Chapter 11: The Woman Who Used My Wife's Name
"Rachel, repeat that.""
My sister's voice trembled.
"The hospital record says Vanessa Reed was admitted the night Emily died.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head.
"No. That's impossible.""
I covered the phone.
"Then explain why your name is on Emily's hospital record.""
Vanessa looked genuinely confused.
"I wasn't there.""
Rachel continued speaking.
"Marcus, the record includes an emergency contact. It's your father's name. And there's a note saying the patient requested that her husband not be contacted.""
I felt sick.
Emily had been my wife.
If she had been admitted to the hospital, I would have been the first person they called.
Unless someone had deliberately prevented it.
"Where did you find this?""
"In the papers Emily gave me. There are two copies. One from the hospital and another from the funeral home.""
"Why would the funeral home have it?""
"Because the original death certificate was amended.""
I looked at Daniel.
He immediately opened his laptop.
"Ask Rachel to photograph the documents.""
I did.
A few seconds later, the images arrived.
The first was a hospital admission form.
The patient's name was listed as Vanessa Reed.
The second was a death certificate.
Emily Carter.
But the date of death was different from the date we'd always been told.
By three days.
I stared at the documents.
"Rachel, who gave these to you?""
"Emily.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I thought they were fake. Then, after you called me about the letter, I checked the hospital archive.""
I rubbed my face.
"What's the connection?""
Rachel went quiet.
Then she said, "Marcus, I think someone switched the identities of two women.""
I looked at Vanessa.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"That's not true," she whispered.
I held up the phone.
"Rachel, what do you mean?""
"The hospital records show that a woman named Vanessa Reed was admitted after a serious incident. But the person buried under Emily's name may not have been Emily.""
I felt the room tilt.
For six years, I'd visited a grave believing my first wife was beneath the ground.
I had spoken to a stone.
I had left flowers for a woman whose body might not even have been there.
"Can you prove it?""
"I don't know yet. But I found a second record.""
"What record?""
"A DNA comparison.""
I stopped breathing.
"Whose DNA?""
"Your father's.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had stopped typing.
Rachel continued.
"Your father requested a private comparison after Emily's death. The result was sealed.""
"Where is it?""
"At the hospital archive.""
"Get it.""
"I already requested a copy.""
I heard papers moving.
Then Rachel said, "Marcus, there's something written on the back.""
"What?""
She read slowly.
If the identification is questioned, contact Dr. Samuel Hayes.
I recognized the name.
Dr. Hayes had been our family physician for years. He had treated Emily during her final pregnancy and had signed several of her medical reports.
"Where is he now?""
"Retired. He lives outside Millbrook.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Do you know him?""
She shook her head.
But her expression told me otherwise.
I ended the call.
"Daniel, find Dr. Hayes.""
He nodded.
Vanessa sat down.
"Marcus, I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
She stared at the floor.
"I used the name Vanessa Reed before I married you.""
"I know.""
"But there was another Vanessa Reed.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?""
"She worked at the consulting firm where I was employed. We shared an office. She was involved in the investigation with Ethan.""
"Is she the woman on the hospital record?""
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"I think so.""
I stared at her.
"Why would she use your name?""
"Because Paul arranged it.""
"Why?""
Vanessa began crying.
"Because the woman who died wasn't Emily.""
I stepped backward.
The room became painfully quiet.
"Who died?""
Vanessa covered her face.
"I don't know.""
"Stop saying that!""
"I swear, Marcus. I was never shown the body. Paul told everyone Emily had died, and he made me sign documents confirming the identification.""
I looked at her in disbelief.
"You signed a death identification?""
"Yes.""
"And you married me three years later?""
She nodded.
I felt something inside me break.
"Why?""
"Because Paul said Emily was gone. He said if I didn't cooperate, Lily would be taken away.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was holding his phone.
"Marcus, I found Dr. Hayes.""
"Where?""
"His residence. But there's a problem.""
"What?""
"He left his house this morning.""
"Where did he go?""
Daniel checked the tracking information from our company's security contact.
"Eastbrook.""
I looked at the open cabinet.
"Unit 408?""
Daniel nodded.
"He entered the facility twelve minutes ago.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"Then we have to get there.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because Dr. Hayes has the original medical records.""
"How do you know?""
She wiped her face.
"Because I helped him hide them.""
I stared at her.
"Where?""
She pointed toward the cabinet.
"Inside the false bottom.""
Daniel and I turned toward the storage unit.
We rushed back inside.
Vanessa knelt beside the cabinet and pressed a small metal latch beneath the lower shelf.
A panel opened.
Inside was a sealed plastic folder.
She pulled it out.
Her hands were shaking.
I took it from her.
The first document was a hospital photograph.
The second was a handwritten medical statement.
The third was a DNA report.
I scanned the final page.
The results were clear.
The woman buried under Emily Carter's name was not biologically related to my family.
But the woman identified as Vanessa Reed had a genetic match to Noah.
I looked up.
"Where is Emily?""
Vanessa began sobbing.
"I don't know.""
Then a voice came from behind us.
"She's alive.""
We turned.
An elderly man stood in the doorway.
Dr. Samuel Hayes.
He looked at the folder in my hand.
Then at me.
"Marcus, your wife didn't just hide your first wife's identity.""
He swallowed.
"She helped keep Emily alive.""
I stared at him.
"Where is she?""
Dr. Hayes looked toward Vanessa.
"Before I tell you, you need to understand why she disappeared.""
May you like
He took a breath.
"Because the woman Paul buried wasn't your wife.""
