Chapter 8: The Third Name
Claire stared at her husband.
"Explain.""
Nathan rubbed his face.
"I need you to understand that I didn't know everything from the beginning.""
"That's becoming your favorite excuse.""
"I know.""
"Then stop making excuses.""
Nathan looked down at the photograph.
"Six months ago, I found a file containing three birth registrations. I thought it was a mistake. But when I investigated, I discovered someone had created a false identity for a newborn child.""
"Using your name?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Nathan hesitated.
"Because my mother had been hiding someone.""
Claire's stomach tightened.
"Who?""
Nathan looked toward the window.
"My son.""
Silence.
Claire felt the room tilt.
"What?""
Nathan's eyes filled.
"Before I met you, I had a relationship with a woman named Melissa. She worked at a private clinic. We were together for almost a year.""
Claire slowly sat down.
"You never told me about her.""
"I thought it was over.""
"Was she pregnant?""
Nathan nodded.
"She told me the baby had died.""
Claire stared at him.
"And you believed her?""
"I was twenty-four. I was devastated. My mother handled everything.""
Claire looked at the photograph again.
"Your mother registered a baby under your name?""
"Yes.""
"Where is that child?""
Nathan took a shaky breath.
"I don't know.""
Claire stood.
"You don't know?""
"I found evidence that the baby was transferred through the same network as Ellie and Grace.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I couldn't prove whether the child was alive.""
Claire laughed bitterly.
"So you decided to keep another secret.""
Nathan reached for her hand.
She moved away.
"Claire, I was trying to protect you.""
"From what? The truth?""
He lowered his head.
"I know I failed you.""
She stared at him.
"You let me believe we had one daughter. You knew Grace existed. You knew your mother was involved in transferring babies. And now you're telling me you might have a son?""
Nathan nodded.
Claire looked toward the door.
"I need some air.""
"Claire, please.""
She stopped.
"One question.""
Nathan looked up.
"Did you know about the third baby before we got married?""
He hesitated.
That hesitation told her everything.
"Yes.""
Claire closed her eyes.
"How long?""
"About two years.""
She slowly turned back.
"Two years?""
"I found the first document when we were engaged.""
"And you married me without telling me?""
Nathan's eyes filled.
"I thought the baby was dead.""
Claire shook her head.
"You don't get to decide which truths I'm strong enough to hear.""
She walked out.
At 8:15 a.m., Detective Brooks received confirmation from the laboratory.
The substance found in Nathan's bloodstream was a powerful combination of sedative medications that could produce profound unconsciousness and dangerously suppress breathing.
The medical examiner was reviewing the original death assessment.
Someone had administered the substances deliberately.
The police also found evidence that the original hospital records had been altered.
Claire sat beside Ellie and Grace in a private family room when Brooks arrived.
"We have a problem.""
Claire looked up.
"What now?""
"Dr. Lane has disappeared.""
Claire stood.
"How?""
"He was transferred for questioning. During the transfer, someone used an unauthorized vehicle to remove him from custody.""
"Someone helped him?""
Brooks nodded.
"We believe so.""
Claire looked at the girls.
"Does this mean they're in danger?""
"We're increasing security.""
Grace was drawing a picture at the table.
Ellie leaned over her shoulder.
"That's pretty.""
"It's my house," Grace said.
Ellie pointed at a small figure.
"Who's that?""
"Mommy.""
Claire felt her throat tighten.
Then Grace added another figure.
"That's Daddy.""
Claire looked closer.
A man stood beside a woman and a little girl.
"Who's the little boy?""
Grace shrugged.
"Grandma said he lives far away.""
Claire's heart skipped.
"What little boy, sweetheart?""
Grace pointed at the drawing.
"Mommy said I had a brother.""
Claire knelt beside her.
"Did she tell you his name?""
Grace nodded.
"Daniel.""
Detective Brooks moved closer.
"Grace, did you ever meet Daniel?""
"No.""
"Did Grandma talk about him?""
Grace nodded again.
"She said he was a secret.""
Claire looked at Brooks.
The detective slowly took out her phone.
"Mr. Harper's possible son.""
Claire felt cold.
"Do you think Daniel is the third baby?""
"We need to establish that.""
Grace looked up.
"Is Daniel coming home?""
Claire forced a smile.
"Maybe, sweetheart.""
Grace returned to her drawing.
Then she added something beneath the picture.
Three words.
Find my brother.
That afternoon, Claire returned to Nathan's room.
He was speaking with Detective Brooks when she entered.
"Who is Daniel?"" Claire asked.
Nathan immediately stopped talking.
Brooks looked between them.
"Your husband just gave us a possible lead.""
Claire turned to Nathan.
"Tell me.""
Nathan rubbed his forehead.
"Daniel was the name Melissa wanted to give our son.""
"Do you know where he is?""
Nathan shook his head.
"No. But I know who might.""
"Who?""
"Margaret.""
Claire stared at him.
"She's in custody.""
"Then you need to speak with her.""
"I already did.""
"Not about Daniel.""
Claire stepped closer.
"Nathan, if you know anything else, tell me now.""
He swallowed.
"Melissa didn't disappear after the birth.""
Claire froze.
"What happened to her?""
"She died.""
"When?""
"Four years ago.""
Claire looked at him.
"How?""
"An accident. That's what I was told.""
"By whom?""
Nathan's expression darkened.
"My mother.""
Claire sat down slowly.
"Was Daniel with her?""
Nathan nodded.
"But the accident report said there was no child in the vehicle.""
"Then someone lied.""
Nathan looked toward the window.
"I think Margaret took him.""
Detective Brooks arranged an interview with Margaret that evening.
She was sitting in a small interrogation room, wearing a gray sweatshirt and no makeup.
She looked smaller than Claire remembered.
But Claire no longer saw the woman who had welcomed her into the family.
She saw someone who had stolen years of her life.
Brooks placed the photograph of the three newborns on the table.
"Tell us about Daniel.""
Margaret looked at the photograph.
Then she closed her eyes.
"I knew this day would come.""
Claire leaned forward.
"Where is he?""
Margaret looked directly at her.
"He's safe.""
"Where?""
"With a family.""
"What family?""
"People who love him.""
Claire's voice hardened.
"Give me their names.""
Margaret shook her head.
"Not yet.""
Brooks leaned forward.
"Mrs. Harper, you're under investigation for falsifying medical records, unlawful child transfers, and interfering with a criminal investigation. Your cooperation matters.""
Margaret gave a tired laugh.
"Do you really think I care about prison?""
Claire stared at her.
"Then what do you care about?""
Margaret looked at her.
"Keeping the family together.""
Claire felt disgust rising.
"You destroyed it.""
"No. I saved it.""
"You stole my daughter!""
"I gave Ellie a mother!""
Claire stood.
"She already had one!""
Margaret looked away.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then she whispered, "Daniel is with Melissa's sister.""
Nathan's name appeared on Claire's phone.
She looked down.
A message.
Don't trust my mother. She didn't just take Daniel. She knows who killed Melissa.
Claire showed Brooks.
The detective immediately stood.
"Who sent that?""
Claire looked at the screen.
Nathan.
Then another message appeared.
And she's about to tell you I was the one who helped her.
Claire slowly looked at Margaret.
The older woman was watching her.
May you like
And for the first time, she smiled.
"Now," Margaret whispered, "we can finally tell the truth.""
