Daniel, ever the protector, positioned himself between us and the door. “It’s a group I’ve been tracking—a black-market adoption ring. They kidnap babies and replace them with ones from their operation. They must have been tipped off that someone recognized the child.”

Detective Sanchez was already on her phone, coordinating a lockdown of the hospital. “We need to keep this floor secure. No one in or out until we figure out who these people are.”

The reality of the situation began to sink in. My sister’s joy of becoming a mother had been overshadowed by a sinister plot. I could see the weight of it pressing on her, and I tried to offer some comfort. “Emma, we’ll find a way through this. You’re not alone.”