Chapter 8 - THE CHILD WITH MAEVE'S LAST NAME
Maeve stared at Roman.
Lily Carter.
Her own last name.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Roman asked the question hanging between them.
"Is that a coincidence?"
Maeve shook her head.
"I don't know."
Detective Mitchell continued explaining that the guardianship application contained irregularities.
The child's identity documents appeared inconsistent.
The named guardian, Claire Wexler, had provided questionable information about the child's family.
And the application had never been fully approved.
Roman looked toward Maeve.
"Why use your last name?"
Maeve thought about the hospital investigation.
Her access credentials.
The fabricated medication record.
The missing narcotics.
Then a terrible possibility formed.
"What if they wanted Lily connected to me?"
Roman frowned.
"Why?"
"Because if someone found her, they could claim I was involved."
Her stomach tightened.
"Another way to frame me."
Roman's expression hardened.
Detective Mitchell interrupted.
"That's one possibility. We need evidence before drawing conclusions."
Maeve nodded.
She was learning to be careful.
Eight months earlier, she'd believed telling the truth would be enough.
Now she understood the truth needed to be protected by facts.
Hours later, investigators located Lily.
She was alive.
Physically unharmed.
But frightened.
A social worker and medical professionals accompanied her to a safe location.
Roman was informed that family identification and guardianship arrangements would need verification.
He agreed to every requirement.
Maeve watched him.
His hands trembled.
"She's alive," he whispered.
Maeve smiled through tears.
"She is."
Roman covered his face.
For the first time since she'd met him, he cried openly.
Not like a feared mafia boss.
Like an uncle who had spent eight months wondering whether a child he loved was dead.
Maeve sat beside him.
She didn't speak.
She simply waited.
Later that evening, Detective Mitchell called again.
"Lily has made a statement."
Roman straightened.
"What did she say?"
The detective hesitated.
"She's frightened. We're proceeding carefully with a child specialist."
Roman nodded.
"Of course."
"She remembers the night Julian was shot."
Roman closed his eyes.
Maeve leaned closer.
The detective continued.
"Lily says a man came to their house."
"What man?"
"She called him Uncle Victor."
Roman went completely still.
Victor Bellamy.
Julian's business partner.
The man he had trusted for years.
Roman whispered:
"Victor."
Detective Mitchell continued.
"Lily says her father argued with him."
"What about?"
"She doesn't remember everything."
Roman gripped the phone.
"Did she see the shooting?"
"No. She heard loud noises and hid."
Relief mixed with horror.
The detective continued.
"She says another woman arrived afterward."
Maeve's pulse quickened.
"Who?"
"She called her the doctor lady."
Roman frowned.
"Dr. Vance?"
Maeve shook her head.
"He's a man."
Then she remembered.
Claire Wexler.
Hospital administrator.
The woman who'd helped destroy her career.
The detective continued.
"Lily says the woman took her to a car."
Roman closed his eyes.
Then Detective Mitchell added:
"There's one detail we need to verify."
"What?"
"Lily says her father gave her something before the men arrived."
Roman leaned forward.
"What did he give her?"
"A small silver necklace."
Maeve looked up sharply.
The detective continued.
"She says there's something hidden inside it."
Roman stopped breathing.
May you like
Then Detective Mitchell said the words that changed everything.
"Lily says her father told her the necklace contained proof that the hospital had been stealing children from their families."
