CHAPTER 5: The Child She Never Knew She Had
Emma couldn't move.
The video continued playing on the tiny screen.
A younger version of herself lay exhausted in a hospital bed, cradling a newborn wrapped in a blue blanket.
Daniel stood beside her, smiling through tears.
"We finally did it," he whispered in the recording. "He's perfect."
Emma's knees nearly gave out.
"This... this can't be real."
Daniel, barely conscious from blood loss, grabbed her wrist.
"It is."
"You were pregnant during our undercover mission."
Emma shook her head violently.
"No... I would've remembered."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"The explosion damaged more than your body. You lost months of memories. The doctors called it traumatic retrograde amnesia."
Emma's mind raced.
Flashes of forgotten moments burst into her head.
A nursery painted pale blue.
A tiny heartbeat on an ultrasound monitor.
Daniel slipping a wedding ring onto her finger in secret.
Then...
Nothing.
Tears streamed down her face as Noah slowly reached for her hand.
"You really don't remember me?"
His tiny voice shattered what remained of her heart.
Emma collapsed to her knees and wrapped her arms around him.
"I'm so sorry..."
Noah hugged her with surprising strength.
"I knew you'd come back."
Daniel watched silently, tears rolling down his own face.
For the first time in five years...
They looked like a family again.
But the reunion lasted less than thirty seconds.
The ambulance radio suddenly crackled to life.
"Attention all units."
"Detective Emma Carter has been identified as a suspect in the murder of Officer Daniel Reed."
"She is considered armed and extremely dangerous."
Emma stared in disbelief.
"They're framing me."
Daniel nodded grimly.
"They've taken over the department."
Then Noah quietly pulled another object from his little backpack.
A small black flash drive.
"I forgot..."
"Daddy said this one is even more important."
Daniel's expression instantly changed.
"No..."
"You brought that?"
"What is it?" Emma asked.
Daniel looked directly into her eyes.
"Every name."
"Every payment."
"Every corrupt judge."
"Every politician."
"Every police chief."
"It's the entire organization."
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"And if they get it back..."
"They'll kill all three of us."
