CHAPTER 9 — “The Girl Who Didn't Know Her Real Name”
Nathan Carter had faced hostile takeovers, billion-dollar lawsuits, and threats from powerful enemies.
Nothing had ever terrified him like the photograph in his hands.
Somewhere...
His daughter was alive.
But she had no idea who she really was.
Within twenty-four hours, every private investigator Nathan had ever trusted was searching.
The FBI reopened the eight-year-old kidnapping case.
Interpol joined the hunt.
Richard Carter, still recovering in the hospital, quietly studied the photograph again and again.
Then he suddenly noticed something everyone else had missed.
"The lighthouse..."
Nathan looked up.
"What about it?"
Richard pointed toward a tiny weathered sign barely visible in the background.
"I've been there."
"It isn't in America."
Emily gasped.
"Where is it?"
Richard whispered,
"A small fishing island off the coast of Maine."
Nathan immediately ordered his private jet to prepare for departure.
By sunrise, the Carter family landed on the isolated island.
The place was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Children played near the harbor while fishing boats drifted across the water.
No one seemed suspicious.
Then Oliver suddenly tugged on Nathan's sleeve.
"Daddy..."
"I know that song."
"What song?"
Oliver pointed toward a small bakery across the street.
A little girl with long blonde hair stood outside, quietly humming a lullaby.
Emily froze.
Tears filled her eyes.
"I used to sing that..."
"...every night when I was pregnant."
The little girl looked up.
For one brief second...
Her eyes met Emily's.
They were identical.
The same bright blue eyes.
The same tiny birthmark behind her left ear.
Emily couldn't breathe.
"My baby..."
She slowly stepped forward.
The little girl smiled politely.
"Hello."
Emily's lips trembled.
"What... what's your name?"
The girl answered softly.
"My name is Grace."
Emily's heart shattered.
"No..."
"We named you Hope."
Before Emily could reach her—
A woman suddenly rushed out of the bakery.
She grabbed the little girl's hand.
"Grace!"
"We talked about speaking to strangers."
The woman looked nervously at Nathan and his family.
Then she hurried the child away.
Oliver watched silently.
Then he whispered something that made everyone stop.
"Mom..."
"She has my necklace."
Everyone looked again.
Around Grace's neck...
Hung the second silver airplane charm.
The missing key.
At that exact moment...
A black helicopter appeared over the island.
Nathan looked up.
May you like
His expression changed instantly.
"They found us."
