Chapter 10 - Simone’s Secret
Simone’s husband was named Victor Lane.
He was a private attorney.
Not Doreen’s family lawyer.
Something worse.
He specialized in guardianship disputes.
Simone had discovered his connection to Doreen three months earlier after finding client files in his home office.
Several involved mothers declared temporarily unfit soon after childbirth.
In each case, relatives gained emergency custody.
In two cases, the mothers never regained full custody.
“I thought Victor was representing the relatives.”
Simone’s voice shook.
“Then I realized he was helping create the emergency.”
Leah stared at her.
“How?”
“Psychiatric referrals.”
“Affidavits.”
“Doctors willing to write concerns.”
“Hospital staff willing to say a mother appeared confused.”
Mae stood nearby listening.
Simone continued.
“I came to Briar Glen because I wanted proof.”
“You admitted yourself to a maternity ward?”
“I actually needed monitoring.”
She looked down at her stomach.
“That part is real.”
“Your husband doesn’t know you’re here?”
“He thinks I chose another hospital.”
Leah remembered the phone call.
Wellness retreat.
Simone sighed.
“That was Victor.”
“You called him darling.”
“I’ve been pretending everything is fine for weeks.”
Leah understood immediately.
Sometimes survival looked like obedience.
Simone handed her phone to Detective Kara Mills, the officer leading the hospital investigation.
There were photographs of Victor’s files.
Names.
Dates.
Guardianship petitions.
Copies of hospital records.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Doreen Carver.
Another appeared beside hers.
Dr. Celia Rusk.
Leah whispered.
“How many women?”
Simone looked sick.
“At least seven.”
Mae closed her eyes.
Detective Mills asked why Simone had not gone to police earlier.
“I was collecting enough that Victor couldn’t explain it away.”
“You endangered yourself.”
“I know.”
Then Simone looked at Leah.
“When I saw Doreen walk into our room, I knew you were next.”
Leah’s skin prickled.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t know whether you trusted Nathan.”
She glanced toward the hallway.
“And I didn’t know whether Nathan was part of it.”
Now they knew.
Maybe not all of it.
But enough.
Nathan was questioned for three hours.
He admitted signing documents.
He admitted allowing Doreen to speak with Dr. Rusk about Leah.
He admitted telling them about Leah’s nightmare.
But he denied knowing the plan extended beyond a short psychiatric evaluation.
Detective Mills asked him about Victor Lane.
Nathan looked genuinely surprised.
He had met Victor through Doreen.
He believed Victor was handling the family trust.
When shown the guardianship files, Nathan began to panic.
“My mother said this was just about Caleb.”
Leah watched through the glass.
Detective Mills leaned forward.
“Just Caleb?”
Nathan realized what he had said.
The detective waited.
Finally, Nathan whispered.
“She said Leah would eventually forgive me.”
“For what?”
May you like
Nathan covered his face.
“For letting them take him.”
