CHAPTER 4: Shadows of the Past
Detective Marcus Hayes of the Metro Special Investigations Unit sat across from the trio in the dimly lit conference room of the precinct. Outside the blinds, flashbulbs from paparazzi lit up the rain-slicked pavement.
The DNA swab test had been rushed under emergency court order, authorized by a judge who had no patience for billionaire influence when kidnapping allegations hit the evening wire.
Elena sat quietly in an aluminum chair, drinking lukewarm water from a paper cup. Leo had finally succumbed to exhaustion, sleeping soundly on an adjacent vinyl bench wrapped in Julian’s oversized tuxedo jacket. Julian sat two seats away, his head in his hands, completely detached from Victoria, who sat in the opposite corner flanked by two high-priced defense attorneys.
"Six years ago," Detective Hayes began, laying a thick manila folder on the metal desk, "Saint Jude Memorial suffered an electrical fire in the pediatric wing. Amid the chaos, baby Noah Vance was declared dead due to smoke inhalation. No remains were positively identified, but the hospital’s head of administration, Dr. Robert Crane, signed the death certificate."
Elena flinched, the traumatic memory slicing through her chest like a razor. "I told them he wasn't dead. I felt it in my bones. But they threatened to put me in a psychiatric ward if I kept screaming in the lobby."
Hayes nodded grimly. "Dr. Crane fled the country three years ago following a federal probe into illegal private brokering. Two weeks ago, he was apprehended in Costa Rica on unrelated fraud charges. In exchange for a plea deal, he surrendered an encrypted ledger of private placements."
Hayes paused, looking squarely at Victoria.
"And whose name appears under the transfer ledger for June 16th, accompanied by a wire transfer of two million dollars?" Hayes asked, his voice dropping into a chilling monotone.
Victoria's lawyer leaned in immediately. "My client exercises her Fifth Amendment right and will not answer any questions without full immunity."
Julian looked up, his face pale and eyes burning with betrayal. "Two million dollars, Victoria? You told me the agency fees were fifty thousand. You told me his biological mother died in childbirth."
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"Julian, please..." Victoria sobbed, the polished socialite crumbling entirely. "I couldn't give you a child! The doctors said my treatments failed. You were going to leave me! I did it for us!"
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