Chapter 6 - The Chapel Without a Bell
The white chapel stood beside a frozen lake where the road ended beneath tall fir trees.
It had been abandoned after a landslide and was used only for occasional private memorials.
Nathan, Torres, and Helen entered through a side door after confirming the property was secure.
Inside, dust covered the pews, and a cracked stained-glass window cast blue shapes across the floor.
Helen lifted a loose board beneath a wooden bench.
She pulled out a small metal box containing birth logs, payroll records, and an infant's identification band.
The original entry confirmed Sarah delivered a living baby girl.
A second page showed that hospital staff were instructed to transfer the newborn without notifying her attending nurse.
The receiving signature belonged to Dr.
Adrian Vale.
Nathan recognized an additional signature authorizing a financial release.
Douglas Whitcomb.
Helen said the baby had been moved to a private recovery room, where Sarah was told the child had died.
Three months later, Victoria brought the child back under a new identity and claimed she was rescuing her from dangerous guardians.
Helen hadn't known whether Sarah recognized the infant until she saw them together again years later.
Nathan studied the band, then compared its serial number with the falsified certificate.
The numbers were different.
Outside, tires crushed frozen gravel.
Torres moved to the window and spotted two vehicles stopping near the road.
She instructed the others to stay away from the doors while she requested backup.
A man outside called that the building was condemned and everyone had to leave immediately.
Helen gripped the box.
A second voice shouted her name.
She began trembling.
'That's Adrian Vale,' she said.
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'He swore he'd never come back here.'
