Chapter 18 - THE SECOND SWITCH PLAN
The hospital plan had a backup.
If Eli or staff interrupted the physical exchange, Susan Bell would alter the discharge database before either family left.
June’s electronic record would be attached to Ava’s genetic test number.
Ava’s record would be attached to June’s.
Future pediatric testing would appear consistent with the families taking them home.
Susan had prepared the entries.
The hospital server preserved an unfinished batch change.
Northbridge intended to make the administrative world match Luke’s decision even if the physical bands failed.
Andrew Vale, the security director, was arrested at a motel near the Canadian border.
He carried encrypted drives containing the clinic’s internal response plan.
One folder was titled MOTHERS.
It divided Rebecca and me into risks.
Rebecca: single, financially vulnerable, likely settlement candidate.
Claire: married to counsel, postpartum, manageable through spouse.
The plan underestimated both of us because it treated our lives as weaknesses rather than relationships.
Andrew negotiated cooperation.
He said Dr. Holloway authorized the database plan.
Dr. Holloway called him a liar.
Luke corroborated part of his account.
Susan corroborated the rest.
The evidence chain no longer depended on one participant seeking a lighter sentence.
Northbridge’s board removed Dr. Holloway.
The medical licensing agency suspended her license pending hearing.
The clinic remained open under a receiver because abruptly closing would endanger patients with stored embryos.
Families demanded their material be transferred.
Every transfer required independent witnessing.
The system Dr. Holloway once called inefficient became the only way to restore trust.
My divorce proceeded separately.
Luke’s secret settlement money was frozen.
Our house sale was canceled.
I chose not to return there.
The nursery had been prepared for a baby Luke intended to replace.
Rachel arranged a rental near Rebecca’s building.
Eli selected the room closest to June.
He no longer slept outside her door, but he checked the lock before bed.
Luke pleaded guilty to infant-identification tampering and obstruction but refused charges involving conspiracy to unlawfully transfer custody.
He wanted a trial on those counts.
His lawyer said he had acted under a sincere belief he was correcting medical harm.
The prosecutor answered that sincere belief did not authorize taking newborns.
Then Susan provided the final backup plan.
If both mothers discovered the truth before discharge, Luke intended to claim I had switched the babies during postpartum confusion.
He had drafted an affidavit stating I left my room without assistance.
I had been unable to stand alone.
The affidavit carried Camille Ross’s forged signature as a witness.
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Camille read it in silence.
Then she said, “I want to testify.”
