THE SEVENTH CHILD WAS NEVER REPORTED MISSING
Chapter 3
The Red Creek Child Development Program had officially been shut down after funding disappeared.
At least, that was the story.
Sarah wasn’t convinced.
She spent the next several hours searching archived county records.
The program had specialized in children experiencing behavioral problems, anxiety, trauma, and learning difficulties.
Nothing unusual.
But then she found a list of participants.
Twenty-three names.
Seven of them were familiar.
Emily Carter.
Jacob Morris.
Liam Foster.
Grace Miller.
Daniel Price.
Olivia Shaw.
Noah Bennett.
Sarah stared at the screen.
“That’s impossible.”
Ethan leaned over.
“What?”
“They weren’t just participants.”
She pointed at the dates.
“All seven were enrolled within the same six-month period.”
“And?”
“The program ended shortly afterward.”
Ethan frowned.
“Why?”
Sarah opened another document.
“Because one of the doctors resigned.”
“Which doctor?”
“Dr. Helen Ward.”
Ethan recognized the name.
“She’s still in Red Creek.”
Sarah looked at him.
“How do you know?”
“She testified in the Carter case.”
They found her house that afternoon.
Dr. Ward was reluctant to speak.
When Sarah mentioned the children’s names, the woman’s expression immediately changed.
“You should leave this alone.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Seven children disappeared.”
“I know.”
“Six before Noah.”
“I know.”
“And you worked with all of them.”
Dr. Ward stared at him.
“I worked with hundreds of children.”
“But these seven?”
Silence.
Finally, she opened the door wider.
“Come inside.”
The house smelled of old books and coffee.
Dr. Ward sat across from them.
“I can’t tell you everything.”
“Why?”
“Because I signed agreements.”
Sarah frowned.
“Agreements?”
“Confidentiality.”
“With whom?”
Dr. Ward looked toward the window.
“People who no longer exist.”
Ethan leaned forward.
“What happened to the children?”
Dr. Ward’s hands began shaking.
“They weren’t kidnapped.”
Sarah froze.
“What?”
Dr. Ward looked directly at her.
“They were taken.”
“By whom?”
The doctor whispered:
“By the people who believed they were saving them.”
