Chapter 7: The Third Child
"Are you my other daddy?""
The little girl's question hung in the hallway.
I couldn't answer.
She stood halfway down the staircase, clutching a stuffed rabbit with one missing button eye. Her brown hair fell over her shoulders, and she wore pink pajamas covered in tiny yellow stars.
She looked about four years old.
And she had Sarah's eyes.
I stared at Jonathan.
"What is her name?""
He wiped his face.
"Emma.""
"How old?""
"Four.""
I shook my head.
"Four years old?""
Jonathan nodded.
Rebecca had moved toward the staircase, but the little girl held up her hand.
"Mommy said I'm not supposed to go with strangers.""
My throat tightened.
I crouched.
"What's your favorite color, Emma?""
She looked suspiciously at me.
"Purple.""
"Do you like dinosaurs?""
She nodded.
"Especially the ones with long necks.""
"Brontosaurus?""
Her eyes widened.
"That's my favorite!""
I smiled weakly.
Leo had loved dinosaurs too.
Then I noticed the bracelet around her wrist.
A tiny silver bracelet.
The same design Jonathan had given Maya when she was born.
Only this one had a small engraved letter.
S.
Sarah.
I looked at Jonathan.
"Did you raise her?""
He nodded.
"Since she was six months old.""
"Why?""
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Rebecca answered instead.
"Because he told me she was his daughter.""
I turned toward her.
"Didn't you know?""
She shook her head.
"He said Emma's mother had died during childbirth. He told me the biological mother had asked him to raise her.""
I looked at Jonathan.
"Did you tell Rebecca the truth?""
"No.""
"Did you tell her about Sarah?""
"No.""
Rebecca began crying.
"You told me we couldn't have children because of your medical condition.""
Jonathan lowered his head.
"Rebecca...""
"You told me that for years!""
She stepped away from him.
"Every time I asked about adoption, you said you weren't ready. Every time I asked why we couldn't have a family, you said it was my fault for pressuring you.""
Jonathan reached for her.
She slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me.""
I looked at Emma.
"Sweetheart, do you know who your mother is?""
She nodded.
"Mommy Sarah.""
My heart stopped.
"Where is she?""
Emma looked confused.
"She visits sometimes.""
I stood up.
"Sometimes?""
Jonathan closed his eyes.
"Daniel, please.""
I stepped toward him.
"Where is my wife?""
He finally broke.
"She's alive.""
I grabbed his shirt.
"Where?""
Detective Harris pulled me away.
"Easy!""
Jonathan stumbled against the wall.
"She comes to see Emma every few months. Usually at night. She doesn't stay long.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"She made me promise.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps promising everyone else things while my children suffer!""
Emma started crying.
Rebecca immediately wrapped her arms around the girl.
"It's okay, sweetheart.""
I stepped back.
I couldn't bear to frighten another child.
Detective Harris approached Jonathan.
"Mr. Miller, I need you to explain your relationship with Sarah Carter.""
Jonathan sat on the bottom stair.
"Sarah and I knew each other long before Daniel and I became friends.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"We met in college.""
I stared at him.
"You never told me that.""
"Because she asked me not to.""
He looked at me.
"We were together for almost a year.""
The words seemed to drain the air from the room.
"Before me?""
"Yes.""
"How long before?""
"Three years.""
I felt a terrible pressure building behind my eyes.
"And Emma?""
Jonathan nodded.
"Emma is my biological daughter.""
I looked at the little girl.
Then back at him.
"You're telling me you fathered Sarah's third child?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
I staggered backward.
For years, I had considered Jonathan family.
He had sat at my dinner table.
He had held my children.
He had comforted my wife.
And all that time, he had been hiding an entire branch of our family.
"Why did Sarah marry me?""
Jonathan looked miserable.
"She loved you.""
"Then why did she have your child?""
"Because the pregnancy happened before she married you.""
I stared at him.
"How long before?""
"She was already pregnant when you proposed.""
My stomach turned.
"Did you know?""
"Yes.""
"And you let me believe Emma was my daughter?""
"Sarah wanted her protected.""
"Protected from what?""
Jonathan looked toward Detective Harris.
"From Reeves.""
He explained that Dr. Reeves had been conducting illegal genetic research through a private medical company.
The research involved embryos, genetic compatibility, and experimental treatments.
Jonathan had worked with the organization as a financial consultant.
