Chapter 8: The Mother Who Chose
The police arrested Arthur WhitmoreThe police arrested Arthur Whitmore before he reached his car.
He didn't before he reached his car.
He didn't resist when the officers forced him against the hood resist when the officers forced him against the hood. He didn't shout when they handcuffed him. He simply watched Jasmine through the storage building's open doorway, his expression suggesting.
He didn't shout when they handcuffed him. He simply watched Jasmine through the storage building's open doorway, his expression suggesting that the worst part of the night had not yet begun.
Thomas barely noticed the officers questioning him.
All he that the worst part of the night had not yet begun.
Thomas barely noticed the officers questioning him.
All he could see was the message on Jasmine's phone.
Your mother didn't find you by accident. She was paid to choose which baby would live.
“Let me see that could see was the message on Jasmine's phone.
Your mother didn't find you by accident. She was paid to choose which baby would live.
“Let me see that again,” he said.
Jasmine handed him the phone.
He read the words twice, then looked at the photograph beneath them.
Denise stood outside her house, wearing again,” he said.
Jasmine handed him the phone.
He read the words twice, then looked at the photograph beneath them.
Denise stood outside her house, wearing the same blue cardigan she'd worn that afternoon. Behind her, half concealed by a parked car, stood a woman the same blue cardigan she'd worn that afternoon. Behind her, half concealed by a parked car, stood a woman with dark hair and a pale face.
Patricia Bell.
Or someone who looked exactly like her.
Ryan approached, with dark hair and a pale face.
Patricia Bell.
Or someone who looked exactly like her.
Ryan approached, holding a cloth against the cut on his father's shoulder.
“Dad, the officers want your statement.””
“In a minute.””
“ holding a cloth against the cut on his father's shoulder.
“Dad, the officers want your statement.””
“In a minute.””
“Dad—”
“I said in a minute!””
Ryan fell silent.
Thomas immediately regretted shoutingDad—”
“I said in a minute!””
Ryan fell silent.
Thomas immediately regretted shouting, but the fear inside him had become too large to contain.
“I'm sorry,” he murm, but the fear inside him had become too large to contain.
“I'm sorry,” he murmured.
Ryan lowered himself onto a storage crate.
“I'm scared, too.””
Thomas looked at his son.
Ryanured.
Ryan lowered himself onto a storage crate.
“I'm scared, too.””
Thomas looked at his son.
Ryan's eyes were red.
“First we find out Jasmine might be Amelia. Then we discover they were twins. Now somebody's eyes were red.
“First we find out Jasmine might be Amelia. Then we discover they were twins. Now somebody's claiming Denise was paid to choose which baby survived.”” He swallowed.
“How much more's claiming Denise was paid to choose which baby survived.”” He swallowed.
“How much more can there be?””
Thomas had no answer.
Jasmine stood beside the filing cabinet, holding the photograph of the two little girls.
“If can there be?””
Thomas had no answer.
Jasmine stood beside the filing cabinet, holding the photograph of the two little girls.
“If Denise knew something,” she said quietly, “I need to hear it from her.””
Thomas nodded.
“We'll go together.””
An Denise knew something,” she said quietly, “I need to hear it from her.””
Thomas nodded.
“We'll go together.””
An officer approached them.
“Mr. Carter, the suspect is in custody. We need you to remain here while we secure the building.””
Thomas pointed officer approached them.
“Mr. Carter, the suspect is in custody. We need you to remain here while we secure the building.””
Thomas pointed toward the cabinet.
“Everything in there is evidence. My brother has admitted involvement in the falsified records. There's also a confession.””
toward the cabinet.
“Everything in there is evidence. My brother has admitted involvement in the falsified records. There's also a confession.””
The officer looked toward Marcus, who sat on the ground beside the doorway while another officer treated the cut above his eyebrow.
“Your brother has agreed to cooperate,” the officer said.
“The officer looked toward Marcus, who sat on the ground beside the doorway while another officer treated the cut above his eyebrow.
“Your brother has agreed to cooperate,” the officer said.
“We'll need statements from everyone.””
Marcus looked up.
“Thomas.””
His brother didn't respond.
“TomWe'll need statements from everyone.””
Marcus looked up.
“Thomas.””
His brother didn't respond.
“Tom, please.””
Thomas finally turned.
“What?””
Marcus's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know Arthur would bring a gun.””
