My sister Natalie kept a box from the hospital. I asked her to send me pictures of everything inside.
I enlarged the letter.
At the top was a date.
Seven years ago.
Three days after Mason’s birth.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
The first line read:
Richard,
The transfer did not go according to plan.
My hands began trembling.
I kept reading.
The child assigned to Claire survived.
The Cole infant was moved as instructed.
But there is a problem.
Someone switched the identification bands before the handoff.
I stopped breathing.
Another message from Vanessa appeared.
There’s a second page.
I stared at the screen.
SEND IT.
The typing dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Appeared again.
My phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered immediately.
“What does the second page say?”
She didn’t speak.
“Vanessa?”
When she finally answered, her voice sounded strange.
“I don’t understand it.”
“Read it to me.”
