She Found Her Grandmother’s Diary in the Attic — Then Discovered Her Name Among 15 Missing Children
CHAPTER 14
Richard Bennett entered the house with two men.
He looked exactly as Maya remembered from photographs.
Older.
But unmistakably her grandfather.
He looked at Maya.
“You have no idea what you’ve uncovered.”
“You destroyed children’s lives.”
“I protected an invention that could save millions.”
“You kidnapped children.”
“I prevented the government from burying the research.”
Samuel stepped forward.
“You murdered people.”
Richard’s expression hardened.
“I preserved humanity’s future.”
Maya realized something.
Richard didn’t believe he was evil.
That made him more dangerous.
He wanted the flash drive.
Maya refused.
Richard raised his hand.
The lights suddenly came on.
Federal agents surrounded the house.
Daniel had arrived.
Richard was arrested.
The evidence was released.
The story became national news.
The fifteen missing children were finally identified.
The illegal research program became one of the largest scandals in Oregon history.
But one mystery remained.
The sixteenth child.
Maya.
Scientists studied her records.
Federal investigators examined her history.
Nothing explained why her genetic profile was different.
Until months later.
Maya received a letter.
No return address.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed Evelyn.
Standing beside Maya’s biological mother.
The date was written beneath it.
Three months before Maya was born.
On the back was one sentence.
Your grandmother wasn’t the one who chose you.
Maya stared at the words.
Then she noticed something in the photograph.
Her biological mother was holding a baby.
A baby that wasn’t Maya.