Thomas, please.””
Thomas finally turned.
“What?””
Marcus's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know Arthur would bring a gun.””
Thomas stared at him.
“You knew what he was capable of. You knew he threatened Patricia. You knew stared at him.
“You knew what he was capable of. You knew he threatened Patricia. You knew he was involved in moving those babies.””
“I thought I could handle it.””
“You thought you could handle everything.””
Marcus he was involved in moving those babies.””
“I thought I could handle it.””
“You thought you could handle everything.””
Marcus lowered his head.
Thomas turned away.
He couldn't decide which was worse: the possibility that Marcus had lowered his head.
Thomas turned away.
He couldn't decide which was worse: the possibility that Marcus had deliberately helped destroy their family, or the possibility that his brother had spent decades telling himself he was the hero deliberately helped destroy their family, or the possibility that his brother had spent decades telling himself he was the hero of a tragedy he had helped create.
An hour later, Thomas, Ryan, and Jasmine arrived at Denise's house.
of a tragedy he had helped create.
An hour later, Thomas, Ryan, and Jasmine arrived at Denise's house.
Two police officers had already spoken with her. She was sitting at the kitchen table, her hands wrapped around a mug of tea she hadn'tTwo police officers had already spoken with her. She was sitting at the kitchen table, her hands wrapped around a mug of tea she hadn't touched.
When Jasmine entered, Denise stood.
“Baby—”
“Don't.””
Denise stopped.
Jasmine placed her touched.
When Jasmine entered, Denise stood.
“Baby—”
“Don't.””
Denise stopped.
Jasmine placed her phone on the table and turned the screen toward her.
“Who is Patricia Bell?””
Denise stared at the photograph.
The mug phone on the table and turned the screen toward her.
“Who is Patricia Bell?””
Denise stared at the photograph.
The mug slipped from her hands and shattered against the floor.
Thomas moved instinctively to help, but Denise stepped away slipped from her hands and shattered against the floor.
Thomas moved instinctively to help, but Denise stepped away from him.
“No,” she whispered.
“No, no, no.””
Jasmine's voice trembled.
“Is she alive?””
Denise from him.
“No,” she whispered.
“No, no, no.””
Jasmine's voice trembled.
“Is she alive?””
Denise shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Then why is there a photograph of her outside your house today?””
Denise shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Then why is there a photograph of her outside your house today?””
Denise sank into a chair.
“Because someone wants us to believe she's alive.””
Thomas placed both hands on the table.
“Den sank into a chair.
“Because someone wants us to believe she's alive.””
Thomas placed both hands on the table.
“Denise, we need the truth. All of it. No more protecting people by lying to us.””
Denise stared atise, we need the truth. All of it. No more protecting people by lying to us.””
Denise stared at Jasmine.
Then she began to cry.
“When Patricia brought you to me, she didn't come alone.””
Jasmine went still.
“Who was with her?””
“A Jasmine.
Then she began to cry.
“When Patricia brought you to me, she didn't come alone.””
Jasmine went still.
“Who was with her?””
“A man from the clinic. He waited in the car while she carried you inside.””
Thomas felt his stomach tighten.
“Arthur man from the clinic. He waited in the car while she carried you inside.””
Thomas felt his stomach tighten.
“Arthur?””
“No. I never saw his face clearly.””
Denise wiped her cheeks.
“Patricia told me you were one?””
“No. I never saw his face clearly.””
Denise wiped her cheeks.
“Patricia told me you were one of two babies born that night. She said the clinic had been paid to move one child into a private of two babies born that night. She said the clinic had been paid to move one child into a private adoption arrangement. But before they could complete it, something went wrong.””
“What went wrong?”” Ryan asked.
Denise looked at him.
“Patricia said one of the babies had stopped adoption arrangement. But before they could complete it, something went wrong.””
“What went wrong?”” Ryan asked.
Denise looked at him.
“Patricia said one of the babies had stopped breathing.””
Silence filled the kitchen.
Jasmine gripped the back of a chair.
“Which baby?””
“I breathing.””
Silence filled the kitchen.
Jasmine gripped the back of a chair.
“Which baby?””
“I don't know.””
“You must know something!””
“I swear I don't.”” Denise's voice broke.
“Patricia told me that don't know.””
“You must know something!””
“I swear I don't.”” Denise's voice broke.
