“Nobody is taking him anywhere until someone tells me what’s going on.”
The police officer raised a hand.
“Ma’am, please stay calm.”
But Caroline wasn’t looking at him.
She was staring at the janitor.
Because she suddenly recognized him.
His hair was gray now. His face was older.
But she knew those eyes.
“You…” Caroline whispered. “You worked at St. Matthew’s Hospital.”
The janitor went silent.
Emily looked from her mother to Noah.
“Mom… who is he?”
Caroline could barely speak.
“Nine years ago, I had a baby boy.”
Noah’s face changed.
Caroline continued, tears filling her eyes.
“The hospital told me he died three hours after he was born.”
Noah slowly tightened his hand around the silver pendant.
The janitor shouted:
“DON’T LISTEN TO HER!”
Caroline spun toward him.
“You were there that night.”
The officer immediately looked at the janitor.
“What is she talking about?”
The man backed toward the gate.
Then Noah whispered:
“My mom told me never to trust anyone from that hospital.”
Caroline froze.
“What did you say?”
Noah reached inside his backpack and pulled out an old photograph.
The edges were torn and faded.
He handed it to Caroline.
Her knees nearly gave out.
The photograph showed a much younger Caroline asleep in a hospital bed…
holding a newborn baby.
And written across the back were five words:
“His real mother is Caroline.”
Emily covered her mouth.
Caroline stared at Noah.
“Noah… who raised you?”
The boy looked toward the janitor.
Before he could answer, the police officer grabbed the man’s arm.
But the janitor suddenly shouted:
“YOU STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND!”
Everyone froze.
He pointed at Caroline.
“That baby didn’t disappear by accident.”
Caroline’s face drained of color.
“What are you saying?”
The janitor looked directly at Noah.
Then he said:
“Ask your husband why he paid us to make everyone believe his son was dead.”
Caroline stopped breathing.
Emily whispered:
“Dad…?”
And then Caroline heard a car door slam behind her.
She slowly turned around.
Her husband was standing across the street.
Watching them.
And in his hand…
was another identical silver pendant.
