the right thing. And you chose to threaten me instead.””
“Because you would have destroyed everything!””
“No,” Maria whispered.
“You destroyed everything when you took her.””
I couldn't listen anymore.
I ran downstairs.
At 1:24 a.m., three police officers arrived at the mansion.
Detective Evelyn Brooks was the first to enter.
She was a Black woman in her early forties with short natural hair and a calm expression that didn't change when she saw the chaos inside the house.
“Mr. Carter?””
“Yes.””
“I'm Detective Brooks. Tell me exactly what happened.””
I handed her the note.
She read it twice.
“Who is Grace Bennett?””
I looked toward Simone.
My wife sat on the staircase, holding her head in her hands.
“She may be connected to an illegal hospital transfer six years ago.””
Detective Brooks looked at me.
“An illegal transfer involving your daughter?””
“Possibly.””
“Possibly?””
I took a breath.
“My wife and a hospital doctor may have falsified my daughter's birth records.””
The detective didn't react immediately.
Then she looked toward Maria.
“And you are?””
“Maria Lopez.””
“Your relationship to the child?””
Maria swallowed.
“I'm Ava's biological mother.””
Detective Brooks studied her face.
“Do you have documentation?””
Maria nodded.
She handed over the envelope.
The detective examined the papers, then spoke into her radio.
“I need the missing child alert initiated. Female, six years old, red dress, brown eyes, approximately three feet eight inches tall. Last seen inside the residence.””
One officer moved toward the garden.
Another began photographing the bedroom.
Detective Brooks turned back to me.
“Does Ava have any medical conditions? Any medication?””
“No.””
“Does she know anyone named Grace?””
I looked at Maria.
Maria shook her head.
“Not by that name.””
Simone suddenly stood.
“She knows Grace.””
Everyone turned toward her.
I stepped forward.
“What did you say?””
Simone wiped her cheeks.
“Grace used to come to the house.””
Maria looked stunned.
“When?””
“Before Ava started school.””
“Why didn't you tell me?”” I demanded.
Simone looked away.
“Because my father arranged it.””
Detective Brooks stepped closer.
“Mrs. Carter, I need you to explain.””
Simone took a shaky breath.
“Grace came here twice. Once when Ava was a baby. Another time when she was about three.””
“Why?””
“She wanted to see the child.””
Maria covered her mouth.
“You let her see Ava?””
Simone nodded.
“From a distance.””
Maria's voice cracked.
“She's her biological mother. She had a right to hold her.””
“I know!””
“Then why didn't you let her?””
Simone looked at me.
“Because I was afraid she'd take her away.””
Detective Brooks wrote something in her notebook.
“Where did Grace live?””
“I don't know.””
“Who arranged the visits?””
“My father.””
“Your father is deceased?””
“Yes.””
“Does he have a former assistant, lawyer, or business associate who might know?””
Simone hesitated.
Then she whispered a name.
“Victor Shaw.””
Marcus looked up immediately.
“William Brooks's personal attorney?””
Simone nodded.
“He handled everything.””
Detective Brooks turned toward Marcus.
“Can you provide his contact information?””
Marcus nodded.
Then one of the officers called from the hallway.
“Detective! We found something!””
We hurried downstairs.
The officer stood beside the front entrance holding a small envelope.
“Found this underneath the exterior door.””
Detective Brooks opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Ava was sitting on a park bench, wearing a pink coat.
She looked younger, perhaps four years old.
Beside her stood a woman with long dark hair.
The woman's face had been partially covered with a black marker.
On the back, someone had written:
*SHE DESERVES TO KNOW WHAT YOU DID.*
I looked at Simone.
She began trembling.
“That's Grace,” she whispered.
Maria reached for the photograph.
“That's my baby.””
I looked at her.
“You recognize her?””
Maria nodded.
“That's the same woman I saw at the hospital.””
Detective Brooks examined the photograph.
“Do you know where this was taken?””
Simone shook her head.
But Maria suddenly pointed to the background.
“Wait.””
She leaned closer.
“That's the old fountain near St. Catherine's.””
Detective Brooks looked at her.
“Are you certain?””
“Yes. I used to take Ava there when she was little.””
I stared at Maria.
“You took Ava there?””
She nodded.
“Before Simone stopped allowing me to take her outside.””
I looked at my wife.
“What happened?””
Simone didn't answer.
Maria did.
“Grace approached us one afternoon. She asked if she could speak to Ava.””
“And?””
“Simone pulled Ava away and told me never to let that woman near her again.””
Detective Brooks put the photograph into an evidence bag.
“Mr. Carter, someone is communicating with your family. Until we know who that person is, nobody should leave this property without informing us.””
I nodded.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A message appeared.
*Your daughter is safe. But if you want her returned, ask Simone what happened to the second baby.*
I showed the detective.
She read it, then looked at Simone.
“What second baby?””
Simone closed her eyes.
I felt my stomach drop.
“Simone.””
She didn't move.
“Tell me what happened to the second baby.””
My wife began crying.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“The second baby was never supposed to survive.””
