Chapter 7: The Three Missing Babies
“Don't move.””
Detective Harris's voice suddenly came through my phone.
I looked down.
The call was still connected. She had been listening to the recording when the voices sounded downstairs.
“Marcus, are you still there?”” she whispered.
“Yes.””
“Do not confront them. Officers are two minutes away. Stay where you are.””
I looked at my mother.
She was standing beside the wooden trunk, clutching the birth registration document against her chest.
Downstairs, a door slammed.
Richard's voice echoed through the house.
“Marcus! I know you're up there!””
I picked up the cassette recorder and slipped it into my jacket.
“Mom, get behind me.””
She shook her head.
“I'm not hiding from that man.””
“Please.””
A heavy footstep sounded on the staircase.
Then another.
Richard appeared at the top of the stairs.
His expensive charcoal suit was slightly wrinkled, and his tie hung loosely around his neck. Behind him stood Vanessa, still wearing the cream blouse from the hospital.
She looked directly at the silver boxes.
“Give me the documents,” Richard said.
I stepped in front of the trunk.
“No.””
Richard sighed.
“Marcus, you're making a terrible mistake.””
“You broke into my house.””
“I used my key.””
“Not anymore.””
Vanessa moved closer.
“Marcus, listen to me. You don't understand what's in those boxes.””
“Then explain it.””
She glanced at Richard.
He immediately shook his head.
“Don't say anything.””
I laughed bitterly.
“That's what you've both been doing for years.””
Richard adjusted his cufflinks.
“Your father was a dishonest man. He stole documents, manipulated people, and left behind a mess that I've spent years trying to contain.””
“My father?””
“Yes. Daniel.””
“You mean the man whose money you stole?””
Richard's expression hardened.
“Watch your mouth.””
My mother stepped forward.
“You have no right to stand in this house.””
Richard looked at her.
“Evelyn, I suggest you sit down before you embarrass yourself.””
She raised her chin.
“I watched you lie at my husband's funeral. I watched you pretend to care about my son. And today, I watched your wife try to kill me.””
Vanessa flinched.
Richard pointed at the trunk.
“Give me the last box.””
I glanced at the open silver container.
The cassette recorder was still warm in my pocket.
“Why are you so afraid of that recording?””
For the first time, Richard looked uncertain.
Then he smiled.
“Because Daniel was a paranoid old fool.””
He took another step.
I picked up a heavy brass candlestick.
“Don't.””
Richard stopped.
Vanessa suddenly began crying.
“Marcus, please. I never wanted this.””
I stared at her.
“You came into my home after trying to steal evidence.””
“Richard forced me.””
Richard turned sharply.
“Shut up!””
She jumped.
I watched her face.
There was fear there, but something else too.
Resentment.
“You said you'd protect me,” Vanessa whispered.
Richard grabbed her arm.
“I said shut up.””
She pulled away.
Then she looked at me.
“There's something you need to know about the three babies.””
I lowered the candlestick slightly.
Richard's face changed.
“Vanessa.””
She ignored him.
“Your father didn't raise the wrong child by accident. He knew exactly which baby he was bringing home.””
My heart pounded.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at the photograph.
“Your father and Richard were involved in a private arrangement. Helen had given birth to triplets. But only one of those babies was supposed to survive.””
My mother gasped.
“What?””
Richard lunged toward Vanessa.
Before he could reach her, she stepped behind me.
“Don't touch me!””
Richard's expression turned vicious.
“You ungrateful little—”
A loud knock sounded downstairs.
“Police! Open the door!””
Richard froze.
Vanessa began sobbing.
I backed away from both of them.
Within seconds, two officers rushed upstairs.
Detective Harris followed.
“Mr. Cole, step away from the trunk.””
Richard raised both hands.
“This is a family matter.””
“No,” Detective Harris replied.
“It became a criminal matter when you entered a private residence and attempted to remove potential evidence.””
She turned toward me.
“Are you all right?””
I nodded.
She looked at the silver boxes.
“What did you find?””
I handed her the photograph.
She studied it.
“Three babies?””
“My father said only one came home.””
Detective Harris examined the writing on the back.
“Where is the original recording?””
I touched my jacket.
“Here.””
She held out her hand.
I gave it to her.
Richard suddenly laughed.
“You're wasting your time.””
Detective Harris looked at him.
“Why is that?””
“Because that recording won't tell you what happened to the other children.””
He looked directly at me.
“Ask your mother.””
I turned.
Evelyn had gone completely pale.
“Mom?””
She stared at Richard.
Then she whispered:
“I know where one of them is.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“Your father told me that one of the babies had been placed with a family in Chicago.””
“Which baby?””
“I don't know.””
Richard smiled.
“That's not true, Evelyn.””
She looked at him.
“Isn't it?””
He shook his head.
“You were never supposed to know.””
Detective Harris stepped closer.
“Mr. Cole, what happened to the other two children?””
Richard said nothing.
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“One of them died.””
I turned toward her.
“How do you know?””
She swallowed.
“Because I found the hospital records.””
“Where?””
“In Richard's office.””
Detective Harris immediately asked, “And the third baby?””
Vanessa looked at me.
Her answer came in a whisper.
“He was never adopted.””
She glanced toward Richard.
“He was raised under a different identity.””
I stared at her.
“Whose identity?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
Then she said a name.
“Michael Cole.””
Richard's face went white.
And for the first time that night, I understood why he had spent thirty years trying to keep the silver boxes hidden.
The third baby hadn't disappeared.
He had grown up beside us.
He had attended my father's funeral.
He had stood at my graduation.
He had been at my wedding.
I looked at Richard.
“Who is Michael Cole?””
May you like
Richard slowly smiled.
“Your brother.””
