Chapter 6 - Flowers Without a Name
Ortiz called security before Claire could touch the envelope. The bouquet came from a cash order at a twenty-four-hour florist. A delivery driver had been paid extra to bring it directly to the maternity wing.
"She gave the room number," the driver told Ortiz over the phone. "A woman. She said she was the aunt."
"My sister," Claire said. She looked at Emma, at the clear rails around the crib, at the little monitor light blinking steadily. "She already threw her once. What else does she want?"
The nurse moved them to a room off the main corridor. Staff put a security alert on Emma's chart. Nobody would get access without Claire's approval and a second identification check.
Theo pointed to the photograph. "Look behind the house."
Two silver vans stood near the basement steps. A strip of orange survey tape marked the fence, and someone had removed the boards Ruth nailed over the old cellar door.
"That's my property," Claire said.
"Pike's contractors are inside," Ortiz replied. "I'm sending officers to secure it."
A soft knock interrupted them. Mr. Ellis stood outside with a bandaged elbow, still in the clothes he'd worn when he caught Emma. His eyes filled when he saw the baby breathing.
"She got a second chance," he whispered. "I wasn't sure I could hold her."
Claire embraced him carefully. "You saved her."
He shook his head. "That awning did. Your mom made me replace the anchors the spring before she died. She said we should never take down something that might catch a fall."
Claire closed her eyes. Ruth had been gone two years, yet somehow her hands had reached forward to save Emma.
Mr. Ellis produced an old brass key. "Your mom made me promise I'd give you this if men ever started measuring the backyard."
On the tag was stamped: GATE 4.
May you like
Then his own phone rang. His face hardened as he listened.
"Claire," he said, "someone just set my garage on fire."
