Chapter 6 - THE CHILD BEHIND THE BLUE BIRDS
“Then we're going there tonight,” Rachel said.
She was already reaching for Emma's coat.
Gabriel stepped between her and the door.
“Rachel, I need to make sure the child is still there.”
“She is my daughter!”
“I know.”
“No, you don't!”
Her voice broke.
“You don't know what it feels like to hold a photograph of your own baby and realize someone else heard her first words.”
Gabriel let her anger pass.
Then he spoke quietly.
“If Margaret knows we're coming, she may move the child before we arrive.”
Rachel stopped.
He was right.
And that made the situation even worse.
Walter brought a glass of water.
“Rachel, sit down.”
She shook her head.
“I can't.”
Emma appeared beside her.
“Mommy?”
Rachel knelt immediately.
“I'm okay, sweetheart.”
Emma touched the photograph.
“Baby?”
Rachel nodded.
“Yes.”
“She's cute.”
A tear slipped down Rachel's cheek.
“Yes, she is.”
Emma studied her mother's face.
“Can she play with me?”
Rachel hugged her.
“I hope so, baby.”
Gabriel turned away, giving them privacy.
He called Marco.
“The children's residence in Connecticut. I need its current operating information.”
“Sir, I already checked.”
Gabriel frowned.
“Why?”
“Because the old foundation records mention Heather Miller.”
“And?”
“The residence was transferred to independent management two years ago.”
“Who operates it?”
“A nonprofit called Harbor Haven.”
Gabriel recognized the name.
Margaret had repeatedly asked him to donate more money to Harbor Haven.
He'd approved the grants without reviewing individual case files.
“Who is its director?”
Marco hesitated.
“Allison Reed.”
Gabriel closed his eyes.
The same woman connected to the false maternity registration.
The same woman Eleanor had seen leaving St. Mary's with Rachel's baby.
“Secure the foundation's records. Don't alert Allison.”
“Understood.”
Gabriel looked at Rachel.
“We have an address.”
She stood.
“Let's go.”
The drive north took nearly two hours.
Walter remained in Brooklyn with Oliver under the protection of trusted security personnel.
Emma fell asleep in the back seat.
Rachel sat beside her, holding the photograph.
The little girl in the yellow blanket was almost impossible to see clearly.
Only a tiny hand escaped the fabric.
Rachel kept tracing that hand with her finger.
Gabriel watched through the rearview mirror.
He'd faced enemies who had threatened his life.
He'd negotiated with men who never raised their voices before hurting people.
But nothing had prepared him for watching a mother wonder whether her child knew she existed.
They reached Harbor Haven shortly before midnight.
The residence stood behind white fencing and tall maple trees.
It looked welcoming.
Warm lights glowed in the downstairs windows.
A wooden sign near the entrance showed three blue birds.
Rachel gripped Gabriel's arm.
“That's it.”
He parked outside the gate.
“Stay here while I speak to the director.”
Rachel stared.
“No.”
He nodded.
“Then we go together.”
The night supervisor answered their call at the gate.
She appeared frightened when Gabriel introduced himself.
“Mr. Moretti, we weren't expecting you.”
“I understand. We need to speak with Allison Reed.”
“She isn't here tonight.”
“Who is responsible for the children's records?”
“That's confidential information.”
Gabriel stepped back.
“Then contact your legal supervisor. We have reason to believe a child was placed here under falsified documents.”
The woman's expression changed.
“Are you from child protective services?”
“No. And I'm not asking you to hand over a child. I'm asking you to preserve records and ensure every child is safe while the authorities investigate.”
Rachel looked at him.
He had promised not to make decisions without her.
And he was keeping that promise.
The supervisor called her manager.
Within twenty minutes, the residence's legal counsel agreed to preserve its files and cooperate with an emergency review.
But Rachel couldn't wait.
“Please,” she said. “I only want to know whether my daughter is here.”
The supervisor's face softened.
“What is her name?”
Rachel looked helplessly at Gabriel.
“I don't know.”
Those four words nearly destroyed her.
The supervisor lowered her eyes.
“There are seven girls between three and five in residence.”
Rachel pressed her hand to her chest.
“Seven?”
“Yes.”
“Do they all have families?”
“Some have relatives. Some are awaiting permanent placements.”
Rachel glanced at the photograph.
“My baby had a yellow blanket.”
The supervisor became very still.
“What kind?”
“Yellow. With a blue star.”
The woman looked toward the staircase.
“I think I know which child you mean.”
Rachel's knees weakened.
Gabriel steadied her.
“What's her name?”
“Lily.”
Rachel whispered it.
“Lily.”
The supervisor continued.
“She arrived when she was an infant. She wouldn't sleep without that blanket.”
Rachel began crying.
“Does she still have it?”
“Yes.”
“Can I see her?”
The supervisor hesitated.
“Not without authorization. But I can notify the child welfare agency immediately.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Please do.”
Then a small voice came from the staircase.
“Miss Anna?”
Everyone turned.
A little girl stood halfway down the steps.
She had dark curls, round cheeks, and blue pajamas covered in stars.
In her arms was a faded yellow blanket.
Rachel stopped breathing.
The child looked at the unfamiliar adults.
“Who are they?”
The supervisor approached her.
“Lily, sweetheart, you're supposed to be asleep.”
The little girl rubbed her eyes.
“I heard talking.”
Rachel remained frozen.
Gabriel touched her shoulder.
“Rachel.”
She took one step forward.
Then stopped herself.
The child didn't know her.
Rushing toward her could frighten her.
“Hello, Lily,” Rachel said softly.
The girl stared.
“Hi.”
Rachel smiled through tears.
“That's a very pretty blanket.”
Lily looked down.
“It's mine.”
“I know.”
“My star is broken.”
Rachel glanced at the tiny blue embroidery.
Daniel had sewn it crookedly because he'd never used a needle before.
She remembered laughing at him.
He'd promised their baby wouldn't care.
Rachel covered her mouth.
Lily frowned.
“Why you crying?”
Rachel forced herself to smile.
“Because your blanket reminds me of someone I love.”
The little girl considered that.
Then she hugged the blanket tightly.
“Me too.”
The supervisor gently guided Lily upstairs.
Rachel watched until the child disappeared.
Only then did she collapse into Gabriel's arms.
For the first time in four years, she'd seen her daughter.
And she hadn't been allowed to hold her.
Gabriel held her as she cried.
“We found her,” he whispered.
Rachel nodded.
“But we can't take her home.”
“Not tonight.”
Behind them, the supervisor returned carrying a folder.
“Mr. Moretti, there's something you need to see.”
Gabriel opened it.
Lily's placement records listed Allison Reed as guardian.
But the child's emergency medical authorization named another person.
Margaret Moretti.
Gabriel stared at the signature.
Then he noticed a handwritten restriction.
No maternal contact without foundation director's approval.
Rachel read it.
Her face hardened.
“Margaret knew.”
Gabriel nodded.
“She knew exactly where your daughter was.”
But the supervisor hadn't finished.
“Mr. Moretti, Margaret visited Lily two days ago.”
Gabriel turned.
“What did she want?”
The woman swallowed.
“She brought adoption documents. She told us the child would be leaving the residence next Friday.”
Rachel gripped the folder.
“To whom?”
The supervisor hesitated.
Then she pointed at the proposed adoption application.
The prospective adoptive mother was listed as Catherine Whitmore.
May you like
And the second applicant was—
Vanessa Whitmore.
