“Yes, the house we were in was well stocked, and I have delivered so many babies and even assisted doctors in difficult births if the mother was one of my clients. We kept her hydrated, through an IV, and she finally woke up. But during those twenty-four hours, I learned things I wish I had never known before I leave this earth. Some things, you don’t want to know. But I trust God, and He wanted me there to know these difficult things.”
Cora took a moment, looking not at Siobhan but into the past, her wrinkled face troubled. Siobhan didn’t push. She was grateful this woman was talking to her at all. “Loretta told me that the home was for single mothers, girls who had been turned out by their families because they got pregnant out of wedlock. At first, I believed her. I wanted to. Loretta has been a friend for a long, long time. She asked me to check on the other women. There were six pregnant women there, plus the girl who’d just delivered. All in the second half of their pregnancy. All healthy, fed well, and they had a small exercise room in the basement where they walked on a treadmill. But … there was something off. None of the girls were allowed outside, for example. One of the girls I examined was dangerously ill. She had high blood pressure and swollen feet. I told Loretta she had the signs of preeclampsia. She needed to be in the hospital or both her and her baby would most likely die. Loretta told the man, the vile man, when they didn’t think I could hear the conversation. He said he didn’t care if she died, as long as the baby lived. What sort of human being says that? I tell you”—she answered her own question—“no human being says that.”
“Cora—why didn’t you go to the authorities?” Siobhan asked quietly.
“Because the authorities have not been kind to me and others over the years. A trust issue, I suppose you might say.” She paused. “I heard you work with the Sisters of Mercy.”
“My mother did. I help them when I can. A few months every year.”
She nodded. “A few months a year is more than most people give in their lifetimes. The sisters do God’s work, they are good people. Sister Bernadette spoke at my church years ago. I don’t have money to spare, but I had I think seven dollars in my purse, and I gave it to her cause.”
Siobhan smiled. She could picture the scene so clearly. “Sister Bernadette is very persuasive.”
“She came here for supper after the last Mass that day.” Cora paused, sipped more wine, then bit off a piece of tortilla. Her teeth were far too large and white to be natural. She changed the subject back to the pregnant girls. “I should have called someone, but Loretta told me not all the authorities could be trusted. And Loretta didn’t seem fearful, not after we delivered the boy. She’d been scared when the baby was in danger, but once the baby was well, she relaxed. That struck me as odd, but I didn’t press her for more information. I should have.
“When I read the newspaper article about the woman who died of preeclampsia and her baby was missing … I just knew in my heart that it was the young woman I saw that week. They called her Jane Doe, in the news. Her name was Eloise. I want her name on her grave, no one should be buried without their name. After I heard about you, and why you are here, I thought you might make that happen.”
“I can,” Siobhan said. She was practically shaking out of anticipation. She reached into her purse and pulled out the photo of her with Mari and Ana. “Did you see these girls?”
Cora put on her glasses that were hanging on a chain around her neck. She looked at the photo. “Yes, they were both there.”
“They were? You saw them?”
“And very pregnant.” She pointed to Marisol. “This one, due anytime. Very healthy.” She pointed to Ana. “This one, six months’ pregnant. With twins. She was having a hard time. They were close, protective.”
“Sisters,” Siobhan whispered. She was so close … so close to finding them. “I need to find them.”
“I can tell you where the house is.”
“I was there, outside Freer, and they’re gone.” She reached back into her bag and pulled out the prints she’d downloaded from her cloud account. “Did you see this girl?” She showed her the blonde who was walking and holding a baby.
“This one, yes, she’s the one who almost died in childbirth. The breech baby.”