Chapter 8 - The Baby's Passport Was Impossible
The passport was not valid.
But it looked real.
Emily stared at the photograph Julia showed her.
A generic infant image.
Her daughter’s intended name:
Sophie Carter Hayes.
The baby had been born less than twelve hours ago.
No legitimate passport could exist.
Julia’s voice was careful.
“It’s counterfeit.”
Emily held Sophie tighter.
Richard looked ready to tear the room apart.
“Where was he planning to go?”
The suitcase contained euros.
A prepaid phone.
A rental agreement in Lisbon.
Madison covered her mouth.
“He told me he wanted to take me to Portugal.”
Emily looked at her.
“When?”
“Next month.”
The room went silent.
Ryan had apparently planned several possible futures.
In one, Emily was declared unstable and he gained temporary control.
In another, he moved company money.
In another, he left the country.
What nobody knew was whether he intended to take Sophie.
The fake passport suggested yes.
But Julia refused to jump ahead.
“We document what we can prove.”
Emily appreciated that.
She needed facts.
Not panic.
Then Melissa entered with another nurse.
“Emily, we need to discuss your visitor list.”
“Why?”
“Someone called the maternity desk claiming to be your sister.”
Emily frowned.
“I don’t have a sister.”
The caller asked whether Sophie had completed discharge screening.
Whether the baby had received an identification bracelet.
Whether Ryan was still authorized for nursery access.
Richard went pale.
“Who called?”
“The number was blocked.”
Madison looked at Ryan’s messages.
Then she found a contact Emily had never seen.
A woman named Vanessa Grant.
May you like
Ryan’s last message to her read:
If Madison panics, use Plan B.
