Chapter 13 - The Woman Who Stole Three Years
Vanessa had spent two years pretending she wanted to become Noah's mother.
Now investigators believed she might have been involved in taking his real mother away.
I sat across from Detective Elena Morales at police headquarters.
On the table were hospital access logs, witness statements, and financial records.
"Tell me exactly what you found," I said.
Morales opened a folder.
"Thomas Keller admitted providing unauthorized system access to Vanessa Hart. He claims she wanted to alter a medical record to create pressure on Claire regarding the trust."
"Did she cause my wife's death?"
"That remains under investigation. But the evidence indicates someone used Keller's credentials to enter an unauthorized medication order."
I felt my chest tighten.
"Claire was perfectly healthy when I kissed her goodbye."
Morales nodded.
"I've reviewed the timeline. We are treating this as a criminal investigation, including the possibility of homicide."
I stared at the table.
For years, I'd blamed myself for not being there when Claire died.
Now I knew someone might have deliberately taken advantage of those final moments.
"Where is Vanessa?"
"We're looking for her."
"Richard?"
"Also missing. Their accounts show unusual withdrawals."
I stood.
"Then find them."
Morales met my eyes.
"Mr. Romano, I understand your grief. But I need you to let us do our jobs."
For the first time in my life, I understood what she was really asking.
Not for patience.
For restraint.
I could send men across Miami within minutes.
But violence wouldn't bring Claire back.
And Noah deserved a father who came home.
"I'll cooperate," I said.
That evening, I gathered my security team.
"No independent operations. No threats. Anything relevant goes straight to Detective Morales."
Marcus nodded.
Then he handed me a phone.
"Sir, Vanessa called the main office."
My jaw tightened.
"What did she want?"
"To speak with you."
A recording began playing.
Vanessa sounded frantic.
"Adrian, Richard is going to kill me. I have proof he arranged everything. Please, you have to help me."
I listened silently.
Then another voice could be heard in the background.
A man's voice.
"Hang up, Vanessa."
Richard.
The call ended.
Marcus looked at me.
"There's more."
He showed me a photograph captured by a traffic camera.
Richard's car had been seen near a private marina.
But the passenger wasn't Vanessa.
It was a small blond child.
I stared at the image.
The child's face was partially obscured.
Then my phone rang.
Grace.
"Adrian!"
She was screaming.
I was already running toward the door.
"What's wrong?"
Her next words almost stopped my heart.
"Noah's missing!"
Behind her, I heard Margaret sobbing.
May you like
And then Grace whispered something that made the entire nightmare clear.
"Vanessa sent a woman pretending to be Noah's new therapist. She had a forged authorization with my signature."
