Chapter 9: The Son of the Enemy
I stared at Margaret.
“Richard has been arrested?””
She nodded.
“That's what the police just reported.””
Daniel took out his phone.
“Who arrested him?””
“The authorities haven't released the details yet.””
Lucy looked at the photograph.
“Does that mean Ethan is safe?””
Nobody answered.
I picked up the picture again.
The young man looked about twenty-three.
He had Daniel's jawline, Evelyn's eyes, and the same tiny birthmark Lucy and I carried.
Three children.
Three separate lives.
And somehow, all three had been hidden by the same people.
I looked at Daniel.
“We have to find him.””
He nodded.
“Immediately.””
The admiral received a call and stepped into the hallway.
When he returned, his expression was unusually serious.
“Richard Cole was taken into custody at his residence. The arrest was connected to the missing Meridian investigation files.””
“Where is Ethan?”” I asked.
“The man who identified himself as his father has been taken in for questioning.””
“Who is he?””
The admiral looked at the photograph.
“Dr. Samuel Whitaker.””
Daniel swore under his breath.
“The same doctor who signed the transfer papers.””
I felt dizzy.
“He raised my brother?””
“Apparently.””
Lucy sat down.
“So Ethan grew up with the man who helped take him?””
Margaret nodded slowly.
“That's what the records suggest.””
I couldn't understand it.
Why would a doctor take a newborn child and raise him as his own?
Unless there was another reason.
I turned toward Margaret.
“Did Denise know about the third baby?””
Margaret's expression became troubled.
“She knew more than she ever admitted.””
“Tell me.””
Margaret sat down.
“In 2002, I worked as a nurse at St. Mary's. I was assigned to Evelyn during her final hours before the transfer.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“You were there?””
“Yes. I saw all three babies.””
“Why didn't you tell anyone?””
“Because I was threatened.””
“By whom?””
“Richard Cole. He told me that if I spoke, my son would lose his medical scholarship and my husband would be arrested for a crime he hadn't committed.””
I felt sick.
“So you stayed silent?””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“I regret it every day.””
She reached for the file.
“After the babies were separated, Evelyn was moved to a private medical facility. She was told her children had died.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“What?””
Margaret nodded.
“She believed all three babies were gone.””
Lucy covered her mouth.
I felt tears sliding down my cheeks.
“Then why did she say she was searching for us?””
“Because she eventually discovered the truth. I helped her escape the facility in 2008.””
“Why didn't she contact us?””
“Because she was being watched. She believed Richard still controlled the people who had your identities.””
Daniel stared at her.
“And you let her live alone for eighteen years?””
Margaret flinched.
“I helped her when I could.””
He looked away.
I couldn't blame him for being angry.
But Margaret was still the first person who had given us information without demanding something in return.
“Where is Evelyn now?”” I asked.
Margaret stood.
“She was supposed to meet me here this morning.””
“Where is she?””
“I don't know.””
A knock sounded at the office door.
A young security officer entered.
“Admiral Hayes, we've received confirmation that Dr. Whitaker is being held at the Norfolk police station.””
The admiral nodded.
“Any word on the young man?””
The officer checked his phone.
“Dr. Whitaker has refused to answer questions about his son.””
“Has the son been located?””
The officer hesitated.
“There's a complication.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“What complication?””
“The young man named Ethan Whitaker is missing.””
My stomach dropped.
“Missing?””
“He left his residence before the arrest. His phone has been switched off.””
I looked at the photograph.
There was something familiar about the background.
A brick building.
A metal staircase.
A sign partially visible behind him.
I enlarged the image.
The sign read:
*CARTER SHIPPING SERVICES.*
My mouth went dry.
“That's my mother's company.””
Daniel looked at me.
“What?””
“Denise owns a small shipping office near the old docks. She inherited it from her brother Thomas.””
The admiral took the photograph.
“Can you identify the location?””
I nodded.
“I've been there once. She took me when I was sixteen.””
The admiral immediately contacted his team.
“We need to secure that location.””
I stood.
“I'm coming.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Absolutely not.””
“Ethan might be there.””
