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“I saw a Mommy ghost.”
“Where?” I ask, sharply enough that Olivia gives a start of surprise. I force myself to soften my voice. “I need you to show me where you saw the lady.”
Livi points toward Gigi’s delivery room.
I’m out of the seat with my daughter in my arms before I know what I think I’m going to find.
It’s late enough that the hallways are mostly deserted. The nanny gives me a look of extreme relief as I jog up to her. It changes to one of confusion as I push Livi into her arms without a word and keep going.
I turn down the hallway full of delivery rooms, just as someone quietly exits the room where Gigi is and closes the door with a barely audible click.
Even from behind, the figure dressed all in black catches my attention. Her hair is tucked into skull cap, but I recognize a feminine silhouette. Most of the women here are laboring and their partners usually wander around looking like lost lambs, not thieves in the night. No one but the staff moves with that sort of purpose, and all of them wear colorful scrubs covered in cartoon characters.
My shoes squeak too loudly on the floor, alerting her to my presence.
The figure stiffens for about half-second before breaking into a run.
And I run right after her.
A keycard that must be stolen appears in her hand. She uses it to swipe open the locked doors that are supposed to protect patients from baby theft or other malfeasance. Even I have to go through a staff member to be allowed on and off the ward.
I manage to catch the doors before they close, but she makes it to the long bank of elevators well ahead of me. I rush forward, but I don’t make it there in time.
As the elevator door closes, I see her face.
Just before Olivia disappears from sight, she holds a finger to her lips in the universal signal of a secret.
And then she smiles.
