Chapter 9: The Boy in the Photograph
I enlarged the photograph.
The boy looked about fifteen or sixteen.
He was standing outside a brick school building, wearing a navy jacket and carrying a backpack.
His hair was dark.
His eyes were unmistakably familiar.
Laura had the same eyes.
So did Maya.
And, according to the hospital records, Brielle.
I looked at the photograph again.
“Where did this come from?””
Brielle shook her head.
“Daniel sent it.””
I turned the phone toward her.
“Did he say who the boy was?””
“No.””
I studied the image.
The boy was holding a piece of paper.
At first, I thought it was a school certificate.
Then I noticed the writing.
*E. M. — STUDENT ID.*
I zoomed in.
The name beneath it was barely readable.
Ethan Mercer.
My son.
Alive.
I sat down on Maya's bed.
For nine years, I had believed he was dead.
I had imagined a tiny grave somewhere, a child I never got to hold, a future that had disappeared before it began.
Now there was a photograph.
A real boy.
A boy who had grown up without knowing me.
I pressed my fingers against my eyes.
Brielle sat beside me.
“Dad?””
I looked at her.
“I'm here.””
“Are you going to find him?””
“Yes.””
“What if he doesn't want to meet us?””
I swallowed.
“Then I'll respect that.””
She stared at the photograph.
“I wish someone had told me the truth.””
I put my arm around her.
“I'm sorry.””
She leaned against my shoulder.
“I was mean to Maya.””
I didn't respond immediately.
“I thought she was the reason Mom never had enough time for me. I thought she got everything because she was your daughter.””
I looked at her.
“Maya never took anything from you.””
“I know.””
Brielle wiped her eyes.
“I helped Mom move her things into the garage.””
My chest tightened.
“Why?””
“Because Mom said Maya needed to learn not to complain. She said if I helped, she'd let me keep the room.””
I closed my eyes.
Brielle continued.
“I knew it was wrong. I just didn't want her to get angry with me.””
I looked at the sixteen-year-old sitting beside me.
For the first time, I saw something beyond her selfishness.
She had been raised inside the same lies.
That didn't erase what she had done to Maya.
But it explained why she had been so desperate to please Vanessa.
“Brielle, you need to understand something.””
She nodded.
“You hurt Maya. You helped make her feel unwanted in her own home. That wasn't okay.””
Her eyes filled.
“I know.””
“But you can choose what you do next.””
She looked at me.
“Can I tell her I'm sorry?””
“When she's ready.””
I stood and called Rachel Collins.
She answered immediately.
“Michael?””
“I found something in Laura's belongings. I need help identifying a boy named Ethan Mercer.””
There was silence.
Then Rachel asked, “How old?””
“Approximately fifteen or sixteen.””
“Michael, I think you should contact the police before approaching anyone.””
“I will. But I need to know if the photograph is recent.””
Rachel agreed to meet me at the school the following morning.
Before hanging up, she said something that made me pause.
“Michael, there's something I haven't told you about Maya's counseling records.””
“What?””
“Three weeks ago, a boy called the school asking to speak with her.””
My pulse quickened.
“What boy?””
“He said his name was Ethan.””
I gripped the phone.
“Did Maya speak to him?””
“No. He asked whether she was safe. Then he left.””
“Did you get his contact information?””
Rachel hesitated.
“He left a note.””
“Where is it?””
“I have it in my office.””
I looked toward Brielle.
“Please keep it safe.””
“I will.””
After the call, I searched the house for Vanessa.
Her bedroom was empty.
Her handbag was gone.
So was the blue folder containing the adoption documents.
I called her.
No answer.
I called again.
Straight to voicemail.
Then I checked the security cameras.
The footage showed Vanessa leaving at 6:42 p.m., carrying a suitcase.
But she hadn't left alone.
Daniel's car was parked outside.
I watched the recording again.
At 6:44, Vanessa walked to the passenger side.
Daniel opened the door for her.
She got inside.
Then he leaned through the window and said something.
Vanessa looked toward the house.
Toward Maya's bedroom.
Then she nodded.
The car drove away.
I immediately called the police.
I explained that my wife had left with a man who was involved in suspected identity fraud and the disappearance of a newborn child.
