Chapter 10: ## Chapter 10: The Father Who Never Died
N: The Father Who Never Died
Nia stared at the photograph until the man'sia stared at the photograph until the man's face blurred behind her tears.
The face blurred behind her tears.
The message contained no name, no address, and no explanation. Just a picture of a gray message contained no name, no address, and no explanation. Just a picture of a gray-haired man standing outside a weather-beaten coastal house, with six words beneath it-haired man standing outside a weather-beaten coastal house, with six words beneath it.
Your father is alive. Ask Eleanor why.
For twenty-eight years, N.
Your father is alive. Ask Eleanor why.
For twenty-eight years, Nia had believed her biological father was a stranger whose identity had been lost somewhereia had believed her biological father was a stranger whose identity had been lost somewhere between a sealed adoption record and between a sealed adoption record and a courthouse filing cabinet.
Now someone was telling her he had never died.
“N a courthouse filing cabinet.
Now someone was telling her he had never died.
“Nia?”” Brielle asked softly.
Nia turned the phone toward her.
Bia?”” Brielle asked softly.
Nia turned the phone toward her.
Brielle studied the photograph, then looked at the message again.
“Isrielle studied the photograph, then looked at the message again.
“Is that Michael Reed?””
“I don't know.””
“But he looks like the man in Eleanor's photograph.””
“I that Michael Reed?””
“I don't know.””
“But he looks like the man in Eleanor's photograph.””
“I know.””
Nia's hands began to shake. She placed the phone on the table before know.””
Nia's hands began to shake. She placed the phone on the table before she dropped it.
Detective Brooks had instructed her not to respond to unknown messages she dropped it.
Detective Brooks had instructed her not to respond to unknown messages, especially while the investigation was active, especially while the investigation was active. But the sender had somehow obtained a photograph of a man connected. But the sender had somehow obtained a photograph of a man connected to the Whitmore family's most carefully guarded secret to the Whitmore family's most carefully guarded secret.
Whoever had sent it knew more than the police had.
Whoever had sent it knew more than the police had uncovered.
Nia called Brooks.
The detective arrived at the hospital twenty minutes later, carrying a uncovered.
Nia called Brooks.
The detective arrived at the hospital twenty minutes later, carrying a laptop and a paper bag containing sandwiches nobody wanted.
“Show laptop and a paper bag containing sandwiches nobody wanted.
“Show me the original message,” she said.
Nia handed her the phone.
Brooks examined the photograph me the original message,” she said.
Nia handed her the phone.
Brooks examined the photograph, enlarged the image, and checked the message details.
“Did, enlarged the image, and checked the message details.
“Did the sender include any location information?””
“No.””
“Have you seen this number before?””
the sender include any location information?””
“No.””
“Have you seen this number before?””
“No.””
Brooks entered the number into the department's system.
“We“No.””
Brooks entered the number into the department's system.
“We'll see whether it connects to any of the numbers'll see whether it connects to any of the numbers already identified in the investigation.””
Nia watched her work already identified in the investigation.””
Nia watched her work.
“Do you believe he's alive?””
“I believe someone wants.
“Do you believe he's alive?””
“I believe someone wants us to believe he is.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“It's us to believe he is.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“It's the only honest answer I have right now.””
Nia looked through the only honest answer I have right now.””
Nia looked through the hospital window at the gray afternoon sky.
“If my the hospital window at the gray afternoon sky.
“If my father is alive, I want to meet him.””
“We'll investigate the father is alive, I want to meet him.””
“We'll investigate the photograph first.””
“What if whoever sent it disappears?””
“Then we'll pursue photograph first.””
“What if whoever sent it disappears?””
“Then we'll pursue every lead we have.””
Nia stood.
“I have spent every lead we have.””
Nia stood.
“I have spent my entire life discovering things about myself through my entire life discovering things about myself through documents other people controlled. My adoption papers. My medical documents other people controlled. My adoption papers.
My medical records. That ridiculous paternity report. I'm not going to spend another week records.
That ridiculous paternity report. I'm not going to spend another week waiting for someone else to decide whether I'm allowed to know my own family.””
Bro waiting for someone else to decide whether I'm allowed to know my own family.””
Brooks regarded her for a moment.
Then she nodded.
