Chapter 11: The Man Under the Garage
The hidden room beneath the garage smelled of dust, gasoline, and damp concrete.
Police officers crowded the narrow staircase.
I stayed behind Michael.
He looked down at the man sitting against the wall.
Nathan.
The face from the photograph.
The man who looked like Robert.
Except now I could see the differences.
The eyes were Arthur's.
The jaw was Claudia's.
And there was a fresh cut across his forehead.
Michael whispered,
“He's alive.””
A paramedic knelt beside Nathan.
“Barely.””
Nathan's eyes fluttered open.
He looked directly at Michael.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Nathan smiled.
“You look like him.””
Michael crouched beside him.
“Like who?””
“Robert.””
I felt a chill.
Nathan's eyes shifted toward me.
“Evelyn.””
“How do you know me?””
He gave a weak laugh.
“Your husband talked about you.””
“What happened to you?””
Nathan looked toward the ceiling.
“She did.””
“Who?””
“Claudia.””
Michael's face hardened.
“Why?””
Nathan coughed.
“She wanted the files.””
“What files?””
Nathan looked at me.
“The ones your father hid.””
David stepped forward.
“What was Claudia looking for?””
Nathan's expression changed.
“The birth records.””
Michael froze.
“What birth records?””
Nathan closed his eyes.
“Yours.””
My heart began pounding.
“Why?””
Nathan opened his eyes.
“Because you're not who you think you are.””
Michael shook his head.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
Nathan reached into his coat.
A police officer immediately grabbed his wrist.
“Slowly.””
Nathan pulled out a folded photograph.
He handed it to Michael.
It showed a hospital room.
A young Robert stood beside a woman I'd never seen before.
In her arms was a newborn baby.
On the back was a date.
*March 17, 1988.*
Michael stared at it.
“That isn't me.””
Nathan nodded.
“No.””
I took the photograph.
My hands began shaking.
“Who is she?””
Nathan looked at me.
“Your husband's first wife.””
The room went silent.
I stared at the woman.
I had never seen her.
But there was something about her face.
Something familiar.
Michael looked at Nathan.
“Then who am I?””
Nathan swallowed.
“Robert told me the truth shortly before he died.””
“What truth?””
“He adopted you.””
I felt my knees weaken.
Michael stood completely still.
“My father adopted me?””
Nathan nodded.
“Your biological mother died after childbirth.””
Michael looked at me.
“And you?””
I couldn't speak.
Nathan continued.
“Evelyn couldn't have children.””
Michael's eyes widened.
I whispered,
“That's true.””
I'd had surgery before I met Robert.
I had never been able to have a child.
Michael's face crumpled.
“So how did I become yours?””
I looked at him.
“Robert told me you were his.””
“But he wasn't my biological father.””
“No.””
“And you weren't my biological mother.””
“No.””
Michael backed away.
“Then who were my parents?””
Nathan pointed toward the photograph.
“Her.””
“What's her name?””
Nathan's lips parted.
Before he could answer, the lights went out.
Someone screamed upstairs.
Then came a gunshot.
Michael grabbed my arm.
“Mom, get down!””
Another shot echoed.
Police shouted.
David pulled me behind the concrete wall.
Nathan tried to stand.
An officer pushed him down.
Then footsteps thundered down the staircase.
A shadow appeared.
I couldn't see the face.
Only the silhouette.
The person raised a gun.
Michael stepped in front of me.
“Who are you?””
The figure lowered the weapon.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
“Michael.””
He froze.
I knew that voice.
It belonged to Sabrina.
She stepped into the dim light.
Her white wedding dress was stained with blood.
She held the gun in one hand.
And in the other was a sealed envelope.
“Your mother has been lied to for thirty-eight years.””
Michael stared at her.
“What did you do?””
Sabrina looked at me.
“I killed no one.””
May you like
She held up the envelope.
“But I know who did.””
