by Chris Taylor
“Detective Dawson, what can I do for you? I take it you received the files.”
Foregoing preliminaries, he got straight to the point. “What can you tell me about the business cards?” he rasped.
“Business cards?”
“Yes, the ones belonging to Bernard Lawson, advertising the Peaceful Passing Funeral Parlor and Crematorium. They’re handed out by Ward Seven staff to patients in need of the service. I assumed it was part of a broader hospital policy and that Lawson’s funeral home was a preferred service provider.”
“Not at all. I don’t know anything about our staff handing out business cards. We take pains not to favor any of the funeral homes in the area. It’s not our place to recommend one over the other.”
She sounded so genuine and confused, Cam believed her. Perhaps the treachery was limited to the senior members of the Whitely and Lawson families? At least he could be grateful it hadn’t infiltrated the highest levels of the hospital’s hierarchy. That was a headache he definitely didn’t need. It was bad enough that senior members of the medical and nursing staff appeared to be guilty of something abhorrent. He couldn’t help but wonder what Georgie knew about it.
After thanking the general manager for her time and giving her a somber assurance that she’d be the first to know any details and if an arrest was imminent, he ended the call. Pushing away from his desk, he strode into his boss’ office.
Detective Superintendent Holt Denman looked up from the paperwork spread across his desk. “You look like a man on a mission, Cam. What can I do for you?”
Cam sank into the vacant chair opposite Holt’s desk and sighed heavily. Holt’s eyebrows rose.
“That bad, hey?”
Cam nodded grimly. “Worse.”
Holt’s expression turned serious and he sat forward in his chair. “Does it have anything to do with the premier because that man’s been driving me nuts wanting to know about the progress of the investigation.”
Cam compressed his lips into a thin line. “Kind of. And I can’t help but wonder if my sister’s baby is also involved.” Cam couldn’t prevent the tiny spark of hope his words ignited deep down inside him.
Holt’s face grew even more somber. “Talk to me.”
When Cam finally finished relaying the events of the past few hours, Holt sat still and silent for a long moment, his lips pursed in thought.
“Let me get this straight,” he said. “Over the past twelve months, fifteen newborns on Ward Seven at the Sydney Harbour Hospital have died suddenly and without explanation. The midwife who found them is the sister of the Nursing Unit Manager, who wrote the final reports. The death certificates were signed by the same doctor, who also happens to be related to the nurses.” He stared at Cameron. “Am I right so far?”
“Yes, sir.”
“But it gets better. The midwife and NUM own an adoption agency and one of the nurses is married to a funeral director.” His eyebrow quirked, but there wasn’t a hint of amusement on his face. “How am I doing?”
The evidence sounded even more damning coming from someone else. Cam’s lips tightened. “All true.”
Holt stared off into the distance and tapped a pen against his desk. The sound grated against Cameron’s nerves, but he waited his boss out. He understood Holt’s quietly unspoken shock. It was a lot for anyone to take in.
“I take it the premier’s grandson is part of these fifteen?”
“Yes.”
“He accused the staff of the hospital of either murdering or stealing the child. Do you think his accusation has credence?”
“To tell you the truth, at the time I agreed to look into his claim merely in an effort to placate him, but over the past week, it’s become obvious something evil is going on. The only evidence I have is circumstantial, but we need to keep looking into this.”
“Do you think it’s possible these staff members are making false statements to the mothers, claiming their babies have died, when in fact they haven’t? Is that what you’re implying?”
Cam stared at his boss and his heart thumped. Though he hadn’t wanted to admit it, the awful suspicion had been floating along in his subconscious for some time. A long moment later, he nodded. “Yes.”
“And you think these same staff members are removing the children in secret and then trafficking them through the adoption agency.”
Once again, Cam held his boss’ serious gaze. “Yes.”
“How reliable is your eye witness?”
Cam shrugged. “She’s a midwife who was on duty when most of the babies died. Although she was nervous, she came across as rather convincing.”
Holt nodded thoughtfully. “Where does the undertaker fit in?”
“It’s my theory that he’s been in on it from the start. He’s fed information from the nurses about the supposedly deceased baby and meets with the grieving mother. Almost all of them have no fixed abode and no family and many of them have significant histories of drug and alcohol abuse. They’re easy prey for people with evil in their hearts. The funeral director goes through the motions of preparing the child for burial or cremation, but in fact, a body never appears.”
Holt nodded again, his expression grim. “By then, the baby is long gone, presumably on its way to being adopted to persons unknown who are oblivious to the child’s origins.”
“As an obstetrician, Doctor Rolleston has the wherewithal to procure new birth certificates containing false information. It would be a simple matter for the nurses to complete the paperwork required to register the birth and have it signed off by him. Or perhaps they even use genuine information, including the babies’ real details. The biological mother is hardly going to find out. As far as she’s concerned, the baby died shortly after birth.”
Holt let out a low whistle and slowly shook his head. “Fuck.”
Cam stared at him solemnly. “You can say that again.”