Sarah had discovered that her pregnancy records had been accessed without permission.
She became frightened when Reeves began asking questions about the babies.
According to Jonathan, Reeves had been particularly interested in the three children's genetic profiles.
"Why three?"" I asked.
"Because Sarah had triplets. Leo, Noah, and Emma.""
I closed my eyes.
The missing child.
The hidden child.
The little girl standing in front of me.
Three children.
Three different fathers, apparently.
But Jonathan shook his head when I asked whether all three had different biological fathers.
"Leo and Noah are yours," he said.
"Emma is mine.""
"Then why did Reeves say one of the boys wasn't mine?""
Jonathan looked away.
"Because the medical records were manipulated.""
"By whom?""
"Reeves.""
I looked at Detective Harris.
"Can you verify any of this?""
"We'll need the original records and independent DNA testing.""
Jonathan nodded.
"The records are in the storage unit.""
Harris immediately called another officer.
"Get a team to Northside Industrial Park. Unit 314. Secure everything inside.""
Jonathan suddenly stood.
"No!""
Everyone turned.
He looked terrified.
"You can't go there.""
"Why?"" Harris demanded.
Jonathan swallowed.
"Because the documents aren't the only thing inside.""
"What else?""
Jonathan looked toward Emma.
Then he whispered:
"Sarah.""
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"What?""
"She was supposed to meet me there tonight.""
I stepped forward.
"She's there now?""
"I don't know.""
"Then we're going!""
Detective Harris raised his hand.
"Nobody goes anywhere until we secure the location.""
I grabbed my keys.
"You're not stopping me.""
He looked at me for several seconds.
Then he sighed.
"Fine. But you stay behind the officers.""
We drove to the industrial park in separate vehicles.
The storage facility was surrounded by a high metal fence. Most of the units were dark, and a single security light flickered above the entrance.
Unit 314 was at the far end.
The lock had been broken.
Harris drew his weapon.
"Police! Anyone inside, come out with your hands visible!""
No answer.
Two officers entered first.
Then Harris motioned for me to follow.
The unit was packed with filing cabinets, medical equipment, cardboard boxes, and old computer servers.
A folding table stood in the center.
On it was a photograph of Sarah.
Beside the photograph sat a half-empty cup of coffee.
I touched it.
Still warm.
"She was here," I whispered.
Harris examined the room.
"Search everything.""
An officer opened a filing cabinet.
"Detective!""
Inside were folders labeled with children's names.
LEO CARTER.
NOAH CARTER.
EMMA MILLER.
I pulled the first folder toward me.
There were photographs, blood test results, and handwritten notes.
One page contained a diagram of three separate genetic profiles.
At the bottom was a sentence:
*PROJECT TRINITY — SUBJECTS MUST REMAIN SEPARATED UNTIL FINAL CONFIRMATION.*
I turned the page.
A photograph showed three newborn babies lying beside each other.
Sarah was standing behind them.
She was crying.
Underneath the picture, someone had written:
*THE THIRD CHILD IS THE KEY.*
I heard a faint noise behind the filing cabinets.
A soft cough.
I turned.
"Sarah?""
Something moved.
A woman stepped out of the shadows.
She was thinner than I remembered.
Her hair was shorter, with streaks of gray near the temples.
Her face was pale.
But it was her.
My wife.
Alive.
"Daniel.""
I couldn't move.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
Then I crossed the room and grabbed her.
"Sarah!""
She wrapped her arms around me.
I held her so tightly she gasped.
"You're alive.""
She began crying.
"I'm sorry.""
"You're alive!""
I pulled away and held her face between my hands.
"Why? Why did you let me bury you?""
She looked down.
"Because I thought it was the only way to keep the children safe.""
I shook my head.
"You let me believe you were dead.""
"I know.""
"You let me mourn you!""
"I know, Daniel.""
I stepped backward.
Then I noticed something in her hands.
A small envelope.
It had the name of a child written across it.
Not Leo.
Not Noah.
Not Emma.
*SUBJECT ZERO.*
Sarah saw me looking.
Her expression changed.
"Daniel, we don't have much time.""
I stared at the envelope.
"What is Subject Zero?""
She gripped my hand.
Then she whispered:
"The child who started everything wasn't one of ours.""
Before I could ask another question, the lights inside the storage unit went out.
May you like
A gunshot exploded in the darkness.
And Sarah screamed my name.
