Chapter 10: The Son My Father Had Hidden for Twenty-Six Years
“Subject C-03: Daniel Mitchell.””
I read the name again.
Then I looked at my father.
“Who is Daniel?””
Arthur stopped near the front door.
For the first time since I'd known him, he looked genuinely afraid.
“Put that document down.””
I held it tighter.
“Who is Daniel?””
My mother slowly stood.
“Arthur, tell him.””
My father turned toward her.
“Stay out of this.””
She shook her head.
“Not anymore. I've stayed quiet for thirty years. Look where that got us.””
I opened the blue ledger.
The first pages contained financial transactions, hospital transfers, and coded references to medical subjects. Several entries had my father's signature.
One page contained a photograph.
A young man with dark hair and brown eyes stood beside a woman outside a university building.
He looked strangely familiar.
The shape of his nose.
The small cleft in his chin.
The same crescent-shaped birthmark beneath his left ear.
I touched my own birthmark.
“Is he my brother?””
My father finally answered.
“Yes.””
“Where is he?””
“I don't know.””
My mother gave a bitter laugh.
“That's not true.””
Arthur glared at her.
She continued.
“Daniel was born six years before Ryan. Your father arranged for him to be raised by another family. He told me the boy had died.””
I looked at the photograph.
“Why?””
“Because Daniel's biological mother wanted custody,” my mother replied.
“She threatened to expose the fertility program. Arthur paid her to disappear.””
I turned another page.
There were records of three children.
A-01: Ryan Mitchell.
B-17: Lily Sarah Mitchell.
B-18: Grace Sarah Mitchell.
And beneath them:
C-03: Daniel Mitchell.
The entries were connected by the same genetic research project.
But something didn't make sense.
“Why are Lily and Grace listed under my subject number?””
My father looked at the ledger.
“Because the project was designed to study inherited genetic characteristics across generations.””
I stared at him.
“You used me as an experiment?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“The program was supposed to be confidential.””
“You keep saying that like it makes everything acceptable!””
My phone rang again.
It was the hospital.
I answered.
“I'm coming. Don't let anyone take my daughter.””
The nurse sounded frightened.
“Mr. Mitchell, the attorney is still here. He has a court document claiming temporary guardianship.””
“Who signed it?””
“Your father.””
I looked directly at Arthur.
“You filed for custody of Lily?””
He didn't deny it.
“She needs specialized care.””
“She needs her father!””
“She needs protection from you.””
I almost dropped the phone.
My father continued.
“You're unstable. Your marriage has collapsed. You've discovered information that has clearly affected your judgment. No court will allow you to make decisions involving those children until this situation is investigated.””
I stepped toward him.
“You're going to use my grief against me again?””
“I'm trying to prevent another tragedy.””
I turned to my mother.
“Where can I find Daniel?””
She walked toward the desk.
“There's an address in the ledger.””
She flipped through several pages and stopped at a handwritten entry.
Daniel Mitchell.
Twenty-six years old.
Occupation: Criminal defense attorney.
Current address: 48 Westbrook Avenue.
I stared.
“An attorney?””
My mother nodded.
“He was raised by a couple who adopted him as an infant. His adoptive father died several years ago. I believe he still lives with his adoptive mother.””
My father suddenly moved.
“Eleanor, don't.””
She looked at him.
“Why? Afraid he'll learn what you did to his mother?””
My father froze.
I turned.
“What happened to Daniel's mother?””
My mother lowered her voice.
“Her name was Margaret Collins. The same woman who carried you.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Was she killed?””
“No. But she spent years trying to find her children. Arthur made sure she couldn't.””
I looked at the photograph again.
Daniel was twenty-six.
My father had hidden an entire son for more than two decades.
And somehow, the man who had raised me had also been responsible for separating every child connected to his medical program.
I grabbed the ledger.
“I'm finding him.””
My father stepped forward.
“You won't.””
“Watch me.””
He reached for the book.
I pulled it away.
Then Melissa appeared at the doorway.
“Ryan, wait.””
I turned.
She held a small silver flash drive.
“Sarah gave me this the night before the accident.””
I stared at it.
“You told me you only had the blue ledger.””
“I lied.””
“Why?””
“Because I was afraid of what was on it.””
She handed it to me.
“Sarah said it contained the original genetic records. The ones that prove who fathered the children and who authorized the transfers.””
I took it.
My father looked furious.
“Give me that.””
“No.””
He stepped closer.
Then my mother did something I never expected.
She picked up a heavy ceramic vase and smashed it against the floor between us.
Everyone jumped.
“Get out of my house, Arthur!””
He stared at her.
“Eleanor?””
She pointed toward the door.
“You've controlled this family for thirty years. You will not control another minute.””
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then he adjusted his jacket and walked out.
Bennett followed him.
My mother turned toward me.
“Go find your brother.””
I looked at her.
“And what about you?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“I'm going to tell the police everything.””
I nodded.
Then I headed toward the hospital.
But before I reached the car, my phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
A message appeared.
*Ryan, my name is Daniel Mitchell. I know what your father did to Sarah. I also know where the third child is. Meet me alone.*
A second message arrived.
*And whatever you do, don't trust the woman who raised you.*
I looked back toward the house.
My mother was standing in the doorway.
May you like
Watching me leave.
And for the first time, I wondered whether she'd been telling me the truth about anything.