“Give me untiloks regarded her for a moment.
Then she nodded.
“Give me until this evening to verify the location. If the photograph is genuine, we'll arrange a safe this evening to verify the location. If the photograph is genuine, we'll arrange a safe meeting.””
Nia sat down again, barely containing her impat meeting.””
Nia sat down again, barely containing her impatience.
“Thank you.””
Brooks closed the laptop.
“One more thing. Drience.
“Thank you.””
Brooks closed the laptop.
“One more thing. Dr. Hale has changed his statement.””
Nia looked. Hale has changed his statement.””
Nia looked up.
“Changed it how?””
“He now claims Eleanor didn't up.
“Changed it how?””
“He now claims Eleanor didn't order him to falsify the original parentage report. He says she order him to falsify the original parentage report. He says she asked him to preserve it.””
“Then who altered it?””
“Charles asked him to preserve it.””
“Then who altered it?””
“Charles Whitmore, according to Hale.””
“Why would Charles want a Whitmore, according to Hale.””
“Why would Charles want a report that excluded Ryan to be changed?””
Brooks paused.
“That's what we're trying to report that excluded Ryan to be changed?””
Brooks paused.
“That's what we're trying to establish.””
The question stayed with Nia long after the detective left.
If establish.””
The question stayed with Nia long after the detective left.
If Charles wanted Lily, why had he concealed the very document that could have complicated Charles wanted Lily, why had he concealed the very document that could have complicated his claim to her?
Unless the document was never his claim to her?
Unless the document was never about proving who Lily's father was.
Unless it was about hiding about proving who Lily's father was.
Unless it was about hiding someone else.
At six that evening, Brooks returned with a verified address.
The photograph someone else.
At six that evening, Brooks returned with a verified address.
The photograph had been taken outside a small house near the coast, roughly two had been taken outside a small house near the coast, roughly two hours from the city. A local officer had confirmed that a man resembling the subject had lived hours from the city. A local officer had confirmed that a man resembling the subject had lived there for several months under the name Michael Reed.
The man had no public social media accounts there for several months under the name Michael Reed.
The man had no public social media accounts. He paid his bills in cash and rarely received visitors.
But a neighbor had recognized him from. He paid his bills in cash and rarely received visitors.
But a neighbor had recognized him from an older photograph.
His name was Michael Reed.
And according to a surviving medical record, he had an older photograph.
His name was Michael Reed.
And according to a surviving medical record, he had been declared dead twenty-eight years earlier.
Nia felt her knees weaken been declared dead twenty-eight years earlier.
Nia felt her knees weaken.
“How can someone be declared dead and still be alive?””
“.
“How can someone be declared dead and still be alive?””
“Fraudulent records, mistaken identity, witness errorsFraudulent records, mistaken identity, witness errors,” Brooks replied.
“We don't know which explanation applies here.””
“Did he know about,” Brooks replied.
“We don't know which explanation applies here.””
“Did he know about me?””
“We don't know that either.””
Nia looked toward Lily's me?””
“We don't know that either.””
Nia looked toward Lily's carrier.
“I'm going.””
Brooks nodded.
“We'll take you carrier.
“I'm going.””
Brooks nodded.
“We'll take you there. But I need you to agree to let the officers speak there. But I need you to agree to let the officers speak first.””
Nia reluctantly agreed.
They left before sunset in first.””
Nia reluctantly agreed.
They left before sunset in an unmarked vehicle, with another police car following an unmarked vehicle, with another police car following at a distance. Brielle remained at the station to give a further at a distance. Brielle remained at the station to give a further statement about her mother's involvement in the institute.
The drive statement about her mother's involvement in the institute.
The drive felt endless.
Nia watched the city disappear behind them, replaced felt endless.
Nia watched the city disappear behind them, replaced by wet roads, darkening fields, and small towns whose streetlights flick by wet roads, darkening fields, and small towns whose streetlights flickered on one by one.
Lily slept through most of the journey.
Every few minutes, Niaered on one by one.
Lily slept through most of the journey.
Every few minutes, Nia checked that her daughter was breathing comfortably.
She couldn't checked that her daughter was breathing comfortably.
She couldn't stop imagining the man waiting at the end of the road.
Would he recognize her?
stop imagining the man waiting at the end of the road.