“We don't know that.””
“Neither do we know if he's safe.””
Lucy took my hand.
“She should go.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You've only just found each other. I'm not risking either of you.””
I stepped closer.
“Dad, please.””
The word escaped before I could think about it.
Daniel froze.
His eyes filled.
Then he nodded.
“Stay beside me. Whatever happens.””
We reached the shipping office shortly after noon.
The building was small, with faded lettering above the entrance and dusty windows facing the harbor.
The front door was locked.
The admiral's officers entered first.
Daniel and I followed.
Inside, the reception area was empty.
A coffee cup sat on the desk.
Still warm.
Someone had been there recently.
A door at the back stood slightly open.
I heard a noise.
A chair scraping.
“Hello?”” I called.
No answer.
Daniel moved ahead of me.
Then a young man stepped out of the office.
He was holding a photograph.
The same photograph of the three newborn babies.
He looked at Daniel.
Then at me.
His eyes widened.
“Who are you?””
I couldn't speak.
Daniel took one careful step forward.
“What's your name?””
The young man swallowed.
“Ethan.””
Daniel's voice broke.
“I'm Daniel Hayes.””
Ethan looked confused.
“Why should I care?””
“Because I'm your father.””
The young man laughed.
It wasn't a happy sound.
“My father is Dr. Whitaker.””
“He raised you. But he isn't your biological father.””
Ethan shook his head.
“That's a lie.””
I stepped forward.
“We have your birth records.””
He looked at me.
Then at Lucy, who had just entered behind the officers.
His expression changed.
He stared at our faces.
“You look like me.””
Lucy nodded.
“Because we're your sisters.””
Ethan backed away.
“No.””
I held up my bracelet.
“Your mother gave us matching birthmarks. We were born on the same day.””
He looked at the photograph in his hand.
Then he noticed the three names printed beneath the babies.
Nia.
Lucy.
Ethan.
His knees nearly gave way.
“Why would he lie to me?””
Nobody answered.
A phone began ringing inside the office.
Ethan turned toward the desk.
The caller ID showed one word.
*MOTHER.*
He picked it up.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through.
I recognized it immediately.
Denise.
“Ethan, listen carefully. You need to leave that building.””
Ethan looked at me.
“Why?””
“Because those people are lying to you.””
“Who are they?””
“Your sisters are dangerous. They want to destroy your family.””
Ethan's expression hardened.
“You told me my birth mother died.””
Denise went silent.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Because she was supposed to.””
Ethan slowly lowered the phone.
I stepped closer.
“Denise, what did you do?””
Her voice sharpened.
“Nia? Is that you?””
“Yes.””
She laughed bitterly.
“You should have stayed at that celebration.””
“Why did you take us?””
“You have no idea what I sacrificed.””
“You were paid to raise me.””
“I kept you alive!””
The words echoed through the office.
Daniel reached for the phone.
“Denise, where is Evelyn?””
My mother gasped.
“Daniel Hayes?””
“Where is my wife?””
She laughed again.
“You still think you're the hero in this story?””
Daniel's face tightened.
Denise continued.
“Ask your daughter what happened to the original medical ledger.””
I frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
“The blue box was only a copy.””
She paused.
“The original ledger is hidden somewhere your precious father never thought to look.””
Daniel looked confused.
Then Denise whispered:
“Ask him what he did aboard the Meridian on June seventeenth, 2002.””
The call ended.
I turned toward Daniel.
He was staring at the floor.
“Dad?””
He didn't answer.
“Dad, what happened on that ship?””
His eyes slowly lifted to mine.
And for the first time since we had met, he looked more frightened than I had ever seen Denise.
“Nia,” he whispered, “there is something I never told you about the night you and your siblings were born.””
He reached into his coat and removed a small, folded military document.
Then he placed it in my hand.
At the top was a heading.
*USS MERIDIAN — EMERGENCY PERSONNEL INCIDENT REPORT.*
Beneath it was a list of three missing newborns.
May you like
And beside the name of the officer who had authorized their removal was a signature I recognized.
*DANIEL HAYES.*
