Chapter 15 - The Shot in the Theater
Daniel reached Elena before anyone could stop him.
She lay beside the stage, clutching her shoulder.
Blood spread across her sleeve.
The bullet had grazed her rather than entered her body.
“I’m okay,” she gasped.
Daniel pulled her against him.
“You were shot.”
“Hope.”
“What about her?”
“Victoria took Hope’s hospital bracelet from my bag.”
The bracelet contained Hope’s full medical identification and a barcode used to access neonatal records.
Victoria could use it to create forged transfer documents.
Dr. Reeves had been arrested in the theater basement.
He surrendered when police cornered him.
Victoria escaped through an old costume tunnel leading to the street.
Under interrogation, Reeves broke quickly.
He had helped Victoria for money and protection.
He admitted sedating Richard, forging the death certificate, drugging Elena, and preparing the coffin plan.
He also revealed Victoria’s next destination.
A private maternity clinic near the state line.
Victoria had arranged for an infant to be transferred there using Hope’s identity.
Daniel did not understand.
“Why another infant?”
Reeves lowered his head.
“To make it appear that Hope died after transfer.”
Victoria intended to create a second death record.
Hope’s legal identity would end.
The real baby could then be abducted and raised elsewhere under a new name—or killed without any official child remaining to investigate.
Police rushed to the maternity clinic.
They found forged paperwork ready.
But Victoria was not there.
A nurse had received instructions to collect Hope directly from the hospital.
The hospital locked down again.
Daniel called Elena’s neonatal nurse.
No answer.
He called the nurses’ station.
A frantic administrator answered.
“Mr. Carter, your daughter’s incubator is empty.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
Security footage showed a nurse wheeling a covered transport unit through a service exit.
The nurse had worked at the hospital for twelve years.
Victoria had paid her debts and threatened her family.
Police located the transport van heading toward the state line.
Daniel and Elena waited in unbearable silence.
Twenty minutes later, Brooks called.
They had stopped the van.
The nurse was inside.
The incubator was inside.
But Hope was not.
Someone had transferred her into another vehicle beneath an overpass.
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Victoria had finally taken the child whose inheritance she had tried to erase.
👉 Daniel received a video call from Victoria—and heard Hope crying somewhere behind her.
