Chapter 3 - THE GIRL WHO WAS ERASED FROM THE RECORDS
At thirty-five thousand feet, Imani finally saw the clouds.
They looked like mountains made of whipped cream.
She pressed her fingertips against the window.
"Miss Lorraine, look!"
Lorraine smiled.
"They're beautiful, sweetheart."
But her thoughts were somewhere else.
Gerald Whitford.
The stolen seat.
The mysterious legal alert.
And a three-billion-dollar estate connected to a child who had spent the last four years wearing secondhand school uniforms.
Something was terribly wrong.
Lorraine opened the sealed document pouch.
Inside was a letter from Whitmore & Hale.
It confirmed that Daniel Mercer had left instructions requesting Imani's presence in New York for an estate meeting.
A second document named Lorraine as Imani's court-appointed guardian.
She read that section twice.
Lorraine had petitioned for guardianship after Naomi died.
The court had approved it.
But the legal paperwork now included an additional notification.
Potential interference with minor beneficiary's identity records.
Lorraine's stomach tightened.
She turned the page.
A certified birth record had been attached.
Imani Naomi Barrett.
Born in Atlanta.
Mother: Naomi Barrett.
Father: Not listed on the original certificate.
Then came an amended record.
Father: Daniel Mercer.
The amendment had been entered eleven days earlier, based on previously sealed legal documents.
Lorraine stared.
Someone had finally established what Naomi had hidden.
But why now?
She opened the final page.
An attorney's handwritten note appeared.
Ms. Parker, please do not discuss Imani's estate with Gerald Whitford or anyone representing him. We have reason to believe records concerning her identity were deliberately suppressed.
Lorraine looked toward Imani.
The little girl was drawing an airplane in her notebook.
Happy.
Unaware.
Protected by the innocence of childhood.
Lorraine silently promised herself that no amount of money would change the love she'd given this child.
Then Imani turned.
"Miss Lorraine?"
"Yes, baby?"
"If that man was my daddy, why didn't he come see me?"
Lorraine felt her chest tighten.
"I don't know."
"Did he not want me?"
The question nearly broke her.
She reached across the armrest.
"Oh, sweetheart. Nothing about this means you weren't wanted."
Imani looked down.
"Mommy said grown-ups sometimes make mistakes."
"She was right."
"Do you think Daddy made one?"
Lorraine squeezed her hand.
"I think we need to hear his story before deciding."
A flight attendant approached with orange juice.
Imani accepted the glass with both hands.
"Thank you."
Kimberly smiled.
"You're very welcome."
Then she glanced at Lorraine.
"Ms. Parker, may I speak with you for a moment?"
Lorraine stepped into the galley while another crew member kept Imani in sight.
Kimberly lowered her voice.
"The captain received an update from airport security."
Lorraine's stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
"Gerald Whitford was questioned after leaving the aircraft."
"And?"
"He claimed the child's reservation was fraudulent."
Lorraine stared.
"That's ridiculous."
"Yes. But security discovered something unusual when checking his travel documents."
"What?"
Kimberly hesitated.
"Mr. Whitford was carrying a copy of Imani's birth certificate."
Lorraine felt the blood drain from her face.
"Why?"
"That's what investigators are trying to determine."
Then Kimberly continued.
"The copy had been altered."
Lorraine gripped the counter.
"Altered how?"
"The child's name had been changed."
A cold silence followed.
May you like
Kimberly looked directly at her.
"According to that document, Imani Barrett died six years ago."
