Chapter 10: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
"Daniel Collins is dead.""
My mother's voice was barely recognizable.
She stared at the photograph on my phone, her hands trembling so violently that she had to grip the edge of the desk.
Martin Hayes looked at her.
"Linda, are you absolutely certain?""
"I attended his funeral.""
"When?""
"Twenty-eight years ago.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The man standing outside my childhood home had gray hair, a weathered face, and a small scar above his left eyebrow.
He was older than the man in the photographs, but there was no mistaking his features.
"Who buried him?""
My mother swallowed.
"Patricia arranged everything. She told us Daniel had died in a car accident.""
Martin slowly closed his briefcase.
"Then someone may have buried an unidentified body.""
Ethan suddenly laughed.
"Are you people seriously believing this?""
I turned toward him.
"You've spent four years lying to me. You don't get to question anybody's credibility.""
He raised his hands.
"I'm trying to protect you.""
"From what? The truth?""
Vanessa grabbed his sleeve.
"Ethan, stop. We need to leave.""
He pulled away.
"Not without the documents.""
Martin stepped between him and the desk.
"These documents are evidence. Nobody is taking them.""
Ethan's expression changed.
"You don't understand what you're interfering with.""
Martin reached for his phone.
"I understand enough to contact law enforcement.""
That finally silenced him.
I looked at my mother.
"Who raised Rebecca?""
Linda closed her eyes.
"Patricia.""
"Then why did that message tell me to ask you?""
Mom's lips trembled.
"Because Patricia didn't raise Rebecca alone.""
I felt another wave of confusion.
"What does that mean?""
"Rebecca spent several years living with Daniel's sister. Her name was Eleanor. She was the one who cared for Rebecca when Patricia was working.""
I frowned.
"Was she related to Dad?""
"No. But your father trusted her.""
Martin looked up.
"Where is Eleanor now?""
"I don't know. She moved away years ago.""
I opened the message again.
There was a second photograph attached.
This one showed a woman holding a baby outside a hospital.
My mother immediately covered her mouth.
I recognized the woman.
It was Linda.
She was younger, perhaps twenty-five, wearing the same silver necklace she had given me when I graduated from college.
In her arms was a newborn baby.
Behind her stood Daniel Collins.
I zoomed in.
He was smiling.
The photograph was dated March 1992.
My birth month.
"Mom?""
She looked at me.
"That's you.""
I stared at the baby.
"How do you know?""
"Because I held you.""
"Why was Daniel there?""
My mother began crying.
"Because he was the baby's father.""
I couldn't speak.
Martin slowly took the photograph from my hand.
"Linda, are you saying Daniel Collins is Sarah's biological father?""
She nodded.
Then she said something even more shocking.
"Daniel wasn't dead when that photograph was taken. He disappeared six weeks later.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Patricia told everyone he had abandoned his family. Your father believed he had run away. But I received a letter from him.""
"What did it say?""
Mom looked down.
"He said Patricia had threatened to destroy the family if he ever tried to claim his daughter.""
I felt cold.
"And you knew?""
"I was terrified.""
"Terrified of what?""
"That if I told Robert, he'd lose you.""
My voice cracked.
"Why would Dad lose me?""
She took my hands.
"Because Daniel wasn't just Rebecca's father. He was also the man who had been secretly helping your father investigate Patricia.""
Martin looked at the photograph again.
"That explains why Robert kept the medical records.""
He opened the brown envelope.
Inside were several documents, including a laboratory report and a letter from my father.
Martin read the letter silently.
Then he looked at me.
"Your father knew Daniel was alive.""
I stared.
"What?""
"He had received a letter from him shortly before his death.""
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
Martin turned the page.
"Because Daniel claimed he had evidence that Patricia had deliberately switched the identities of two newborn babies.""
My mother began sobbing.
I felt my heart pounding.
"Which babies?""
Martin looked at the laboratory report.
"One was you.""
He paused.
"The other was Rebecca.""
I stepped backward.
"Then who was I supposed to be?""
Before Martin could answer, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke.
"Sarah, my name is Daniel Collins.""
I gripped the phone.
"Where are you?""
"Outside your childhood home.""
"Why are you there?""
"Because I promised your father I would wait until you knew the truth.""
I swallowed.
"Are you my biological father?""
There was a long silence.
Then he answered.
"Yes.""
My knees weakened.
"Why did you leave?""
"I didn't.""
His voice broke.
"I was forced out of your life.""
I looked toward my mother.
She was crying silently.
Daniel continued.
"Sarah, you need to get to your father's lakehouse tonight. There's something in the locked bedroom that will explain everything.""
"What?""
"The original hospital records.""
I glanced at Martin.
He was already gathering the documents.
Daniel lowered his voice.
"And Sarah?""
"Yes?""
"Do not let Patricia get there before you.""
The call ended.
I stood frozen.
Then another message appeared.
It was a photograph of the lakehouse.
May you like
The front door was open.
And someone had already entered.