“Patricia told me that when she arrived, the doctors were trying to save one child. The other baby was already being moved. She said there when she arrived, the doctors were trying to save one child.
The other baby was already being moved. She said there was a mix-up with the records, and nobody could agree which child belonged to which family.””
Thomas felt cold all over.
was a mix-up with the records, and nobody could agree which child belonged to which family.””
Thomas felt cold all over.
The photograph of the two babies. The crossed-out name. The transfer order.
It was possible that theThe photograph of the two babies. The crossed-out name. The transfer order.
It was possible that the children had been switched before anyone outside the clinic knew what had happened.
Denise continued.
“Patricia told me she had to children had been switched before anyone outside the clinic knew what had happened.
Denise continued.
“Patricia told me she had to get one baby away from the clinic immediately. She said the child would be killed if she stayed there.””
Jasmine stared at her get one baby away from the clinic immediately. She said the child would be killed if she stayed there.””
Jasmine stared at her.
“So you took me.””
Denise nodded.
“Yes.””
“Did she pay you?””
Denise's face crumpled.
.
“So you took me.””
Denise nodded.
“Yes.””
“Did she pay you?””
Denise's face crumpled.
“Yes.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
“How much?””
“Five thousand dollars.””
Ryan looked away in disgust.
Denise raised her hands.
“Listen to me. I didn't“Yes.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
“How much?””
“Five thousand dollars.””
Ryan looked away in disgust.
Denise raised her hands.
“Listen to me. I didn't take that money to sell a baby. I took it because Patricia told me I would need it to disappear take that money to sell a baby.
I took it because Patricia told me I would need it to disappear. She said the people involved would come looking for the child, and I needed to move somewhere they couldn't find us.””
“You could. She said the people involved would come looking for the child, and I needed to move somewhere they couldn't find us.””
“You could have gone to the police,” Jasmine said.
“I tried.””
Denise's voice grew desperate.
“I went to a precinct have gone to the police,” Jasmine said.
“I tried.””
Denise's voice grew desperate.
“I went to a precinct the following morning. I told an officer I'd found a baby who might have been abandoned. Before I could give him the following morning.
I told an officer I'd found a baby who might have been abandoned. Before I could give him Patricia's name, another officer came in and called me by my full name.””
She shook Patricia's name, another officer came in and called me by my full name.””
She shook her head.
“He told me my younger sister had been arrested for drug possession. He said if I kept asking her head.
“He told me my younger sister had been arrested for drug possession. He said if I kept asking questions, she would lose custody of her children.””
Thomas frowned.
“Your sister?””
Denise nodded.
“I had two nieces questions, she would lose custody of her children.””
Thomas frowned.
“Your sister?””
Denise nodded.
“I had two nieces. They were all the family I had besides Jasmine.””
Jasmine looked stunned.
“You never told me any of this.””
“Because I was. They were all the family I had besides Jasmine.””
Jasmine looked stunned.
“You never told me any of this.””
“Because I was ashamed. I was afraid. And because I thought I could keep you safe if I kept my mouth shut.””
Thomas ashamed. I was afraid. And because I thought I could keep you safe if I kept my mouth shut.””
Thomas sat opposite her.
“Who gave you the money?””
“Patricia.””
“Not Marcus?””
Denise shook her head.
“I never sat opposite her.
“Who gave you the money?””
“Patricia.””
“Not Marcus?””
Denise shook her head.
“I never met Marcus until today.””
Jasmine's expression hardened.
“Then why did you say he paid you?””
“I met Marcus until today.””
Jasmine's expression hardened.
“Then why did you say he paid you?””
“I told you what Patricia told me. She said the money came from a trust controlled by a man named Carter.””
Thomas told you what Patricia told me. She said the money came from a trust controlled by a man named Carter.””
Thomas and Ryan exchanged a look.
“Arthur,” Ryan whispered.
Denise nodded.
“That's what I and Ryan exchanged a look.
“Arthur,” Ryan whispered.
Denise nodded.
“That's what I believe now.””
Jasmine pulled out a chair and sat down.
Her face had gone pale.
“You believe now.””
Jasmine pulled out a chair and sat down.
Her face had gone pale.
“You said Patricia told you I was one of two babies. What happened to the other one?””
Denise stared at the table.
“I don't know.””
“Did she said Patricia told you I was one of two babies. What happened to the other one?””