I also told them about the threats against Maya.
They advised me to keep the children somewhere safe and preserve every document.
I called Mrs. Patterson.
She agreed to stay with Maya while I contacted an attorney.
At nine the next morning, I met Rachel at the school.
She handed me a small folded note.
It was written on ordinary lined paper.
*Dear Maya,*
**I know you don't know me. But I know who you are. My name is Ethan.
I think we're family. Please don't let Daniel know I contacted you.**
Beneath it was a phone number.
I stared at the note.
“Did you call this number?””
Rachel nodded.
“It was disconnected.””
“Do you know where he went?””
“He said he was staying with a friend in Richmond.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Did he tell you why he wanted to speak to Maya?””
Rachel hesitated.
“He said he wanted to warn her.””
“Warn her about what?””
Rachel lowered her voice.
“He said Daniel was planning to take her away.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“Take her where?””
“He didn't say.””
I called the number again.
Nothing.
Then I noticed a small handwritten message beneath the signature.
*Ask about the hospital bracelet.*
I remembered the blue box.
The three bracelets.
I had assumed they were all from the same hospital.
But there was something unusual about Ethan's.
The name had been written in black ink.
The other two were printed on adhesive labels.
I examined the photograph I had taken of the bracelets.
Then I zoomed in on the tiny identification number.
The bracelet belonged to a different hospital.
Not St. Mary's.
A private maternity clinic in another state.
I showed Rachel.
She frowned.
“That's strange.””
I called Dr. Reed.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“Mr. Carter?””
“I found Ethan's hospital bracelet. The identification number belongs to another facility.””
There was a long silence.
Then he said:
“That can't be right.””
“Why?””
“Because St. Mary's was the only hospital listed in Laura's delivery records.””
I gave him the number.
I heard him typing.
A few seconds later, he stopped.
“Michael, I need you to listen carefully.””
“What?””
“That bracelet was issued by a private clinic in Richmond.””
I stood.
“Richmond?””
“Yes.””
“Is the clinic still open?””
“No. It closed eight years ago.””
“Who operated it?””
Dr. Reed took a breath.
“Daniel Mercer.””
I felt cold all over.
Daniel hadn't simply taken Ethan.
He had moved him through a medical facility he controlled.
But why?
I thanked Dr. Reed and immediately contacted my attorney.
An hour later, I received an email from the Richmond County records office.
It contained a scanned document.
The subject line read:
*ARCHIVED INFANT PLACEMENT — ETHAN MERCER.*
I opened the attachment.
The document showed that Ethan had been placed with a temporary guardian nine years earlier.
The guardian's name was listed as Daniel Mercer.
But the final page contained another signature.
A woman had legally adopted Ethan when he was eleven months old.
Her name was:
*Vanessa Mercer.*
I stared at the screen.
Vanessa had adopted Ethan.
My wife had raised my son somewhere else while forcing my daughter to sleep in a garage.
I read the adoption date.
Then I noticed the address.
It was the same address where Vanessa and Daniel had been living before she married me.
I called the police again and forwarded the documents.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A young male voice spoke.
“Is this Michael Carter?””
“Yes. Who is this?””
“My name is Ethan.””
I stopped breathing.
“Ethan?””
“I think you're my father.””
I gripped the edge of the desk.
“Where are you?””
“I can't tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel is looking for me.””
I lowered my voice.
“Listen to me. You're safe. I'm going to help you.””
He laughed bitterly.
“You don't understand. Daniel isn't the one I'm afraid of.””
I froze.
“Then who?””
There was a long pause.
Finally, Ethan whispered:
“Vanessa.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why would you be afraid of Vanessa?””
His answer came so quietly I almost missed it.
“Because she knows what really happened to Laura.””
My heart stopped.
“What do you mean?””
Ethan took a shaky breath.
“Your wife didn't die from an accident, Mr. Carter.””
I gripped the phone.
“What are you saying?””
“She was trying to come find me. She was going to take all three of us away from Daniel.””
The line crackled.
Then Ethan said:
“And Vanessa was the last person who saw her alive.””
A loud noise sounded in the background.
Someone shouted.
Ethan whispered one final sentence.
May you like
“Dad, I think they've found me.””
Then the call went dead.
