Chapter 11 - THE SIX HOURS NOBODY COULD EXPLAIN
Six hours.
That was how long Vanessa Whitford had held Imani Barrett after Daniel Mercer was injured.
Lorraine stared at the surveillance image.
Little Imani was crying, her arms reaching toward the hangar door.
Vanessa carried her toward a black SUV.
And Naomi was nowhere in sight.
"What happened to her?" Lorraine whispered.
Charles Bennett lowered his head.
"I don't know."
Samuel studied the recording.
"Who recovered this footage?"
"An old security technician. He kept an archived copy because he suspected the incident report was false."
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Does the video show the vehicle returning?"
Charles shook his head.
"But there are additional gate records."
He opened another file.
The SUV had left the hangar at 11:42 a.m.
It returned at 5:51 p.m.
Vanessa was alone.
Lorraine gripped the table.
"Where was Imani?"
Charles looked at her.
"According to the records, Naomi picked her up from an office outside Atlanta later that evening."
"Which office?"
Charles hesitated.
"A private child placement agency."
Silence.
Samuel looked up sharply.
"Are you certain?"
Charles nodded.
"The agency no longer operates. But its corporate records were preserved."
Lorraine's heart began pounding.
"Why would Vanessa take Imani there?"
Rebecca's expression darkened.
"To create documents that could be used to challenge Naomi's custody."
Lorraine shook her head.
"Naomi was her mother!"
"Yes," Samuel replied. "But false records can cause terrible harm before they're challenged."
They requested the agency's archived files through the investigation.
Two days later, the results arrived.
Imani had been registered under a different name.
Isabella Grace Whitford.
Lorraine nearly dropped the report.
Vanessa had attempted to establish paperwork identifying herself and Gerald as the child's prospective adoptive parents.
But the records were incomplete.
There was no valid court-approved adoption.
No lawful termination of Naomi's parental rights.
And no authority for Vanessa to keep the child.
Then Samuel found a handwritten objection attached to the file.
It was signed by Naomi Barrett.
I am Imani's mother. I have not consented to any adoption. My daughter was taken without my permission.
Lorraine covered her mouth.
Naomi had fought to get her child back.
Alone.
Terrified.
Against people with enough money to make documents disappear.
The investigator turned another page.
A photograph showed Naomi outside the agency holding Imani.
Her face was streaked with tears.
But she was smiling.
She had her daughter back.
Lorraine began crying.
"She never told me."
Rebecca touched her shoulder.
"Maybe she was afraid someone would try again."
Lorraine looked toward the window.
For years, she'd believed Naomi had simply been unusually protective.
Now she understood.
Naomi wasn't paranoid.
She was a mother who had almost lost her child.
That evening, Imani asked Lorraine why everyone seemed sad.
Lorraine sat beside her on the hotel bed.
"Sweetheart, we're learning some difficult things about your mommy and daddy."
Imani lowered her book.
"Did they do something bad?"
"No."
"Then why is everybody upset?"
Lorraine brushed a curl from her forehead.
"Because some people treated them unfairly."
Imani thought about that.
"Like the airplane man?"
"Yes."
She looked down.
"Mommy said mean people don't get to decide who we are."
Lorraine smiled through tears.
"Your mother was very wise."
Imani hugged her.
"You're wise too."
Lorraine held her tightly.
Then her phone rang.
Samuel.
His voice sounded urgent.
"Lorraine, we need to speak immediately."
"What happened?"
"Vanessa Whitford has contacted the authorities."
Lorraine froze.
"And?"
"She claims Gerald arranged Naomi's death."
Lorraine gripped the phone.
Then Samuel continued.
"But Vanessa says she was keeping a final piece of evidence hidden in case Gerald ever betrayed her."
"What evidence?"
A long silence.
May you like
Then Samuel revealed it.
"A recording Naomi made on the morning she died."