Denise stared at the table.
“I don't know.””
“Did she ever tell you the other baby's name?””
“No.””
“Did she ever show you a photograph?””
ever tell you the other baby's name?””
“No.””
“Did she ever show you a photograph?””
Denise hesitated.
Then she stood and walked toward a hallway closet.
She returned carrying a small wooden box.
“I keptDenise hesitated.
Then she stood and walked toward a hallway closet.
She returned carrying a small wooden box.
“I kept everything Patricia gave me.””
Inside were hospital bracelets, folded letters, a tiny knitted cap, and several photographs.
Denise lifted a everything Patricia gave me.””
Inside were hospital bracelets, folded letters, a tiny knitted cap, and several photographs.
Denise lifted a bracelet.
The faded lettering read:
*BABY A — CARTER.*
Thomas took it with shaking bracelet.
The faded lettering read:
*BABY A — CARTER.*
Thomas took it with shaking hands.
Another bracelet lay beneath it.
*BABY B — CARTER.*
Jasmine stared at the two bands.
“ hands.
Another bracelet lay beneath it.
*BABY B — CARTER.*
Jasmine stared at the two bands.
“Why did you keep both?””
“Patricia gave me both bracelets,” Denise replied.
“She saidWhy did you keep both?””
“Patricia gave me both bracelets,” Denise replied.
“She said I might need them someday to prove who you were.””
Thomas examined the first bracelet.
“Which one were I might need them someday to prove who you were.””
Thomas examined the first bracelet.
“Which one were you wearing?””
Denise looked at Jasmine.
“Baby B.””
Thomas felt a wave of relief, immediately followed by guilt for you wearing?””
Denise looked at Jasmine.
“Baby B.””
Thomas felt a wave of relief, immediately followed by guilt for feeling it.
Jasmine touched the second bracelet.
“So I'm the second baby.””
“That's what Patricia feeling it.
Jasmine touched the second bracelet.
“So I'm the second baby.””
“That's what Patricia told me.””
Thomas leaned back.
“Then who was Baby A?””
Denise reached into the box and pulled out a folded told me.””
Thomas leaned back.
“Then who was Baby A?””
Denise reached into the box and pulled out a folded note.
“Patricia wrote this before she disappeared.””
She handed it to Jasmine.
The note contained note.
“Patricia wrote this before she disappeared.””
She handed it to Jasmine.
The note contained a single sentence.
*If the children are ever reunited, tell them the truth about the night the lights a single sentence.
If the children are ever reunited, tell them the truth about the night the lights went out.
Ryan frowned.
“What lights?””
Denise shook her head.
“I never understood that part.””
Thomas looked at the two bracelets went out.*
Ryan frowned.
“What lights?””
Denise shook her head.
“I never understood that part.””
Thomas looked at the two bracelets.
Then at the photograph of the girls standing with Patricia in 2007.
One child wore yellow.
Then at the photograph of the girls standing with Patricia in 2007.
One child wore yellow.
The other wore blue.
He remembered Arthur's words.
You're the reason the other one disappeared.
But Jasmine hadn't been the reason.
The other wore blue.
He remembered Arthur's words.
You're the reason the other one disappeared.
But Jasmine hadn't been the reason.
She had been a baby.
She couldn't have chosen anything.
Someone else had made that.
She had been a baby.
She couldn't have chosen anything.
Someone else had made that choice.
Someone who knew both children had survived.
Someone who had then spent years ensuring the truth never choice.
Someone who knew both children had survived.
Someone who had then spent years ensuring the truth never emerged.
Jasmine suddenly looked up.
“Mom, you said Patricia brought me to you because one of emerged.
Jasmine suddenly looked up.
“Mom, you said Patricia brought me to you because one of the babies was in danger.””
Denise nodded.
“That's right.””
“Did she ever say whether she had the babies was in danger.””
Denise nodded.
“That's right.””
“Did she ever say whether she had the other baby with her?””
Denise's lips parted.
For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she reached into the box and pulled out a the other baby with her?””
Denise's lips parted.
For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she reached into the box and pulled out a final photograph.
It showed Patricia sitting on a hospital bed, holding a newborn in each arm.
Both babies were final photograph.
It showed Patricia sitting on a hospital bed, holding a newborn in each arm.
Both babies were alive.
Both wore silver heart pendants.
On the back, Patricia had written:
*October 18, 2004. The night alive.
