Chapter 9: The Child With My Name
I couldn't stop staring at the hospital photograph.
The boy had my eyes.
Not similar eyes.
Not the same general color.
The exact same eyes.
I knew that because I had seen them every morning in my bathroom mirror for forty-two years.
I turned toward Sarah.
"Who is this child?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know where he is now.""
"How can he be my son?""
Her expression crumpled.
"Because of something that happened before we met.""
I sat down.
"Sarah, I need the truth. All of it.""
She nodded slowly.
"When you were twenty-four, you donated blood at a private research clinic.""
I frowned.
"I donated blood hundreds of times.""
"This wasn't a normal blood donation.""
She explained that the clinic had been conducting a confidential fertility study.
I had apparently signed a consent form allowing my genetic material to be stored for research.
But the documents were later altered.
My genetic samples had been used in an unauthorized reproductive program.
I stared at her.
"You're saying someone used my DNA to create a child?""
Sarah nodded.
"Yes.""
I felt sick.
"Who was the mother?""
She looked away.
"That's what we never discovered.""
I thought about my life before Sarah.
The relationships.
The parties.
The years when I worked constantly and barely remembered what day it was.
I had no memory of anything like this.
"How did you find out?""
"Through Reeves. He contacted me after Leo was born. He told me there was another child connected to your medical history.""
"And you believed him?""
"I didn't at first. Then he showed me the records.""
She reached for my hand.
"Daniel, the child was already eight years old when we discovered him.""
My chest tightened.
"So he's older than Leo.""
"Yes.""
"Why did you hide this from me?""
"Because Reeves said the boy was dangerous.""
I stared at her.
"An eight-year-old child?""
"Not dangerous because of what he had done. Dangerous because of what his existence could expose.""
She explained that Subject Zero had been raised under a false identity.
His medical records were hidden.
His birth certificate had been altered.
And someone had been collecting information about him for years.
"Who was taking care of him?""
Sarah looked toward the door.
"That's what I was trying to discover when Leo disappeared.""
I stood.
"Did Elena know?""
"Yes.""
"Patricia?""
"Yes.""
"Jonathan?""
Sarah nodded.
"They all knew different parts of the truth.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"This is insane.""
Sarah reached into the bedside drawer again.
This time, she removed a small photograph.
It showed three newborn babies.
Leo.
Noah.
Emma.
And a fourth baby.
I stared.
"Four?""
Sarah shook her head.
"No. The fourth baby isn't ours.""
She pointed to the child at the far right.
"That's Subject Zero.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Why were they together?""
"Because Reeves brought him to the hospital shortly after the triplets were born.""
"Why?""
"To compare their genetic profiles.""
I lowered the photograph.
"Sarah, what did he want?""
She looked frightened.
"An organ match.""
I froze.
"What?""
"Subject Zero had a condition that was destroying his liver. Reeves believed one of the newborns might be a compatible donor.""
I felt the room tilt.
"You're telling me he wanted to use one of our newborn babies to save another child?""
Sarah began crying.
"He said it was the only way to save him.""
I stood.
"Which child was compatible?""
"Leo.""
I closed my eyes.
That was why Leo had been kept alive.
That was why he had been separated.
That was why the records had been altered.
But something still didn't make sense.
"Why didn't you tell the police?""
"I tried. Reeves had connections everywhere.""
"And you faked your death?""
She nodded.
"Jonathan helped me disappear. I believed he could protect Emma while Patricia helped with the boys.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Some protection.""
Sarah looked down.
"I know.""
I walked toward the window.
Outside, the hospital parking lot was filling with evening traffic.
People were going home.
Families were eating dinner.
Children were doing homework.
Normal lives.
Meanwhile, my family had been torn apart by secrets I hadn't even known existed.
I turned back.
"Where is Subject Zero now?""
Sarah took a breath.
"There's a place called Cedar House.""
I frowned.
"What is that?""
"A private residential facility. It was originally built for children with serious medical conditions.""
"Is he there?""
"I think so.""
"Why?""
"Because Reeves needed to keep him close to the research team.""
I reached for my phone.
Sarah grabbed my arm.
"Daniel, don't go there alone.""
"I'm not leaving another child in that man's hands.""
"Listen to me. Reeves isn't the only person involved.""
"Who else?""
She looked directly at me.
"Jonathan.""
I stared at her.
