Evil in the 1st House by Mitchell Scott Lewis

pushed me out in a wheelchair. I was still very weak, and the hospital’s regulations demanded it. She had parked just down the street and was holding both babies, as I eased myself into the car.
    â€œJust then, another car squealed to the curb and a very large man I’d seen around the hospital ran to us and grabbed one of the babies. He tried to get the other but my friend twisted away and started to scream bloody murder. I tried to scream too, but the shock of what was happening was too much for me and I couldn’t utter a sound. I saw one of my babies…” She closed her eyes again, and kept them closed. “He took off with my child…”
    â€œYou don’t have to say more. I understand your loss.” Lowell had a catch in his throat. “I understand your loss,” he repeated, more softly.
    She sat back on the couch, spent. “I’ve been running ever since, forced to adopt aliases and always on my guard. He has unlimited resources, I have few. I couldn’t let him come and take my other son. And I knew he wouldn’t be happy with just one.”
    They both sat quietly for a moment. Lowell broke the silence. “How did you survive?”
    â€œFor years I roamed around the country taking any job I could find. We lived in California for a while, in terrible places. I was afraid to work as a nurse, figuring he’d find me that way. But after so many years, the only job I could find that paid decently was back here, so I finally took a chance. I had to use my deceased friend’s identity. And now he’s found me anyway.”
    She sat back on the couch and was silent for a while, gazing into space. “How is my other son?”
    Lowell shook his head. “That’s why I’m here. He’s very ill and needs a kidney transplant. He has a very rare blood type from your husband’s side.”
    She nodded. “Oh my God, no!”
    Lowell gave her time to process this awful news.
    She began to speak again, very slowly, her voice cracking. “I found out about Kevin’s blood type when he was about three. I had to take him to a clinic for a horrible cough and they discovered it. They wanted me to keep a supply of his blood just in case something happened.”
    â€œDid you?”
    â€œNo. I couldn’t afford it. I haven’t had health insurance since I left him. Mr. Lowell, do you know how expensive it is? It would cost me more than my rent to cover Kevin and me. Some states have programs for poor people, but if I signed up for it he would have been able to find me.”
    â€œYour husband hired me to find his son’s twin in the hope of convincing you to allow the operation.”
    â€œMy poor boy, my poor, poor boy.” She got up, walked over to the kitchen area, and put her tea cup in the sink. Then she poured herself a glass of water. “You sure I can’t get you anything?”
    â€œNo, thank you.”
    She remained standing. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t let my son die, but I just don’t trust that man. Are you sure this isn’t just a ruse for him to get Kevin away from me?”
    â€œFor the past year Edward has been in and out of a private hospital your husband owns in New Jersey. According to your husband he seems to be fading fast. Also, my astrological interpretation of his chart shows that he is quite susceptible to kidney disease.”
    Tears welled up in her eyes.
    â€œMrs. Williamson, Why don’t you take a little time and think about it?”
    She sipped the water. “Are you going to tell him that you found me?”
    â€œNot unless you want me to.”
    â€œBut he hired you.”
    Lowell smiled humorlessly. “That matters less than you think.”
    â€œMy other son needs me. I can’t just turn my back on him.”
    â€œWhere is your son, if I may ask?”
    â€œHe’s out with some friends. Kevin’s a very sociable young