Chapter 8 - The Second Box
"That's not our blue box," Marcus said.
Nico looked closer.
He was right.
The evidence box recovered from the garage was already with police.
"There's another one," Sienna whispered.
"They're dumping evidence," Nico said.
Park looked at him. "Or moving it."
The hospital had cameras, locked doors, and armed security.
"My braid," she sobbed.
"I know, baby."
"Grandma said Mommy would be gone if I talked."
Nico, half asleep in a chair by the window, stood immediately.
"What did she say?"
"She said new baby needs Daddy, not Mommy."
"Did she say where Mommy would go?"
"Sleep."
Nico felt anger rise so fast he had to turn away.
"Dad, I thought I was protecting her by staying calm."
"You were surviving."
"No. I was teaching her that fear was normal."
"Then teach her something different now."
"Okay."
"Okay. I will."
"We found Marjorie's car."
"And Marjorie?"
"Gone. Raymond too."
"The box?"
The trunk of the silver sedan stood open.
"That's mine."
"Why would they have Mila's backpack?"
Inside the backpack police had found a copy of Mila's birth certificate, a passport application, and two passport photos taken without Sienna's knowledge.
It was a notarized consent form supposedly signed by Sienna.
"They were going to take her," Sienna whispered.
"And the signature is dated next Monday."
Nico frowned. "Next Monday hasn't happened yet."
"Exactly."
The notary stamp belonged to a woman named Elaine Mercer.
Sienna stared at the name.
"I know her."
Nico looked at her.
May you like
"Who is she?"
"She's the nurse Gavin insisted I hire for the first two weeks after the baby is born."
