Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW HER NAME
Paramedics arrived within minutes.
The baby was dehydrated but responsive.
Emma climbed into the ambulance only long enough to give her statement before Grant stopped her.
“You’re not family.”
“I know.”
“Then let them work.”
Emma looked through the open ambulance doors.
The baby screamed when the paramedic took her away.
Emma had spent less than fifteen minutes holding her.
It still felt wrong to leave.
Behind her, Grant was questioning Nadine.
“Whose suitcase is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“You have access to lost property?”
“Yes.”
“Was that case stored there?”
Nadine stared toward the ambulance.
“I handle hundreds of bags.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Emma should have gone.
Instead she heard Nadine whisper:
“Ava.”
Grant’s expression hardened.
“You know the baby.”
Nadine closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, there was no point pretending.
“She’s my granddaughter.”
Emma turned.
Grant said nothing for several seconds.
Then:
“Start over.”
Nadine gripped the ends of her scarf.
“My daughter’s name is Hannah Bennett.”
“When did you last see her?”
“This morning.”
“And before that?”
“Four months ago.”
“Why?”
Nadine looked at the floor.
“We weren’t speaking.”
Grant gestured toward the ambulance.
“Yet her three-month-old child just appeared in a suitcase at your station.”
Nadine’s mouth trembled.
“I didn’t put Ava in there.”
“Did Hannah?”
“I don’t know.”
Grant’s tone sharpened.
“You saw your daughter this morning. Where is she now?”
Nadine looked toward Track 8.
“I don’t know.”
That answer frightened Emma more than the suitcase had.
Grant immediately radioed for officers to check the platforms, restrooms, parking garage, and surrounding streets.
He asked for a welfare check at Hannah’s address.
Nadine sat heavily on the bench.
Emma moved closer.
“What happened between you?”
Nadine gave a bitter laugh.
“You really want the short version?”
“I want to know why your granddaughter was zipped inside luggage.”
Nadine looked at her.
“My daughter married a man I kept telling her not to leave.”
Emma frowned.
Nadine’s eyes filled.
“She said Luke controlled everything. Their bank accounts. Her car. Her phone plan. Who she saw.”
“And you didn’t believe her?”
“I believed they had a bad marriage.”
“That’s different.”
“I know that now.”
Grant returned.
“Hannah’s car is in the garage.”
Nadine stood.
“Here?”
“Level three.”
“Then she might still—”
“The driver’s door is open.”
Nadine stopped.
Grant continued.
“Her purse is inside.”
Emma felt the air leave her lungs.
Grant turned to Nadine.
“Did Hannah come here to leave her husband?”
Nadine whispered:
“Yes.”
“And you were helping her?”
Nadine’s silence lasted too long.
Grant’s eyes narrowed.
“You were, weren’t you?”
Finally Nadine nodded.
“At first.”
Grant caught the last two words.
“So what changed?”
May you like
Nadine looked toward the tracks.
“I made a phone call.”
