Chapter 8: The Birth Certificate That Never Existed
Dr. Whitmore stood at the bottom of the staircase holding a medical folder.
She looked older than the woman I remembered from the hospital, but her eyes were unmistakable.
I had seen those eyes four years earlier when she stood beside Danielle's hospital bed and told us our baby hadn't survived.
“You told us our son was dead,” I said.
She looked down.
“I know.””
“You signed the paperwork.””
“Yes.””
“You watched my wife cry.””
Her lips trembled.
“Marcus, I have spent four years regretting that night.””
I stood up.
“Regret doesn't explain anything.””
Ethan remained behind me, clutching the stuffed rabbit.
Robert entered the bedroom.
“Doctor, put the folder on the floor and step away.””
She obeyed.
Then she looked at Ethan.
“Hello, sweetheart.””
Ethan stepped behind me.
“Why are the police here?””
I crouched beside him.
“It's okay. Nobody is going to hurt you.””
Dr. Whitmore shook her head.
“He's frightened because Richard told him strangers would try to take him away.””
I turned toward her.
“Richard kidnapped my child.””
“He didn't see it that way.””
“Then explain how he saw it.””
The doctor opened the folder after Robert had examined it.
Inside were medical reports, blood test results, and several original hospital documents.
She pointed to the first page.
“Danielle experienced severe complications during pregnancy. Your son was born prematurely, but he was alive.””
I stared at her.
“How premature?””
“Thirty-one weeks.””
I looked toward Ethan.
He was watching us silently.
“He needed intensive care,” she continued.
“There were concerns about a hereditary blood disorder. Your family history made the doctors particularly cautious.””
“What happened next?””
“Your brother Daniel approached me with an offer.””
I clenched my jaw.
“What offer?””
“Money. A considerable amount. He wanted the original birth records altered.””
Robert interrupted.
“Why would you agree?””
She lowered her eyes.
“My husband had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. We were drowning in medical bills. Daniel knew about it.””
“So he bought you.””
“Yes.””
I stared at her.
“And my wife?””
“Danielle was still recovering from surgery. Daniel told her that the baby had died. He showed her a forged medical report.””
My chest tightened.
“She believed him?””
“For several days.””
“What happened?””
“She discovered the original records were missing. She confronted him. That's when he took her.””
I gripped the doorframe.
“Where did he take her?””
“First to the room beneath the pool. Then to a private facility.””
Robert examined another document.
“Why was Richard involved?””
The doctor hesitated.
“Because Daniel couldn't raise a child while pretending nothing had happened. Richard agreed to take Ethan.””
“Did he know the truth?””
“He knew Ethan was the biological son of Marcus and Danielle Cole.””
I looked toward Ethan.
The boy was now examining the photograph on the bedside table.
“Did Richard know we were looking for him?””
“Yes.””
“Did he know Danielle was alive?””
The doctor looked away.
“Yes.””
A bitter laugh escaped me.
“How many people knew?””
“Several.””
“And nobody thought to tell the police?””
She began crying.
“I was afraid.””
I stepped closer.
“You were afraid? My wife was locked in a room beneath my swimming pool. My son was told his parents were dead. And you were afraid?””
“I know.””
“No. You don't.””
Robert took the medical folder.
“Doctor, we need to establish where Richard is.””
She shook her head.
“He left.””
“When?””
“About an hour ago.””
“Where did he go?””
“He said he was taking Ethan somewhere safe.””
I looked at the boy.
“Ethan, did Uncle Richard tell you he was leaving?””
Ethan nodded.
“He said we were going on a trip.””
“Did he say where?””
“No.””
Then the boy hesitated.
“He told me to pack my blue bag.””
I looked toward the bed.
A small blue backpack sat beside the wardrobe.
“Did you pack anything?””
Ethan nodded.
“Just my rabbit and my school book.””
I picked up the bag.
Inside was a small envelope.
My name was written across it.
I opened it.
Marcus,
I know you are angry. I would be angry too.
But there are things you don't understand about your father. The trust was never meant to belong to you. He made arrangements before he died, and I was protecting the family from a financial disaster.
Ethan is safe with me. He has been loved and cared for.
You cannot simply walk into his life and expect him to call you Dad.
If you want answers, come to the old estate alone.
Richard.
I read it twice.
Then I looked at Robert.
“He wants me to come alone.””
Robert shook his head.
“Absolutely not.””
The doctor suddenly spoke.
“Don't go to the estate.””
I turned.
“Why?””
“Because Richard has another facility there.””
“What facility?””
She pointed toward the medical records.
“Your father built a private treatment center on the old property. It was supposed to be a research clinic. After his death, Richard took control of it.””
I looked at the address.
It was the same property where my father had lived during his final years.
“What happens there?””
The doctor hesitated.
“That's where the blood tests were conducted.””
I looked down at the paperwork.
Ethan's blood condition was marked with a code.
A rare inherited clotting disorder.
My father had suffered from the same condition.
But there was something else.
The doctor turned to another page.
“Your father arranged for Ethan to undergo experimental treatment.””
I frowned.
“Was it dangerous?””
“It was unapproved.””
Robert looked up sharply.
“Are you saying Richard has been using the child for medical experiments?””
The doctor didn't answer.
I turned toward Ethan.
He was sitting on the bed, staring at the stuffed rabbit.
“Ethan, do you remember going to a doctor?””
He nodded.
“Sometimes Uncle Richard takes me.””
“What happens?””
“They take my blood.””
“How often?””
“Every month.””
My stomach twisted.
“Does it hurt?””
He shrugged.
“Sometimes.””
Then he looked at me.
“Uncle Richard says I have special blood. He says that's why I'm important.””
I sat beside him.
“Listen to me. You're important because you're you. Not because of your blood.””
Ethan studied my face.
“Does my mommy know about me?””
I struggled to speak.
“Yes.””
“Does she want me?””
I closed my eyes briefly.
“She has been looking for you every day.””
He began crying.
Robert moved toward us.
“We need to leave. Now.””
Outside, an officer shouted that a vehicle had been spotted near the back gate.
We hurried downstairs.
But before we reached the front door, Ethan grabbed my sleeve.
“Wait.””
“What is it?””
He looked toward the hallway.
“Uncle Richard said something about Mommy.””
“What?””
“He said she was going to come get me.””
My heart jumped.
“When?””
Ethan pointed to the clock.
“Today.””
Then he reached into his backpack and pulled out a small folded drawing.
It showed three people holding hands.
A man.
A woman.
And a little boy.
At the top, Ethan had written:
My real family.
On the back was a phone number.
I called it.
A woman's voice answered immediately.
“Ethan?””
I froze.
“Danielle?””
She began sobbing.
“Marcus, please listen. Richard has taken him to the old estate.””
I looked at the boy beside me.
“We found him. Ethan is safe.””
There was a long silence.
Then Danielle whispered:
“No. That's not what I meant.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
“Richard has already taken the other boy.””
I stared at Ethan.
The doctor covered her mouth.
Robert looked at me.
May you like
Danielle continued, her voice breaking.
“Marcus, Ethan isn't the only child.””