With a heavy sigh, Holt scrubbed his hands through his closely cropped hair. When he looked up, his eyes were bleak. “Leave it with me, Cam. I need some time to think. Given the people involved, we need to tread carefully. When the premier gets wind of this, he’ll go ballistic. We don’t need him fronting the media, tainting our jury pool. If what you say is true, these people need to be put away for a very long time.”
“I’ll need a subpoena to get hold of the adoption agency records.”
“Agreed. File it with the courthouse as soon as you can. We need to move on this.”
After completing the necessary paperwork, Cam headed out the door. With a bit of persuasion, he might even have copies of the agency’s adoption records on his desk before the day was over.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Dear Diary,
I’m in a quandary and I hate that I feel like this. My uncertainty is interrupting my usually peaceful sleep. The thing is, I’m not so sure we’re still acting in everyone’s best interests. For years, I was convinced we were on the right path and God was on our side.
But today, I heard from a man whose sister fell victim to our plot. She wasn’t alone, as we imagined. It was obvious her brother cared for her and would have cared for her child. And then there was the premier’s grandson…
It used to be so easy. Even Marjorie agreed. The two of us were on the same page. For so many years, we worked as one with a common goal and all was good and well. So many babies we saved from lives of misery and hell! But has it been appreciated? I’m not sure we’ll ever know.
* * *
Cam stared at the writing on the page in front of him until it blurred and his heart thumped hard in his chest. Hundreds of files, recording every adoption that had occurred in the City of Sydney Adoption Agency, graced every surface of the squad room. He didn’t know what had snagged his attention about this particular file, but he could only guess it had something to do with the name GEORGINA WHITELY that had been written in bold black print across the front of it.
A fresh wave of disbelief, shock and anger surged inside his
veins. Georgie had given a baby up for adoption when she was seventeen and she’d never mentioned it. Even when they’d talked about his past.
His anger morphed into fury. It must have been deliberate. Nobody forgot something like that. She had to know it was a deal breaker. How could she have betrayed him like that? Had she cared for him at all? The sweet kisses, the tender smiles. Had it all been a farce?
Cam wanted to shout out his denial, but the words died in his mouth. When it came down to it, what did he really know about her? His gut told him she was kind, caring and compassionate, but what if his instincts were wrong? What if he’d let his judgement get clouded by his attraction? Could she be as despicable as his birth mother? The thought was too much to bear.
He was supposed to be meeting her for dinner. They’d spoken about it earlier in the day. It felt like a lifetime ago. He didn’t know how he was going to look at her and then, just as quickly, he couldn’t wait to confront her and watch her wriggle and squirm.
Would she proclaim her innocence, try and convince him there’d been a mistake? Or would she confess all, knowing the game was up? It was impossible to tell. The woman he thought he knew well enough to fall for, had proved beyond a doubt he didn’t know her at all.
* * *
Georgie heard her phone beep, indicating a new text message. Pulling it out of the pocket of her uniform, she glanced down at the screen and smiled. It was from Cam. She hadn’t heard from him since he’d called that morning.
Can u get away on time?
She chuckled at his eagerness and her heart beat a little faster. The thought that they might end the night in each other’s arms filled her with excitement and anticipation. Quickly, she sent off a response.
So far, so good. Should b out of here by 4.
Meet me @ Bar Luca in Phillip Street. I’ll b there by 5.
Georgie knew the bar well. It was down the Circular Quay end of Phillip Street and was frequented by youngish professionals. The contemporary, elegant style suited her and the food was first rate.
Sounds good. I’ll do my best 2 get there on time.
C u there.
Georgie frowned at his abruptness, but sent him a thumbs up emoji and then added two smiley faces in reply. She couldn’t wait to see him.
In the end, it was closer to five-thirty when she stepped across the threshold of Bar Luca. A last-minute admission of a heavily pregnant nineteen-year-old meant that Georgie hadn’t left on time. Now, she fought her way past the crowds of suited professionals and looked around for Cam. Feeling a little out of place in her uniform, she was grateful when, a moment later, she spotted him tucked away in a private corner of the room.
He was dressed in a tailored navy-blue suit and a matching blue-and-white polka dot tie. The color looked good on him. Then again, with his tall, fit physique, she was sure there was nothing he couldn’t wear well. She caught his eye and he acknowledged her with a nod. Reaching him, she leaned over to kiss him and was surprised and embarrassed when he pulled away.
The last time she’d seen him was the night they’d spent in her apartment and she couldn’t help but wonder at his cool reaction. His behavior was odd and confusing. What had happened between his last text and now? After all, he’d been the one to issue the invitation. Refusing to play games, she gathered her courage and asked him.
“What’s the matter?”
He averted his gaze and for the first time, she noticed the tension in his face. His lips were compressed and his expression was grim. He looked nothing like the carefree, laughing, sexy man she’d recently farewelled from her bedroom. Icy foreboding trickled through her veins and set like concrete in her stomach. With her fists now clenched, she repeated her question. This time, he looked at her and she almost gasped at the fury behind his eyes.