Both wore silver heart pendants.
On the back, Patricia had written:
October 18, 2004. The night I realized neither child was safe.
Thomas stared at the image.
Ryan whispered, “She had I realized neither child was safe.*
Thomas stared at the image.
Ryan whispered, “She had both of them.””
Jasmine turned the photograph over again.
A second line had been written both of them.””
Jasmine turned the photograph over again.
A second line had been written beneath the first, in different handwriting.
One child was sent home. One was sent away.
beneath the first, in different handwriting.
One child was sent home. One was sent away.
Thomas recognized the handwriting immediately.
It belonged to Evelyn.
He read the words aloud.
ThenThomas recognized the handwriting immediately.
It belonged to Evelyn.
He read the words aloud.
Then he looked at Denise.
“Where did you get this?””
Denise shook her head.
“I've never seen that photograph before.””
Jasmine's phone he looked at Denise.
“Where did you get this?””
Denise shook her head.
“I've never seen that photograph before.””
Jasmine's phone vibrated again.
Another message from the unknown number.
This time, there was no photograph.
Only a sentence.
**ASK TH vibrated again.
Another message from the unknown number.
This time, there was no photograph.
Only a sentence.
*ASK THOMAS WHY EVELYN WAS IN THE HOSPITAL THE NIGHT HER DAUGHTERS WERE BORN.OMAS WHY EVELYN WAS IN THE HOSPITAL THE NIGHT HER DAUGHTERS WERE BORN.*
Thomas stared at the screen.
He had been there that night.
He remembered the hospital corridor, the doctor calling him aside, and Evelyn**
Thomas stared at the screen.
He had been there that night.
He remembered the hospital corridor, the doctor calling him aside, and Evelyn crying as she held one baby against her chest.
But he also remembered something he had spent twenty-two years trying not to think about crying as she held one baby against her chest.
But he also remembered something he had spent twenty-two years trying not to think about.
At 11:42 p.m., a nurse had told him that one of the babies had died.
.
At 11:42 p.m., a nurse had told him that one of the babies had died.
At 12:16 a.m., another nurse had handed him a second blanket and said the surviving child was stable.
He had believed there had been oneAt 12:16 a.m., another nurse had handed him a second blanket and said the surviving child was stable.
He had believed there had been one baby who survived and another who had died.
He had never seen two children in the nursery.
He had never held baby who survived and another who had died.
He had never seen two children in the nursery.
He had never held both daughters at the same time.
And Evelyn had never explained why.
Thomas slowly both daughters at the same time.
And Evelyn had never explained why.
Thomas slowly raised his eyes to Jasmine.
“I need to tell you something about the night you were born.””
Before he could continue, Denise's raised his eyes to Jasmine.
“I need to tell you something about the night you were born.””
Before he could continue, Denise's landline rang.
She answered it with shaking hands.
A woman's voice spoke on the other end.
Denise's face drained of color.
landline rang.
She answered it with shaking hands.
A woman's voice spoke on the other end.
Denise's face drained of color.
“Patricia?””
Thomas stood so abruptly that his chair fell backward.
Denise listened for“Patricia?””
Thomas stood so abruptly that his chair fell backward.
Denise listened for several seconds.
Then she whispered, “But you died.””
The woman replied.
“No, Denise. I didn't.””
A several seconds.
Then she whispered, “But you died.””
The woman replied.
“No, Denise. I didn't.””
A pause.
Then Patricia Bell said the words that changed everything.
“And if you pause.
Then Patricia Bell said the words that changed everything.
“And if you want to know which baby you actually raised, you need to bring Jasmine to the hospital where she was born.””
The call disconnected want to know which baby you actually raised, you need to bring Jasmine to the hospital where she was born.””
The call disconnected.
Denise stared at the receiver.
Jasmine stood slowly.
“What did she say?””
Denise looked at her daughter, tears streaming down her face.
.
Denise stared at the receiver.
Jasmine stood slowly.
“What did she say?””
Denise looked at her daughter, tears streaming down her face.
“She said the DNA test won't tell you the whole truth.””
Then she whispered the one thing“She said the DNA test won't tell you the whole truth.””
Then she whispered the one thing Jasmine had never imagined hearing.
“She said you might not be the baby I took home.””
May you like
Jasmine had never imagined hearing.
“She said you might not be the baby I took home.””