Chapter 6 - THE TWELVE BABIES
The video was recorded six days before Amelia died.
She spoke fast, glancing toward the nursery door every few seconds.
“Vale Biologics tested an experimental immune treatment through a private pediatric clinic in Hartford. Twelve infants had severe reactions. Four died. The records were altered. Parents were paid. Some were threatened.”
My stomach turned.
“Mercer money funded part of the trial without our board knowing. Malcolm used shell companies to hide it.”
Amelia lifted a folder.
“I found the original patient list.”
She looked exhausted.
“Vivienne knows I found it.”
Tessa whispered, “Oh, Amelia.”
The video continued.
“If anything happens to me, the list is not in the safe. It is somewhere Malcolm will hate looking.”
Amelia smiled faintly.
“With the one person in this house nobody sees as a threat.”
The video ended.
Everyone looked at Noah.
“No,” I said immediately. “She wouldn’t hide evidence on a baby.”
Tessa’s eyes moved toward the missing stuffed bear.
The bear.
Ortiz cursed under her breath.
“That’s what the intruder took.”
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Vivienne’s voice filled my ear.
“You should have turned off the cameras when I asked.”
Every muscle in my body tightened.
“Where are you?”
“Not important.”
“You touched my son again, and I swear—”
“You still don’t understand.” Her voice cracked. “I was trying to scare Tessa away. I needed access to Noah without her watching.”
“You kicked a one-year-old.”
Silence.
Then she whispered, “My father said it would end if I got the bear.”
Ortiz motioned for me to keep her talking.
“Why the bear?”
“I don’t know where the list is. Grant thought Amelia hid it inside.”
“Grant broke into my house?”
“He does what my father tells him.”
“And you?”
A pause.
“I did too.”
Then her voice dropped.
“But you need to listen to me now. Malcolm isn’t coming for Noah because of the list anymore.”
“Then why?”
“Because the list is useless without the witness.”
“What witness?”
May you like
Vivienne started crying.
“Tessa.”
