## CHAPTER 8 ## THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
The name echoed in Marcus's mind.
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Theodore.
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His grandfather.
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A man who had been dead for fifteen years.
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A man whose portrait hung in the Thorne mansion.
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A man everyone believed was buried beneath a marble tomb.
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But Evelyn's final words had changed everything.
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"Don't let them take the baby."
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"Theodore."
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Marcus stood in the middle of the mansion, surrounded by broken glass, armed guards, and secrets that had been buried for decades.
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Nothing made sense anymore.
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"Check the cameras."
Daniel ordered.
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One of the security guards rushed toward the control room.
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Three minutes later...
He returned with a pale face.
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"They weren't hacked."
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Marcus looked at him.
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"What?"
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The guard swallowed.
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"They were manually turned off."
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Silence.
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"Someone inside did it."
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Everyone looked around.
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The enemy wasn't outside.
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It was already here.
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The ambulance arrived.
Evelyn was rushed away.
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Marcus stood beside the vehicle as the doors closed.
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For a moment...
He saw not the woman who betrayed him.
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He saw his mother.
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The woman who taught him to ride a bicycle.
The woman who stayed awake during his childhood fevers.
The woman who once told him:
"No matter what happens, I will always protect you."
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The tragedy was...
She actually believed she was doing that.
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She just destroyed everyone while trying.
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At the hospital, doctors took Evelyn into surgery.
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Marcus, Khloe, and Daniel waited outside.
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Nobody spoke.
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Finally, Khloe broke the silence.
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"Do you believe her?"
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Marcus looked at her.
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"About what?"
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"About Theodore."
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He didn't answer immediately.
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Because he didn't know what he believed anymore.
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"My grandfather died when I was twelve."
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Khloe nodded.
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"Are you sure?"
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Marcus looked confused.
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"What do you mean?"
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She looked at Daniel.
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Daniel slowly opened his laptop.
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"I checked something before we came here."
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A file appeared.
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A death certificate.
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Marcus looked at it.
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Then frowned.
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"What am I looking at?"
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Daniel pointed.
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"Theodore Thorne's official death record."
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Marcus nodded.
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"Yes."
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"Look closer."
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Marcus leaned forward.
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The date.
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The hospital.
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The signature.
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Everything looked normal.
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Except one thing.
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The doctor who signed the certificate.
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Marcus froze.
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"Dr. Warren Vale."
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Daniel nodded.
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"The same doctor who worked with your grandfather on private research."
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Khloe looked at him.
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"Your grandfather's death was certified by his own employee."
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Marcus felt cold.
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"You're saying..."
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Daniel finished:
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"Your grandfather may have created his own death."
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The thought was impossible.
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But after everything Marcus had learned...
Impossible had become normal.
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The next morning...
Evelyn woke up.
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Weak.
Pale.
But alive.
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Marcus entered her room alone.
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She opened her eyes.
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For a moment...
She looked relieved.
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"You're here."
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Marcus didn't answer.
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"You saved my life."
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"No."
He said quietly.
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"I saved my mother."
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The words hurt.
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But they were honest.
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Evelyn looked away.
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"That's more than I deserve."
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Marcus sat down.
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"Tell me everything."
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She was silent.
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Then she nodded.
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"Your grandfather is alive."
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Even hearing it directly...
Still felt impossible.
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"Where?"
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"I don't know."
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Marcus frowned.
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"You just said—"
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"I said he's alive."
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She swallowed.
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"But I don't know where he is now."
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"How?"
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Evelyn looked at him.
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"Because I helped him disappear."
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Silence.
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Marcus felt betrayed all over again.
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"You helped him?"
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"I was young."
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"No."
Marcus shook his head.
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"You were an adult."
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Evelyn closed her eyes.
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"I thought I was protecting you."
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She explained.
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Fifteen years ago...
Theodore discovered Richard Parker's research had survived.
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He wanted it back.
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Not for money.
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For control.
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He believed the genetic research could create a new generation of people selected by design.
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And Khloe's unborn child...
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Was the first natural combination of both family lines.
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"The baby isn't important because of wealth."
Evelyn whispered.
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Marcus listened.
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"Your grandfather believes that child proves his theory."
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Khloe's face went pale.
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"He wants my baby?"
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Evelyn nodded.
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"Yes."
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Marcus stood immediately.
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"He will never get near my family."
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Evelyn looked at him.
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"There is something else."
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Marcus stopped.
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"What?"
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Evelyn reached under her pillow.
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Pulled out an old photograph.
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She handed it to him.
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Marcus looked down.
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The picture showed three people.
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His grandfather.
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Richard Parker.
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And a young woman.
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Elena Parker.
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But that wasn't what shocked him.
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It was the fourth person in the background.
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A little boy.
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About six years old.
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Marcus.
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His own childhood photo.
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On the back of the picture...
A message was written.
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"The first child tested."
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Marcus's blood ran cold.
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"No."
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Evelyn whispered:
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"Your grandfather started this long before Khloe."
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The hospital lights suddenly flickered.
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Everyone froze.
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Then every screen in the room turned on.
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A man's face appeared.
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Older.
Gray-haired.
Cold eyes.
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Marcus stopped breathing.
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Because he knew that face.
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He had seen it his entire life.
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Theodore Thorne.
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Alive.
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The old man smiled.
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"Hello, Marcus."
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Nobody moved.
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"I've waited a long time to meet the grandson who was supposed to inherit everything."
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Marcus stepped toward the screen.
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"You tried to kill my wife."
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Theodore smiled.
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"No."
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"I tried to protect the future."
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Marcus's voice became ice.
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"Where is my wife’s mother?"
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Theodore laughed softly.
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"Still asking about the past."
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A pause.
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"How disappointing."
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Then he looked directly at Khloe.
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"But the future..."
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His smile widened.
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"The future is inside you."
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The screen went black.
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And at that exact moment...
Every security alarm in the hospital began screaming.
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A nurse rushed into the room.
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"Mr. Thorne!"
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Marcus turned.
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"What happened?"
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Her face was terrified.
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"Your wife’s room..."
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She swallowed.
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"Someone tried to take the baby monitor."
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Marcus froze.
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"Who?"
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The nurse looked at him.
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"We don't know."
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A pause.
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"But whoever it was..."
May you like
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"They knew exactly where your child was."
