Chapter 13: The Child Who Was Buried Twice
The death certificate slipped from Margaret's fingers.
It landed on the wet driveway, inches from the burning mansion.
Nobody moved to pick it up.
Hannah was staring at her mother.
"Mom, whose death certificate is that?""
Margaret shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Zachary laughed bitterly.
"Of course you don't.""
He removed another document from the metal case.
"This is the original hospital report. Not the copy David gave everyone. The original.""
James stepped forward.
"Show me.""
Zachary handed him the paper.
James read it carefully.
Then his expression changed.
"There's a fourth name.""
I moved closer.
At the bottom of the report, beneath the three birth registrations, was another entry.
*Infant C — Male — Transferred to Special Care Unit.*
The child's identification number was different from the others.
Beside it was a handwritten note.
*Biological father not confirmed. Maternal consent required before release.*
Margaret covered her mouth.
"Oh, my God.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She looked at the document.
"I remember this.""
"Remember what?""
"One of the nurses told me there had been a complication. She said another baby had been delivered in the room next to mine.""
James frowned.
"Another baby?""
Margaret nodded.
"They told me the child hadn't survived.""
Zachary shook his head.
"That was the lie.""
He pulled another photograph from the case.
It showed four newborn babies.
Three were in the same hospital bassinets.
The fourth was in a separate incubator.
On the back, someone had written:
*The child David could never claim.*
Hannah looked at me.
"How many children did Mom actually have?""
Margaret was crying now.
"Three.""
"But there are four babies.""
"One wasn't mine.""
I looked at Zachary.
"Then whose child was it?""
He pointed to the fourth infant.
"Richard's.""
A cold silence settled over us.
James stared at the photograph.
"Richard had another child?""
"Yes," Zachary answered.
"A son. Born on the same morning.""
Margaret shook her head.
"Richard's wife died before the birth. I was helping him arrange the hospital paperwork because he was afraid the Albright family would take the baby.""
I looked at the death certificate.
"Then why was the child declared dead?""
"Because David needed the child to disappear.""
Zachary nodded.
"Richard's son was the rightful heir to the original Albright estate. Not me. Not James. Not even David.""
James looked toward the burning mansion.
"Where is he now?""
Nobody answered.
Then a voice came from behind us.
"He's standing right in front of you.""
We turned.
Richard Albright stood beside a police vehicle.
His hands were cuffed.
An officer had brought him back after discovering him hiding near the estate's rear entrance.
He looked at James.
Then at the photograph.
"That's my son.""
James stared at him.
"You're saying I'm your son?""
Richard shook his head.
"No.""
He pointed toward the fourth baby.
"That child is my son.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The fourth infant had a hospital bracelet.
The name was barely visible.
*THOMAS ALBRIGHT.*
Richard continued.
"Thomas was born twelve minutes after the other three. David arranged for him to be declared dead because he wanted control of the family trust.""
Margaret looked horrified.
"Where did he go?""
Richard's expression darkened.
"David gave him to someone he trusted.""
"Who?""
Richard looked at Zachary.
"Your father knows.""
Zachary immediately shook his head.
"Don't.""
Richard laughed.
"You've spent your entire life pretending to be an Albright. But you were never the heir. You were never even the child Margaret thought she had lost.""
Zachary stepped toward him.
"Shut up.""
Richard continued.
"Thomas was the only legitimate male descendant. The original trust gave him control of the company, the properties, and the entire family estate.""
James looked at the photograph.
"Then who raised him?""
Richard lowered his eyes.
"David.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"David raised his own enemy?""
"David raised him as his son. He changed his name and kept him close. The boy never knew who he was.""
Hannah whispered, "What's his name now?""
Richard looked at the metal case.
"Thomas Albright disappeared from the records thirty-two years ago. But the man David raised was given another name.""
Zachary's face had become almost gray.
I stepped toward him.
"Who?""
He stared at the ground.
Then he whispered:
"Robert Hale.""
The name struck me like a physical blow.
The man who had followed us to the coastal shop.
The man who had entered the hospital.
The man who had helped David.
He wasn't merely an accomplice.
He was the missing heir.
And he had been standing beside us for days.
A police radio crackled.
"Command, we have a problem. Robert Hale is missing from custody.""
Richard closed his eyes.
Zachary looked toward the road.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
*You have my family documents. I have the original trust. Meet me at the cemetery where Margaret was buried. Come alone.*
Another message followed.
*Bring the woman who signed the death certificate.*
I looked at Margaret.
She was trembling.
Hannah grabbed her mother's hand.
"You're not going.""
Margaret looked at the message.
Then she lifted her head.
"Yes, I am.""
I shook my head.
"Absolutely not.""
She took my hand.
"Chris, I've spent eleven years running from David. I'm finished running.""
May you like
She looked toward the photograph of the four babies.
"Tonight, we find out which child he buried.""
