Chapter 7: The Man Who Signed My Brother's Name
I read Thomas's message five times.
Then I read it again.
*The man who signed your divorce agreement isn't your brother.*
*Your real brother died twenty-seven years ago.*
I looked at Daniel.
"Tell me what this means.""
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he locked the office door, closed the curtains, and placed his phone on the desk.
"Claire, I need you to understand something. The Hayes family has been dealing with identity fraud for decades.""
"That's not an answer.""
"I know.""
"Then give me one.""
Daniel opened his laptop and pulled up the photograph of the man who had supposedly contacted me as Thomas.
"Look carefully.""
The photograph showed a man in his early thirties with dark hair and gray eyes.
He resembled my father.
He also resembled Grant.
But something about his face seemed wrong.
I leaned closer.
"Who is he?""
"His name is Victor Hale. He's a former financial investigator who worked for Edward Whitmore.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why did he pretend to be my brother?""
"Because he had access to the Hayes family records. He knew Thomas's name, knew about the old photograph, and knew enough about your father's disappearance to make his story convincing.""
I stared at the screen.
"Then who sent me the message?""
"Someone using a phone registered to a company owned by Whitmore Capital.""
I sat down.
Everything was becoming more complicated.
"Why would Victor sign my divorce agreement?""
Daniel enlarged the final page.
"Because the agreement wasn't simply a divorce settlement. It was part of a legal transfer. Evelyn needed an authorized witness to confirm that the beneficiary understood what she was surrendering.""
"And Victor pretended to be Thomas?""
"Yes.""
I pressed my fingers against my temples.
"How much of my life was fabricated?""
Daniel didn't answer.
That silence was worse than anything he could have said.
My phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID showed a number from California.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke quietly.
"Claire Hayes?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Michael Reeves. I'm an attorney representing Robert Hayes.""
I stood immediately.
"Is my father alive?""
"Yes. And he's asking to speak with you.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where is he?""
"He's safe for now. But we have a serious problem.""
"What?""
"The Whitmore family has filed an emergency petition claiming that you knowingly participated in a fraudulent transfer of company assets.""
I almost laughed.
"They stole my embryos, concealed my identity, and paid me fifty million dollars to disappear. Now they're accusing me of fraud?""
"Unfortunately, the agreement you signed creates a complicated legal situation.""
"Can it be reversed?""
"Possibly. But we need the original trust documents and proof that your consent was obtained through deception.""
I looked at Daniel.
He nodded.
"Tell him we're coming.""
Michael hesitated.
"One more thing, Ms. Hayes.""
"Yes?""
"Your father asked me to tell you something.""
I held my breath.
"He said you should ask Daniel what happened on the night your mother died.""
I slowly lowered the phone.
Daniel's expression had changed.
"Why did my father say that?""
He looked away.
"Because he knows I was there.""
I felt cold.
"You were there?""
"Claire, let me explain.""
"Did you see my mother die?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why did you tell me nothing?""
Daniel sat down.
"Because I didn't know the whole truth.""
I stepped toward him.
"Start talking.""
He took a long breath.
"Your mother discovered that Evelyn was using Robert's research to create a private genetic database. She found evidence that embryos had been created using genetic material obtained without proper consent.""
I thought about the clinic.
The records.
The transfers.
"She confronted Evelyn?""
"Yes. Two days later, her car went off the road.""
My hands began to shake.
"Was it an accident?""
Daniel looked at me.
"No.""
The room went silent.
"Who was driving the other car?""
He swallowed.
"Edward Whitmore.""
I stared at him.
"Grant's adoptive father?""
"Yes.""
"Did he kill her?""
"Your mother survived the initial collision. She was taken to a hospital. Someone transferred her before the police arrived.""
"Where?""
"Nobody knows.""
I felt tears running down my cheeks.
"You're telling me my mother might have survived?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Then he said, "Your father spent fifteen years searching for her.""
My phone vibrated.
A new message.
This time, it contained an audio file.
The sender was unknown.
I pressed play.
A woman's voice filled the room.
"Claire, sweetheart. If this reaches you, please don't trust Evelyn. She knows where your father is, and she knows what happened to Thomas.""
I stopped breathing.
I knew that voice.
I had heard it in childhood dreams.
My mother's voice.
The recording continued.
"Your father isn't the only person they lied about. I made a terrible mistake when I believed Edward would protect us. Please find the blue room beneath the old house.""
The audio ended.
I looked at Daniel.
"Where is the old house?""
He answered immediately.
"Monterey.""
I grabbed my handbag.
"Then we're going.""
But before we could leave, someone knocked on the office door.
A familiar voice came from the hallway.
"Claire? It's Grant.""
Daniel reached for his jacket.
I raised my hand.
"Let him in.""
Grant entered alone.
His shirt was wrinkled. His hair was uncombed. For the first time since I had known him, he looked genuinely frightened.
He saw the audio file on my phone.
Then he looked at me.
"Where did you get that?""
I stared at him.
"Do you recognize the voice?""
His face turned white.
"Claire...""
"Is my mother alive?""
He closed the door behind him.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"She was alive the last time I saw her.""
