Chapter 7: The Third Child Nobody Mentioned
The photograph wouldn't leave my hands.
I stared at the words on the back.
*THE TWINS WERE NEVER THE ONLY CHILDREN.*
Beneath them was my name and a statement that made no sense.
*MARCUS HAYES — PATERNITY RECORD: ALTERED.*
Detective Harper took the photograph from me.
“Do you recognize the hospital?””
I shook my head.
“No. But I recognize that handwriting.””
She looked at me.
“Whose?””
“My grandfather's.””
The writing was unmistakable. I had seen it on birthday cards, old letters, and the notes he used to leave inside my schoolbooks.
My grandfather, Thomas Hayes, had died when I was seventeen.
He had been the wealthiest member of our family and the person who had established the trust for Rachel's children.
“What does this mean?”” I asked.
Detective Harper examined the photograph.
“It could mean someone altered your birth records. We need to establish what the original documents say.””
I turned toward Eleanor.
She was sitting in the back of a police vehicle.
“Mom!””
An officer opened the door.
I approached her.
“Did my grandfather know about Rachel's twins?””
Eleanor began crying.
“He knew everything.””
“Then why didn't he stop Daniel?””
“He tried.””
“What happened?””
She looked down at her hands.
“Your grandfather discovered that Daniel had been using the family business to finance illegal adoption arrangements. He threatened to report him.””
“And?””
“Daniel told him that if he went to the authorities, he would expose something about you.””
I stared at her.
“What could he possibly expose about me?””
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“He said you weren't Robert's biological son.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
I gripped the vehicle door.
“Then whose son am I?””
My mother started crying.
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me again.””
“I'm not lying.””
She looked up.
“Robert knew there was a possibility. He loved you anyway. He raised you as his own.””
I stepped away.
For the first time, I understood why Daniel had always treated me differently from the other children in the family.
He had never called me by my full name.
He had always referred to me as Robert's boy.
I had assumed it was affection.
Now I wondered whether it had been something else.
Detective Harper approached.
“Mr. Hayes, we found another item inside the property.””
She showed me a photograph of an old wooden music box.
My music box.
The little horse on top was missing one ear.
I recognized the scratch across the lid.
It had been mine since childhood.
“Where did you find it?””
“Inside a locked cabinet.””
“Was there anything else?””
She nodded.
“A letter addressed to you.””
She handed me a transparent evidence sleeve.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
The handwriting belonged to my grandfather.
Marcus,
If you are reading this, Daniel has finally decided that keeping the truth hidden is no longer worth the risk.
I have spent years protecting you from a history that should never have involved a child.
Your mother made mistakes. Robert made mistakes. Daniel committed crimes.
But the greatest mistake was mine.
I believed I could keep the family together by hiding the truth.
There are three children connected to the original trust.
Rachel's twins are two of them.
The third is you.
I stopped reading.
My hands began shaking.
The letter continued.
Your biological mother was a woman named Claire Bennett.
She was Rachel's older sister.
I looked up.
“Bennett?””
Detective Harper nodded slowly.
I continued reading.
Claire died shortly after giving birth. Robert believed the child had also died. Daniel arranged for you to be raised by Eleanor and Robert because he needed someone he could control.
I discovered the truth too late.
The original birth records are hidden inside the music box.
Do not let Daniel obtain them.
The letter ended.
I looked at my mother.
“Claire Bennett was my mother?””
Eleanor nodded.
“Rachel's sister.””
“Then Rachel is my aunt?””
“Yes.””
I tried to process it.
Rachel wasn't simply the biological mother of Maya and Lily.
She was their aunt.
And I was their biological cousin.
Except the letter said I was connected to the trust as a third child.
I looked at Detective Harper.
“Why would I be included in the trust?””
She didn't answer.
Instead, she examined the music box photograph.
“Did your grandfather ever explain what was inside?””
“No.””
“Do you know where the original is?””
I shook my head.
“I haven't seen it in twenty years.””
My mother finally spoke.
“Daniel took it from your apartment after you moved away.””
I turned toward her.
“You knew?””
“I saw him take it.””
“And you said nothing?””
“He threatened me.””
I laughed bitterly.
“That's becoming your favorite explanation.””
Before she could respond, my phone rang.
Rachel.
I answered.
“Rachel, I need to tell you something.””
“Marcus, I already know.””
I froze.
“Know what?””
“Claire.””
I looked at Detective Harper.
“Who told you?””
Rachel's voice broke.
“My mother. Before she died, she told me Claire had a baby. She said Daniel arranged everything.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know whether you were alive. Daniel told everyone Claire's child had died.””
I closed my eyes.
“Do you know where the original records are?””
Rachel hesitated.
“Your grandfather left them with my mother. She gave me a small box before she passed away.””
“What's inside?””
“Photographs. Medical records. And a letter.””
“Read it.””
Rachel began crying.
“Marcus, your mother didn't die because of childbirth complications.””
My blood turned cold.
“What happened?””
“She was poisoned.””
I looked toward Eleanor.
My mother was staring at me through the police vehicle window.
Rachel continued.
“Someone had been giving her medication that wasn't prescribed. My mother suspected Daniel, but she couldn't prove it.””
I felt my knees weaken.
“Who had access to her medication?””
Rachel whispered:
“Eleanor.””
The call ended.
I stared at my mother.
She didn't deny it.
She simply lowered her head.
Then Detective Harper's radio crackled.
An officer spoke urgently.
“Detective, we've located a vehicle connected to Daniel. We found it abandoned near the old railway station.””
“Any sign of the children?””
A pause.
Then the officer answered.
“We found two small backpacks.””
My heart stopped.
“Were they inside?””
“No.””
Detective Harper looked at me.
Then my phone received a message.
A photograph of Maya and Lily.
This time, both girls were crying.
May you like
Beneath the picture was one sentence.
*YOU HAVE ONE HOUR TO BRING THE MUSIC BOX.*
