Chapter 2 - THE BABY WHO COULDN'T CRY
The emergency department doors opened before Dr. Grace could answer.
Two nurses hurried forward with a pediatric stretcher, followed by Dr. Elena Ruiz, the overnight emergency physician.
Lauren carefully loosened the wet cloth securing the infant.
He was smaller than she'd expected.
Perhaps three months old.
His lips were pale. His skin felt frighteningly cool.
Dr. Ruiz assessed his breathing and responsiveness while the team transferred him to the stretcher.
“Pediatric resuscitation bay,” she ordered. “Now.”
Maisie grabbed Lauren's wrist.
“Don't let them take him.”
“They're helping him.”
“That's what the other doctor said.”
Lauren looked at her.
“What other doctor?”
Maisie's eyes moved toward Grace.
He was speaking urgently into his phone.
Lauren's stomach tightened.
She turned to Imani.
“Please ask security to preserve the lobby camera footage. And make sure the responding officers know these children may be victims of a crime.”
Imani nodded.
Dr. Brandt lowered his phone.
Too late.
Lauren had already seen him recording.
“Delete that video from your public accounts,” she said.
Brandt bristled. “I haven't posted anything.”
“Then preserve the original for investigators. Don't share images of these children.”
Grace approached.
“Nurse Pierce, you are making serious accusations.”
Lauren stood.
“I am asking for the children to be protected.”
“You're off duty.”
“The baby isn't.”
Dr. Ruiz called from the corridor.
“Lauren, we need the girl's history.”
Lauren turned back to Maisie.
“Can you walk?”
Maisie nodded, though her knees were shaking.
Lauren wrapped her hoodie around the child and guided her toward the emergency department.
Behind them, Grace called, “Pierce!”
Lauren didn't stop.
In the treatment bay, the baby was placed under warming equipment while clinicians assessed his breathing, circulation, glucose, and possible illness or exposure.
Maisie stood beside Lauren, gripping the yellow gloves.
“His name is Benji,” she whispered.
“How old is he?”
“Four months.”
“Has he been sick?”
Maisie nodded.
“He had a fever yesterday. Then he got cold. He wouldn't drink his milk.”
Lauren relayed the information to Dr. Ruiz.
“Where were you before you came here?” Ruiz asked gently.
Maisie stared at the floor.
“A house.”
“Where?”
“Near the water.”
“Who was with you?”
“Mommy. Benji. The men.”
Lauren felt Maisie's grip tighten.
“What men?”
Maisie shook her head.
“I can't.”
Dr. Ruiz nodded.
“You don't have to tell us everything right now.”
Maisie looked at the baby.
“Is he going to die?”
Lauren crouched.
“The doctors are working very hard to help him.”
“You promised you'd find me.”
Lauren froze.
Four years ago, she'd made that promise.
Then she'd broken it.
Or so Maisie believed.
Lauren swallowed.
“I never stopped looking.”
Maisie's eyes filled.
“Then why didn't you come?”
Lauren had no answer she could give in that room.
Not yet.
Twenty minutes later, Benji was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit for continued treatment.
He was seriously ill, but he was breathing with medical support, and the team had begun treating the problems identified during his evaluation.
Maisie was examined, given dry clothes, and offered warm food.
She refused to eat until someone told her where her brother was.
Lauren stayed beside her.
At 12:26 a.m., two federal investigators arrived.
One was a woman in her forties with closely cropped dark hair.
She introduced herself as Special Agent Rebecca Shaw.
The second was a younger man named Thomas Reed.
Shaw looked at Lauren.
“Ms. Pierce, we received a call concerning a possible missing child.”
Lauren nodded.
Shaw studied Maisie.
Then looked back at Lauren.
“Is this the girl from Virginia?”
Lauren's heart pounded.
“Yes.”
Shaw exhaled slowly.
“We've been looking for her for four years.”
Maisie stared at the agent.
Then whispered, “You can't tell the anchor man.”
Shaw crouched.
“Who is the anchor man?”
May you like
Maisie looked toward the hospital corridor.
And began shaking again.