“You tell me,” he said coldly.
She shook her head back and forth, at a loss to fathom what had caused his change in attitude. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Try again, honey. I’m not falling for your sweet act again.”
Anger stirred inside her. She didn’t have a clue what he was getting at, but he wasn’t going to speak to her like that.
“You should know by now I’m not the kind of girl who plays games, Cameron. Either come right out and tell me whatever it is that’s got you so hot and bothered, or forget about it. It seems obvious to me you’ve already made up your mind.” She pushed back from the table and went to turn away. His arm snaked out and grabbed her elbow, halting her in her tracks.
“Let go of me,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Not until you answer my questions.”
They eyeballed each other. Georgie’s chest rose and fell, keeping pace with her racing heart. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His gaze narrowed. “Let’s start with the baby you put up for adoption.”
She gasped in shock, aghast. The icy dread in her stomach morphed into a ball of fire that burned itself up her chest and across her face. “H-how did you find out?”
His lips twisted into a bitter smile. “At least you’re not going to deny it.”
Dazed, Georgie tried to get her bearings, stunned that Cam had discovered her secret. She risked a glance in his direction. The hurt and pain on his face tore her heart in two.
“I… I wanted to tell you. I did. I just—”
“Never got around to it, right? Not even when we were talking about it, when I was baring my heart and soul. No, not even then.”
She closed her eyes against another wave of pain. She never meant for him to find out like this. How did he find out? She suddenly realized he hadn’t answered her question.
“Who told you?” she asked quietly.
“Nobody. It was written there in black and white. Among the files owned by the City of Sydney Adoption Agency.”
She stared at him in confusion. She’d never known the name of the agency that facilitated her son’s adoption. Her mother had handled all the details. Cam stared back at her with a cynical look in his eyes.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of it, because I won’t believe you.”
Georgie held his gaze, determined to make him see the truth. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“Bullshit,” he shouted. “It’s owned by your aunt and your mother. Don’t tell me you don’t know anything about it.”
Another wave of shock rendered her speechless. The crowd around them disappeared. She fought back a wave of dizziness.
“Sit down, before you fall over,” Cam growled and pushed her into a seat.
Georgie drew in a shaky breath and stared at him. Could he be telling her the truth? Did Aunt Rosemary and her mother own an adoption agency? And if so, could her mother have profited from facilitating the adoption of her own grandson? The thought was repulsive.
“How do you know about the agency?” she rasped.
His expression hardened. “You don’t need to know.”
Desperation welled inside her. “Please, I really do.”
He stared at her for another long moment. His nonchalant shrug belied the tension in his face.
“After you told me about your father, I got curious. I searched his name on the Internet. Then I added your mom’s and hey, presto! I got a hit on the agency. A simple company search gave me the rest.”
The foreboding in Georgie’s belly seemed to grow and expand, snatching away her breath, but she forced herself to ask the question. “Why would you be curious about my father? You’d never heard of him before I mentioned his name.” He held her gaze.
“I lied.”
This time, anger ignited, lightning fast and red hot. Her jaw was clenched so tightly she could hardly speak. “Answer the question: Why were you curious about my father?”
Cameron stared at her steadily. “We haven’t finished discussing the fact you failed to tell me about the baby you adopted out when you were seventeen.”
“Tell me!”
�
�Your father’s name was on all fifteen of the death certificates issued for the babies who’d died on Ward Seven over the past year. I have reason to believe those very same babies didn’t die at all. They were stolen by your mother and your aunt and offered for adoption.”
Georgie gasped in shock at his incredible accusation and then began to cough. Her chest was so tight, she couldn’t breathe. It felt like she was combusting from the inside out.
Cam was at her side in an instant, his earlier anger now replaced with concern. “Slow it down, Georgie. Breathe. In and out. Big breaths. In and out. That’s better.” When she was calmer, he regained his seat.
Finally able to speak again, she lifted her gaze to his. “How… How could you even think something so ridiculous! What you’re suggesting… It’s beyond repugnant. My mother? My aunt? My father? Stealing babies! There’s absolutely no way in the world! You’re mad! The very idea is completely and utterly distasteful!”
“I’ve failed to mention your uncle’s also involved.”
He shook his head back and forth and threw her a humorless smile. “I have to hand it to them, they’ve got it all worked out. Women of dubious backgrounds come onto the ward to give birth. Shortly after the baby’s delivered, your aunt brings the sad news to the new Mom that the baby has died.
“Somehow, the infant is spirited away and offered up for adoption. I haven’t yet looked into the agency’s financial records, but no doubt the adoption takes place for a hefty fee. Your mother completes the reports; your father signs the death certificate and in the meantime, arranges to register the newborn’s birth. A birth certificate is issued and you have all you need to effect an adoption.”
Georgie reeled from one relentless blow to the next. The heat of her anger gave way to an icy coldness that filled her from head to toe. She began to tremble uncontrollably.
“No! No! No! You have it all wrong!” she gasped weakly. “I don’t believe it! It’s not true! It can’t be! Do you have any evidence?”
