Chapter 7 - THE LITTLE GIRL NOBODY WAS ALLOWED TO MENTION
Roman Hayes had buried two things eight months earlier.
His brother Julian.
And the hope of ever seeing Julian's daughter again.
Her name was Lily Hayes.
She was six years old.
And Roman hadn't spoken her name aloud in months.
Maeve stared at him.
"Your niece?"
Roman nodded.
"Julian had a daughter."
"Where is her mother?"
"She died when Lily was three."
Maeve's chest tightened.
"Then who raised her?"
"Julian."
Roman looked toward the window.
"He was a good father."
His voice broke.
"He made breakfast every morning. Took her to school. Read to her every night."
Maeve remained silent.
Roman continued.
"The night Julian was shot, Lily disappeared from his home."
Maeve stopped breathing.
"Was she kidnapped?"
"That's what we feared."
"Did anyone demand ransom?"
"No."
Roman closed his eyes.
"Nothing."
Maeve studied him.
"Why didn't I hear about this?"
"Her disappearance wasn't publicized widely because investigators feared attention might endanger her."
He looked at Maeve.
"And because I didn't know whom to trust."
She nodded slowly.
The story was becoming clearer.
Julian had discovered the hospital conspiracy.
He'd tried to expose it.
Then someone shot him.
His daughter disappeared.
And the hospital framed the nurse who'd questioned his treatment.
Maeve felt sick.
"Roman, what if Lily saw something?"
He looked at her.
"I've thought about that every day."
"What if she knows who attacked Julian?"
Roman's expression darkened.
"Then someone may have taken her to keep her quiet."
Maeve looked down.
The message mentioned Lily.
Someone knew she was still alive.
Or wanted Roman to believe it.
Her phone vibrated again.
A photograph appeared.
A little girl sitting beside a window.
Brown hair.
Blue eyes.
A pink sweater.
She was holding a stuffed rabbit.
Roman grabbed the edge of the table.
"Lily."
His voice cracked.
Maeve looked at him.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded.
"That's her."
Tears filled his eyes.
"My little girl."
Maeve noticed the way he said it.
Not niece.
Not Julian's daughter.
My little girl.
Roman saw her expression.
"After Julian died, I was supposed to become her guardian."
His voice softened.
"I promised my brother I'd protect her."
Maeve touched his hand.
"Then let's find her."
Roman looked at her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then his phone rang.
Detective Sarah Mitchell.
Roman answered.
"Tell me."
The detective's voice was serious.
"Mr. Hayes, we've identified the room in the photograph."
His heart pounded.
"Where?"
"At a residential property connected to the Hayes Recovery Center."
Roman stood.
"Is she there?"
"We're checking."
He gripped the phone.
Then Detective Mitchell continued.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"The property is registered to a woman named Claire Wexler."
Maeve stopped breathing.
Claire Wexler.
The hospital administrator who helped investigate the missing narcotics.
The woman who signed Maeve's suspension notice.
Roman looked at Maeve.
The pieces were connecting.
But the detective wasn't finished.
"Mr. Hayes, the records indicate Ms. Wexler applied for legal guardianship of a child last year."
Roman's face drained of color.
"What child?"
A pause.
May you like
Then Detective Mitchell answered.
"A six-year-old girl listed under the name Lily Carter."