"Jonathan is working with Reeves?""
"He's been working with him for years.""
"Why?""
"Because Reeves promised him that if the research succeeded, Emma would never have to worry about money, medical treatment, or her future.""
I shook my head.
"He sold our children for money?""
Sarah began crying.
"Jonathan was frightened. He believed Reeves could help Emma.""
I thought about the little girl on the staircase.
The stuffed rabbit.
The missing button eye.
She had called Jonathan Daddy.
And he had hidden her from everyone.
I couldn't hate her father without thinking about the child.
"Where is Elena?""
Sarah looked toward the door.
"I don't know.""
My phone rang.
Detective Harris.
I answered.
"Where are you?""
"Outside your wife's room.""
"I'm coming in.""
He entered a moment later.
His expression was grim.
"We found Jonathan's car.""
"Where?""
"At Cedar House.""
Sarah sat upright.
"Then he's taking Subject Zero.""
Harris looked at her.
"How do you know about that facility?""
Sarah explained.
Harris listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he took out a photograph.
"This was found in Jonathan's car.""
It showed a little boy sitting on a hospital bed.
His wrists were covered with medical tape.
A plastic identification band circled his arm.
The name printed on it was:
*DANIEL CARTER JR.*
I stared.
"That's his name?""
Harris nodded.
"According to the facility records, he's been registered under your identity for eight years.""
I took the photograph.
The boy looked directly at the camera.
His expression was strangely familiar.
I noticed a small scar above his left eyebrow.
I had the same scar.
I got it when I fell off my bicycle as a child.
I touched my forehead.
"Where is he?""
"At Cedar House, according to the last known record.""
"Then we're going.""
Harris shook his head.
"We're preparing a team.""
"How long?""
"Several hours.""
I looked at Sarah.
She was shaking.
"Daniel, please. We can't let Reeves take another child.""
I leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"I'll bring him home.""
As I turned toward the door, Sarah grabbed my sleeve.
"Wait.""
I stopped.
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
"There's something I didn't tell you about Subject Zero.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?""
She swallowed.
"He wasn't created through the research program.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"His mother was already pregnant before the clinic began collecting your genetic samples.""
I stared.
"Then how could he be my son?""
Sarah's voice broke.
"Because you knew his mother.""
I shook my head.
"Who?""
She closed her eyes.
Then whispered a name.
"Elena.""
I couldn't move.
My sister.
My own sister.
Sarah continued, tears running down her cheeks.
"Eight years ago, Elena was involved in a relationship with someone she refused to identify. When the pregnancy became dangerous, she approached Reeves for help.""
I stared at her.
"Why would the child be registered as mine?""
"Because Reeves discovered that the child carried a rare genetic marker that matched yours. He manipulated the records to make it appear that you were the biological father.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible.""
Sarah reached for my hand.
"Daniel, I know.""
I stepped backward.
"Then why would Elena tell everyone this child was mine?""
"Because she was protecting someone.""
"Who?""
Sarah looked toward the door.
Then she whispered:
"The child's real father.""
Before I could respond, Detective Harris's radio crackled.
An officer's voice came through.
"Detective, we've got movement at Cedar House.""
Harris grabbed the radio.
"Report.""
"Two vehicles entering the property. One matches Jonathan Miller's car.""
A pause.
Then the officer added:
"There's a child in the back seat.""
I moved toward the door.
Harris caught my arm.
"Daniel, wait for backup.""
I pulled away.
"Not again.""
Sarah began crying.
"Daniel!""
I turned.
She was holding out a small photograph.
It showed Elena standing beside a man outside a hospital.
The man's face was partly hidden.
But I recognized his watch.
His posture.
His distinctive silver wedding ring.
I looked up at Sarah.
"Who is he?""
Her voice was barely audible.
"Your father.""
I stared at her.
My father had been dead for twelve years.
Yet there he was.
Standing beside Elena.
And holding a newborn baby.
I turned toward the door.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
It was from an unknown number.
*IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FATHER, COME TO CEDAR HOUSE. BRING NO POLICE.*
A second message arrived immediately afterward.
*AND COME ALONE. YOUR SON IS WAITING.*
I looked at Sarah.
She was crying silently.
Then she whispered:
"Daniel, your father didn't die twelve years ago.""
May you like
I felt the ground disappear beneath my feet.
And somewhere across town, a child carrying my name was waiting for me.
