Chapter 3: Ten Minutes
The stranger stood beneath the porch light with rain darkening the shoulders of his gray jacket.
He looked at Vanessa first.
Not me.
Not Nia.
Vanessa.
His eyes stayed on her for so long that I understood one thing immediately.
They knew each other.
“Who are you?”” I asked.
He held up the photograph.
“My name is Marcus Bell.””
Vanessa's voice came out thin.
“No.””
Marcus looked at me.
“You have ten minutes.””
“Ten minutes for what?””
“To hear the truth before she decides to leave.””
Vanessa stepped onto the porch.
“You don't belong here.””
Marcus gave a humorless smile.
“You said that eleven years ago too.””
I moved between them.
“What happened eleven years ago?””
Marcus looked past me at Nia.
His expression changed.
For the first time, he looked uncertain.
“Is that her?””
Nia tightened her grip on my shirt.
“Yes,” I said.
Marcus took a slow breath.
Then he held out the photograph.
I took it.
It showed my father.
Standing beside Vanessa.
Standing beside a third person.
A man I had never seen before.
Behind them was the old community hospital where Nia had supposedly been born.
On the back, someone had written a date.
October 14, 2015.
Eleven years ago.
My father's death had happened two days later.
I looked at Marcus.
“Where did you get this?””
“Your father gave it to me.””
My heartbeat stumbled.
“My father knew you?””
“He hired me.””
“For what?””
Marcus glanced at Vanessa.
“To find his granddaughter.””
Vanessa whispered, “Stop.””
Marcus ignored her.
“He thought the baby had been taken.””
My hand tightened around the photograph.
“What baby?””
“Nia.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Marcus looked directly at her.
“You know that's true.””
I turned to Vanessa.
“Start talking.””
She didn't.
Marcus checked his watch.
“Eight minutes.””
I almost laughed.
“What is this, a movie?””
“No,” he said.
“It was your father's last investigation.””
That shut me up.
He stepped inside.
I didn't invite him.
He came anyway.
Water dripped from his jacket onto the floor.
Vanessa stood near the wall.
Malik had moved beside Nia, one hand resting protectively on her shoulder.
Marcus looked around the dining room.
His eyes settled on the seafood tray.
“You're still doing this?””
Vanessa's face twisted.
“What?””
“Using food.””
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
He looked at me.
“It means you should ask her about the first time Nia went hungry.””
Vanessa whispered, “Marcus.””
He checked the watch again.
“Seven minutes.””
I grabbed his arm.
“You're not leaving until you explain.””
“I will.””
“Now.””
He nodded.
“Your father discovered that Nia's hospital records had been altered.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Altered how?””
“The birth mother's name was replaced.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“She was listed as Vanessa Reed.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That's not what the original record said.””
Nia spoke behind me.
“Who was it?””
Marcus looked at her gently.
“Your father's investigation led him to a woman named Rachel Carter.””
The room went still.
My breath caught.
Rachel.
My younger sister.
Dead at twenty-three.
I hadn't heard that name spoken in our house in years.
“No,” I said.
Marcus watched me.
“Rachel was Nia's mother.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Malik whispered, “Dad…”
I shook my head.
“That doesn't make sense.””
Marcus reached inside his jacket and pulled out a thin brown envelope.
“Your father knew it would sound impossible.””
He handed it to me.
Inside was a photocopy of a medical form.
Rachel Carter.
Patient number.
Date.
Pregnancy complications.
Then a second page.
Transfer authorization.
The signature at the bottom was Vanessa's.
I stared at it.
“She signed this?””
Marcus nodded.
“She moved Nia from Rachel's room.””
“Why?””
“Because Rachel died.””
The room seemed to shrink.
Marcus continued.
“She died during delivery.””
I looked at Nia.
She was listening without blinking.
“Then how did Vanessa become her mother?””
Marcus's eyes moved to the second page.
“That part is where your father got suspicious.””
He pointed to the signature.
“Vanessa claimed Rachel had asked her to take the baby.””
“She did.””
“No,” Marcus said.
He looked at me.
“Rachel never signed the consent.””
My skin went cold.
“Then what did Vanessa sign?””
“The hospital transfer.””
“For what?””
Marcus hesitated.
“Private guardianship.””
Vanessa suddenly shouted.
“Because Rachel was dead!””
Nia flinched.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I stared at her.
“What are you saying?””
She began crying again.
“I couldn't let them take her.””
“Who?””
“The state.””
“Why would they?””
