Genevieve did not speak for a long moment.

Daniel broke the silence first.

"Cara Simmons?"

"You know her?" Sarah asked.

"She was Gen's closest friend for twelve years.

Maid of honor at the wedding." He looked at his sister.

"She stopped coming around about eight months ago.

I thought it was just distance."

"Julian introduced us," Genevieve said.

Her voice was very quiet.

"He introduced us at a work event, three years before we married.

I thought it was coincidence." She stopped.

"Was it?"

Sarah made a note.

"I don't know yet.

But I intend to find out."

"What would she say?" Daniel asked.

"What could she possibly claim?"

"The filing mentions a dinner.

Approximately seven months ago.

Cara will apparently testify that Genevieve made statements expressing that she did not want the baby.

That she felt trapped.

That she had considered—" Sarah paused.

"That she had considered not continuing the pregnancy."

"That is a lie," Genevieve said.

"I know."

"I wanted that baby more than anything in my life.

My mother had just died.

This baby was—" Her voice caught.

"I never said anything like that.

Not once."

"I believe you," Sarah said.

"But Cara will say otherwise.

And Julian's team will use it to reinforce the psychiatric evaluation.

Two doctors plus a close personal witness.

That's the case he's building."

Daniel stood again.

This time he walked to the window.

He stood with his back to the room.

"She was in our house," he said.

"She sat at our table.

She held your hand when Mum died."

"Daniel."

"Twelve years, Gen."

"I know."

He turned around.

His face had gone very still, the way it did when he was working to keep something contained.

"What do we do?"

"We don't accept the settlement," Genevieve said.

Sarah looked at her.

"You're certain?"

"If I accept, he gets my daughter and my mother's money.

Everything my mother worked for.

Everything she left me so I would be safe." Genevieve's jaw was set.

"No."

"Then we go to court," Sarah said.

"And we go in with everything we have.

The recording.

The security footage.

The nurses.

The disgraced doctor.

The power of attorney he misrepresented." She paused.

"And we find out exactly what Cara Simmons was promised in exchange for her testimony."

"Promised?" Daniel turned.

"People don't usually betray twelve-year friendships for nothing," Sarah said.

"I want her financial records.

I want to know if Julian paid her, offered her something, or has something over her." She looked at Genevieve.

"Is there anything Cara was afraid of?

Anything she needed?"

Genevieve thought.

The monitor beeped.

The baby stirred and settled.

"Her business," Genevieve said slowly.

"She has a small catering company.

She was struggling last year.

She mentioned it once and then never again.

I offered to help and she said Julian had already connected her with an investor."

Sarah's pen moved.

"Julian connected her with an investor."

"I didn't think anything of it at the time."

"No.

You wouldn't." Sarah finished writing.

"But if that investor is connected to Julian's company, or to anyone in his circle, then Cara's testimony is purchased.

And purchased testimony is something a judge takes very seriously."

Daniel came back to the chair.

He sat down and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.

"How long will this take?

The court filing, the hearing — how long is Genevieve in danger of losing her?"

He nodded toward the bassinet.

"The emergency custody hearing would be within seventy-two hours of filing," Sarah said.

"We have until nine tomorrow morning before he files.

That gives us tonight."

"Tonight," Daniel said.

"To do what?"

"To find Cara," Sarah said.

"And give her the opportunity to make a different choice before this becomes a public court record with her name on it."

Genevieve looked at her brother.

"Can you find her?"

"I know where she lives."

"Don't go alone," Sarah said.

"And don't threaten her.

Don't pressure her.

If she's willing to talk, call me immediately." She wrote her direct number on a card and handed it to Daniel.

"If she's not willing to talk, walk away.

We'll handle it another way."

Daniel pocketed the card.

He stood, kissed Genevieve on the forehead, and looked one more time at the baby.

"She looks like Mum," he said.

Genevieve smiled for the first time since morning.

"I know."

He left.

The room was quieter without him.

Sarah gathered her things.

She paused at the door.

"Get some rest," she said.

"I mean that practically.

You're going to need to be sharp tomorrow."

"Sarah." Genevieve stopped her.

"The envelope.

The evaluation.

Even if we prove the doctor was discredited — Julian still has Cara.

And whatever else he's holding.

Do we have enough?"

Sarah considered the question honestly.

"We have enough to fight," she said.

"Whether it's enough to win depends on what tonight turns up."

She left.

The nurse came in twenty minutes later and helped Genevieve hold her daughter properly for the first time.

She had to support Genevieve's arms.

Genevieve didn't care.

The baby opened her eyes briefly.

Dark, unfocused, new.

"I've got you," Genevieve said.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Her phone lit up on the bedside table.

A message from a number she didn't recognize.

*You should know what Julian promised Cara.

Meet me.

I have proof.

— A friend.*