Chapter 16 - It Was Planned
Elaine stood so quickly her chair fell backward.
“No.”
Rachel did not look away from the screen.
Her father continued.
“I asked Elaine to switch the identification bands. I told her it was to protect Claire’s child. That was only partly true.”
Elaine whispered, “Thomas…”
“I needed Victor to believe Claire’s daughter had vanished into another family. But I also needed one child outside Arden’s bloodline.”
Daniel frowned.
“Bloodline?”
Thomas continued.
“Victor’s foundation was not only laundering money. It was purchasing access to private genetic records.”
Rachel felt cold.
“Why?”
The video answered as if her father heard her.
“Victor believed certain families carried hereditary markers worth millions to pharmaceutical investors. He built a private registry using hospital data.”
Elaine covered her mouth.
Thomas looked exhausted on-screen.
“Claire’s daughter was one of the children flagged. So was Rachel’s.”
Rachel stopped breathing.
Both babies.
Thomas continued.
“I switched them so Victor could never be certain which child was which.”
The video ended.
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Then Daniel said, “This is insane.”
Elaine whispered, “It’s true.”
Rachel stared at her.
“You knew about the registry?”
“Not until after Thomas died.”
Rachel looked at the hospital tags.
“So Sophie and Lily were both targets.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Then Claire didn’t hide evidence in Bunny because Sophie was safe.”
Rachel understood.
“She hid it because Sophie was already part of the evidence.”
Daniel nodded.
Elaine turned toward the window.
“What time is it?”
“Why?”
“Because Victor knows the USB is open now.”
Daniel frowned.
“How?”
“The encryption key phones home.”
Rachel stared.
“You mean opening it told him where we are?”
Elaine nodded.
The building fire alarm began screaming.
Daniel went to the window.
Three black SUVs had stopped outside.
Men entered the lobby.
Rachel’s phone rang.
Claire.
Rachel answered.
“Where are Sophie and Lily?” Claire demanded.
“At the hospital.”
Claire went silent.
Then whispered:
“Rachel, Victor never wanted the USB.”
Rachel’s blood turned cold.
“What does he want?”
“The girls.”
Rachel grabbed Daniel’s arm.
They ran for the door.
Claire shouted through the phone:
“And you just left both of them in a hospital he owns.”
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