Chapter 12: The Doctor Who Knew My Father's Secret
The man in the SUV was unconscious.
Detective Harris ordered an ambulance while officers secured the area.
I stood several feet away, staring at the photograph they had recovered from the passenger seat.
It showed Sophie and me walking through a shopping center.
The picture had been taken only three days earlier.
Someone had been following us.
Michael stood beside me.
"Olivia, we need to get you somewhere safe.""
I shook my head.
"Not until I know who that man is.""
An officer approached.
"We found identification in his wallet. His name is Marcus Hale.""
Michael recognized the name immediately.
"He's one of Victor's security contractors.""
Detective Harris turned toward him.
"How do you know?""
"Because he followed me in Miami two years ago.""
The detective's expression tightened.
"Why didn't you report it?""
"At the time, I didn't know whether he was working for Victor or Daniel.""
I looked at Michael.
"How many people have been watching us?""
He didn't answer.
That silence was enough.
An hour later, we were taken to a secure location.
The police had arranged temporary protection for Sophie and me.
Grace brought Sophie in just after midnight.
The moment my daughter saw me, she ran into my arms.
"Mommy!""
I dropped to my knees and held her tightly.
"I'm here, baby.""
She buried her face in my shoulder.
"I was scared.""
"I know.""
"Are we going home?""
I kissed her forehead.
"Not tonight, sweetheart. We're having a sleepover somewhere safe.""
She looked past me.
Then she saw Michael.
"Uncle Michael?""
Michael froze.
Sophie had been only a toddler when everyone believed he died.
But she remembered him.
He crouched down.
"Hello, princess.""
She ran into his arms.
For a moment, I couldn't hold back my tears.
Whatever had happened between the adults, Sophie deserved to know that her uncle was alive.
Later, after she fell asleep, Detective Harris approached me.
"We've located Dr. Rebecca Collins.""
I sat up.
"Where?""
"She's living outside Savannah under her married name. Our officers have contacted her.""
"Will she speak to us?""
"She agreed to meet tomorrow morning.""
Michael looked concerned.
"Did she say why she disappeared?""
The detective shook his head.
"She only said she has been waiting eleven years for someone to ask the right questions.""
The following morning, we met Rebecca in a small conference room at the police station.
She was in her late fifties, with short brown hair and tired eyes.
When she saw the photograph of my father, she began crying.
"Thomas was a good man.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you treat my father the night he died?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"What happened?""
Rebecca folded her hands.
"Your father arrived at the hospital conscious. He complained of chest discomfort and dizziness. His initial examination didn't suggest a fatal heart attack.""
I held my breath.
"Then why did the death certificate say otherwise?""
She looked at Detective Harris.
"Because someone changed the medical records.""
My fingers tightened around my handbag.
"Who?""
Rebecca hesitated.
"Victor Shaw came to the hospital that night. He said he represented the family and needed access to the records.""
Michael leaned forward.
"That isn't possible. Victor wasn't authorized to make medical decisions.""
"Exactly.""
Rebecca continued.
"He brought documents claiming Thomas had given him power of attorney. I later discovered the signature was forged.""
Detective Harris wrote everything down.
"Did you report this?""
Rebecca looked ashamed.
"No. I was threatened.""
"By whom?""
"Victor. He told me that if I spoke, my husband would lose his medical license and my daughter would be accused of stealing hospital medication.""
I stared at her.
"So you stayed silent for eleven years?""
She nodded.
"I was wrong.""
Her voice broke.
"I've regretted it every day.""
I wanted to be angry.
I was angry.
But I also understood what it meant to have someone threaten your family.
"Do you know what really happened to my father?""
Rebecca opened her handbag.
She removed a small notebook.
"I kept a private copy of the original examination notes.""
She placed it on the table.
The notes showed that my father had been conscious when he arrived.
There was also an entry documenting an unusual medication administered shortly before his condition deteriorated.
Detective Harris examined the page.
"Do you remember who ordered this medication?""
Rebecca nodded.
"Dr. Samuel Collins.""
"Your husband?""
She nodded again.
I looked at her.
"Why would your husband do that?""
Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.
"Because Victor paid him.""
The room fell silent.
Then she added something that made my stomach turn.
"Your father wasn't supposed to die that night. The original plan was to make him appear mentally unstable so Daniel could challenge his business decisions and take control of the company.""
I felt sick.
"Then what happened?""
Rebecca looked at me.
"Thomas discovered the plan and confronted them. Everything escalated.""
Michael stood.
"Where is Samuel now?""
Rebecca hesitated.
"He's been dead for three years.""
Detective Harris asked, "Did he leave any records?""
Rebecca nodded.
"He kept a private ledger. I found it after his death.""
She reached into her bag and placed a small notebook on the table.
I opened it.
Several payments were listed.
Victor Shaw.
Daniel Bennett.
And one unfamiliar name.
Ethan Cross.
I looked at the detective.
"Who is Ethan Cross?""
He checked his notes.
"He's a financial investigator. He worked with your father before his death.""
Michael suddenly went pale.
"That's impossible.""
I turned toward him.
"Why?""
Michael swallowed.
"Because Ethan Cross was the man who arranged my disappearance.""
I stared at the name.
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke calmly.
"Olivia Bennett?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Ethan Cross. I believe we've been looking for each other.""
I stood up.
"What do you want?""
He laughed softly.
"To finish what your father started.""
I looked at Michael.
He was already shaking his head.
Ethan continued.
"There's something you need to understand. Daniel wasn't the mastermind behind your father's death.""
My blood ran cold.
"Then who was?""
The man paused.
Then he said:
"Your father trusted me with his final secret. And the person who ordered everything was someone who has been sitting beside you this entire time.""
I slowly turned toward Michael.
His face had gone completely white.
Ethan spoke one final sentence.
"Ask Michael why he changed his name eight years ago. His real identity is the reason your father was killed.""
The call ended.
I stared at Michael.
"Who are you really?""
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he reached into his jacket and removed an identification card.
It wasn't issued to Michael Bennett.
It carried a different name.
*JONATHAN REED.*
My father's surname.
And beneath the photograph was a date of birth that made my heart stop.
Michael wasn't just Daniel's identical twin.
He was my father's biological son.
May you like
My half-brother.
And the secret my father had taken to his grave was standing right in front of me.
