I returned home from military service, hoping to see my wife’s smile. Instead, I found a coffin in the middle of the living room. “She d:ied in childbirth…” 1

Dr. Shah arrived through the side entrance with Detective Lena Ortiz disguised as his assistant. He examined my son and took the bottle.

“There may be something unusual in this,” he whispered. “The baby needs a hospital now.”

“Not yet,” Ortiz said quietly. “We need them speaking.”

Downstairs, Mother was waiting with a pen and a stack of documents.

“Sign these,” she said. “Then you can grieve.”

Part 3