“Because Rachel had debts.””
I felt my pulse hammering.
“She couldn't keep custody anyway. She was dead.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No. Rachel's baby had another parent.””
I looked at Nia.
“What other parent?””
Marcus answered.
“That's what your father was trying to prove.””
I stepped closer.
“Prove what?””
Marcus looked at his watch.
“Five minutes.””
“Stop counting.””
“I need you to understand.””
“I understand nothing.””
He took out another photograph.
This one showed Rachel.
She was sitting in a hospital bed.
She looked exhausted.
But she was smiling.
Beside her was a man.
Dark hair.
Leather jacket.
His face was partly turned away from the camera.
On Rachel's lap was a tiny newborn wrapped in blue.
Nia.
I stared at the image.
“Who is that man?””
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
Vanessa did.
“His name was Adrian.””
I looked at her.
“You knew him?””
“Yes.””
“Who was he?””
Vanessa wiped her face.
“Rachel's boyfriend.””
“Why have I never heard of him?””
“Because he disappeared.””
Marcus corrected her.
“Because someone made him disappear.””
I felt something shift inside me.
“What does that mean?””
“He was arrested.””
“For what?””
“Kidnapping.””
“Rachel's baby?””
“No.””
Marcus looked at Nia.
“His own.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Don't.””
Marcus finally turned on her.
“You've had eleven years.””
“I did what Rachel wanted.””
“You did what frightened you.””
“You don't know what I went through.””
“I know exactly what you went through. I was there.””
I looked between them.
“You were there?””
Marcus nodded.
“Your father hired me because he didn't trust the story Vanessa gave him.””
“What story?””
“That Rachel had died before the baby was born.””
I stared at Vanessa.
“She told everyone Rachel's pregnancy ended early.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“She was protecting the family.””
“No.””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“I was protecting Nia.””
“You lied about my sister's death.””
“I lied because Adrian was dangerous.””
Marcus scoffed.
“Adrian wasn't dangerous.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“He threatened me.””
“He threatened to expose you.””
“For stealing his daughter.””
I turned sharply.
“Stealing?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“I didn't steal her.””
Marcus said, “Then tell him where Adrian went.””
Vanessa said nothing.
I grabbed the edge of the table.
“Where is he?””
No answer.
“Vanessa!””
“He's dead.””
Everything stopped.
Nia whispered, “Dead?””
Vanessa looked at her.
“I didn't kill him.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You didn't have to.””
I felt numb.
“What happened to him?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Marcus pulled another document from his envelope.
“Your father found the answer.””
He placed it on the table.
It was a police report.
My eyes scanned the page.
Missing person.
Adrian Bell.
Last seen October 15, 2015.
I looked at Marcus.
“Bell?””
He nodded.
“My brother.””
The same name he'd given me.
“Your brother was Nia's father?””
“Yes.””
Malik stared at him.
“So you're Nia's uncle.””
Marcus nodded.
Nia slowly stepped forward.
“Why are you here now?””
Marcus looked at her for a long moment.
“Because your grandfather died before he could finish what he started.””
He glanced at me.
“And because three days ago, I received a package your father had mailed before his death.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“What was inside?””
Marcus reached into his pocket.
A small silver key appeared between his fingers.
“Your father told me not to open the box unless something happened to him.””
“What box?””
“The one he hid from Vanessa.””
Vanessa suddenly rushed toward him.
Marcus stepped back.
“Don't.””
She stopped.
I caught her wrist.
“Where is the box?””
She looked at me.
For the first time, there was no anger in her face.
Only fear.
“Daniel…”
“Where?””
She whispered four words.
“Under your mother's grave.””
I let go of her.
Marcus checked his watch.
“Three minutes.””
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“Who is it?”” I asked.
He didn't answer.
The phone rang again.
Marcus finally picked up.
“Hello?””
His face drained of color.
He listened.
Then he looked directly at Nia.
“What?””
A pause.
His voice dropped.
“No, that's impossible.””
I stepped toward him.
“What happened?””
Marcus moved the phone away from his ear.
“They found Adrian.””
The room froze.
“Where?”” I asked.
Marcus stared at the floor.
“Alive.””
Vanessa made a sound that didn't quite become a scream.
Malik grabbed Nia's hand.
I looked at Marcus.
“Where is he?””
Marcus lifted the phone again.
The caller said something.
Marcus closed his eyes.
Then opened them.
“He's been looking for his daughter for eleven years.””
May you like
He looked at Nia.
“And tonight, he found her.””