Chapter 4: The Photograph in the Mirror
Mara met us at the rescue center twenty minutes later.
She carried Barnaby into the examination room while I followed with Graham.
“His throat is irritated, but there’s no serious damage,” she said after checking him.
“He needs quiet, water, and someone he trusts.”
“I’m right here,” I told Barnaby.
He placed one paw on my wrist.
Graham set his envelope on the table.
“I didn’t know any of this.
I thought I was adopting him from someone who couldn’t keep him.”
“I believe you.”
“I should have asked for more proof.”
“You were lied to, too.”
My phone began vibrating.
Daphne’s name appeared over and over until a message replaced the calls.
DROP THIS OR YOU’LL REGRET IT.
Graham read it over my shoulder.
“Save that.”
“I already took a screenshot,” Mara said.
“Send it to me with the earlier messages.”
The examination-room door opened, and my mother, Helen, hurried inside.
“Is Barnaby all right?”
“He will be,” Mara said.
“But someone accessed her private adoption account.”
Mom’s hand went to her mouth.
“Oh, no.”
I looked at her.
“What did you do?”
“Daphne called me last week.
She said there had been a leak in your building and she needed your emergency folder.”
“My folder was locked in my bedroom.”
“She said you had asked her to collect it.”
“And you gave her the little silver key?”
Mom lowered her eyes.
“I thought I was helping.”
“That folder contained Barnaby’s adoption contract and my account recovery codes.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t call me.”
“Daphne said you were in an important meeting.”
I turned away, but Eli’s name appeared on my phone before I could answer her.
His voice was barely audible when I accepted the call.
“Auntie, is Barnaby with you?”
“Yes.
He’s safe.”
“I tried to make them stop pulling him.”
“I know you did.”
“Mom said if I told you about the man, she’d send Barnaby somewhere you’d never find him.”
My knees struck the side of the chair.
Mom caught my arm before I reached the floor.
“You heard him,” I said.
“She frightened her own son to keep him quiet.”
“I’m sorry,” Mom whispered.
“Sorry doesn’t change what happened.”
Graham knelt beside the table and turned his phone toward me.
“There’s something else you need to see.”
His screen showed the advertisement Daphne had posted.
Barnaby was pictured sitting beside my sofa, wearing the blue collar I kept inside my apartment.
“When was this posted?” I asked.
“Nine days ago.”
“But she only took him today.”
“Look at the second photograph.”
Graham enlarged it.
Barnaby stood near my bedroom doorway, and the hallway mirror reflected the person holding the camera.
Daphne was visible in the glass.
In her other hand was my open emergency folder.
Mom sat down heavily.
“She planned all of it.”
A new message appeared from Daphne.
You have no idea what I can prove.
Barnaby will be mine by tomorrow.
Mara read it and reached for her office phone.
“What does she think she can prove?” I asked.
Mara looked at the forged transfer request on her screen.
May you like
“She attached a signed witness statement,” she said.
“And the witness named on it is your mother.”
