Chapter 3 - The Empty Bassinet
Sebastián ran.
He didn’t wait for security.
He didn’t wait for explanations.
He didn’t even know where he was running until he reached the private exit on the west side of the hospital.
Rain hammered the glass doors.
A security guard stepped forward.
“Sir, you cannot—”
“My daughter was taken through here.”
The guard frowned.
“What?”
“Forty minutes ago.”
Sebastián shoved his phone toward him.
“Check the cameras.”
“I need authorization.”
“You have authorization.”
“I’m afraid—”
Sebastián grabbed the man’s identification badge and read his name.
“Luis Herrera.”
The guard stiffened.
“If my newborn daughter left this hospital with someone who did not have my permission, then you have approximately ten seconds to decide whether you want to help me find her or explain to the police why you didn’t.”
Luis stared at him.
Then he opened the security office.
They found the footage.
9:18 p.m.
A nurse pushed a bassinet toward the private elevator.
Sebastián leaned closer.
“Stop.”
Luis paused the footage.
The nurse’s face was partly hidden by a surgical mask.
Beside her walked a man.
Tall.
Gray coat.
Umbrella in one hand.
Sebastián knew the posture immediately.
His father.
Alejandro Alcázar.
“Play it.”
The footage continued.
The elevator doors closed.
A second camera picked them up in the underground garage.
Alejandro removed the blanket from the bassinet.
Sebastián’s heart stopped.
He lifted a tiny bundle into his arms.
Sebastián saw his daughter for the first time on a security monitor.
Her face was barely visible.
Pink cap.
Small cheek.
One tiny fist beside her chin.
His daughter.
His knees nearly gave out.
Then a black SUV pulled forward.
Alejandro climbed inside with the baby.
The vehicle left.
Sebastián stared at the license plate.
“Zoom.”
Luis tried.
The image blurred.
Sebastián pulled out his phone.
He called his father.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Again.
Voicemail.
He called the family driver.
No answer.
Then Valeria called.
Sebastián answered immediately.
“Did you find her?”
Her voice was shaking.
He couldn’t lie.
“They took her.”
Silence.
“Who?”
“My father.”
Valeria stopped breathing.
Sebastián heard a sound behind her.
A door.
Then Valeria whispered,
“Sebastián.”
“What?”
“Your mother is gone.”
His blood chilled.
“What?”
“Rebeca and Octavio.”
“Lock the door.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
Valeria’s voice became smaller.
“Because Dr. Mena is still here.”
Sebastián turned.
“Valeria, listen to me.”
A struggle sounded through the phone.
Then something fell.
“Valeria!”
No answer.
“VALERIA!”
The line disconnected.
Sebastián sprinted back toward the elevator.
By the time he reached the hospital room, the bed was empty.
The IV line lay on the floor.
Blood spotted the white sheet.
Camila was unconscious beside the bathroom door.
Dr. Mena was gone.
And on the pillow where Valeria’s head had been resting was a folded piece of paper.
Sebastián opened it.
Three words had been written across the center.
SHE WENT WILLINGLY.
Sebastián stared at them.
Then Camila moved.
He dropped beside her.
“Camila.”
Her eyes fluttered.
“Where is Valeria?”
Camila tried to speak.
“Where did they take her?”
She lifted one trembling hand.
Her fingers closed around Sebastián’s sleeve.
“Not…”
“What?”
“Not your mother.”
Sebastián leaned closer.
“Who?”
Camila’s eyes filled with terror.
“Valeria…”
She struggled for breath.
“She recognized him.”
“Who?”
“The man who took her.”
Sebastián’s heart pounded.
“Who was he?”
Camila whispered one name.
May you like
And Sebastián felt the floor disappear beneath him.
“Your brother.”
