The journal revealed that Rosalie’s mother had worked briefly for Dr. Bell when she was sixteen.
She had cleaned instruments, washed linens, and delivered medicines.
At first, the entries were ordinary.
Then the tone changed.
Bell had become obsessed with treating hearing loss.
He believed vibrations transmitted through certain metals might stimulate damaged structures inside the ear.
Rosalie did not understand the science.
Neither, apparently, had Eleanor.
But she understood the results.
Several children became worse.
One lost hearing completely.
Another developed recurring pain.
And Gideon—
Rosalie turned the page.
A section had been torn out.
Three pages missing.
She checked the binding.
Someone had removed them deliberately.
Gideon pointed to the final remaining sentence before the gap.
Rosalie read it aloud, though he could not hear.
Mr. Rook has agreed to Bell’s final procedure, but he does not understand what Bell intends to place inside his son.