Would he recognize her?
Would he deny knowing who she was?
Would he look at her and see a daughter heWould he deny knowing who she was?
Would he look at her and see a daughter he had abandoned, or a stranger whose existence had been hidden from him?
When had abandoned, or a stranger whose existence had been hidden from him?
When they finally reached the coast, the sky had turned the color of slate.
The they finally reached the coast, the sky had turned the color of slate.
The house stood beyond a narrow lane, its white paint peeling and its front house stood beyond a narrow lane, its white paint peeling and its front garden overgrown. A fishing boat rested upside down beside the fence. Warm garden overgrown.
A fishing boat rested upside down beside the fence. Warm light glowed behind the curtains.
Brooks approached the door with another light glowed behind the curtains.
Brooks approached the door with another officer.
Nia waited on the path, holding Lily against officer.
Nia waited on the path, holding Lily against her chest.
A minute passed.
Then the door opened.
The man in the photograph stood inside.
He was older than N her chest.
A minute passed.
Then the door opened.
The man in the photograph stood inside.
He was older than Nia had expected. His shoulders were bent, his face deeply lined, and a pale scar rania had expected. His shoulders were bent, his face deeply lined, and a pale scar ran from his left temple toward his ear.
But his eyes were the same ones she from his left temple toward his ear.
But his eyes were the same ones she had seen in the old photograph.
The same shape as hers.
He had seen in the old photograph.
The same shape as hers.
He looked at the officers, then at Nia.
When his gaze fell looked at the officers, then at Nia.
When his gaze fell on the baby, his expression crumpled.
“No,” he whispered.
N on the baby, his expression crumpled.
“No,” he whispered.
Nia stepped forward.
“Are you Michael Reed?””
The man gripped the doorframe.
“Whoia stepped forward.
“Are you Michael Reed?””
The man gripped the doorframe.
“Who told you to come here?””
“My name is Nia Bennett.””
He closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he looked as though he might collapse.
Then he told you to come here?””
“My name is Nia Bennett.””
He closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he looked as though he might collapse.
Then he opened the door wider.
“Come inside.””
The opened the door wider.
“Come inside.””
The house smelled of salt, old wood, and coffee.
Michael led them into a small sitting room filled with books house smelled of salt, old wood, and coffee.
Michael led them into a small sitting room filled with books, medical journals, and photographs turned facedown on a shelf.
He stared at Nia while she sat opposite him, medical journals, and photographs turned facedown on a shelf.
He stared at Nia while she sat opposite him.
“You have Eleanor's eyes,” he said.
Nia's throat tightened.
“You knew her?””
“I loved.
“You have Eleanor's eyes,” he said.
Nia's throat tightened.
“You knew her?””
“I loved her.””
“Were you my father?””
Michael lowered his head.
“Yes.””
The word her.””
“Were you my father?””
Michael lowered his head.
“Yes.””
The word was quiet.
Nia had imagined this moment in a hundred was quiet.
Nia had imagined this moment in a hundred different ways. She had imagined anger, tears, explanations, even indifference.
She different ways. She had imagined anger, tears, explanations, even indifference.
She had never imagined that one word could make her feel both relieved and betrayed.
had never imagined that one word could make her feel both relieved and betrayed.
“Why did you let me grow up believing you were dead?””
Michael's face twisted.
“I didn't know“Why did you let me grow up believing you were dead?””
Michael's face twisted.
“I didn't know where you were.””
“Eleanor said you died in a hospital fire.””
“I where you were.””
“Eleanor said you died in a hospital fire.””
“I was told you and your mother had been moved somewhere was told you and your mother had been moved somewhere safe. When I returned to the hospital, the records said the safe. When I returned to the hospital, the records said the infant had died during delivery.””
Nia went cold.
“What?””
Michael looked at infant had died during delivery.””
Nia went cold.
“What?””
Michael looked at the baby in her arms.
“They told me my the baby in her arms.
“They told me my daughter was dead.””
Nia clutched Lily tighter.
“I wasn't dead.””
“I know that now.””
He reached into a drawer and pulled out a faded daughter was dead.””
Nia clutched Lily tighter.
“I wasn't dead.””
“I know that now.””
He reached into a drawer and pulled out a faded envelope.
Inside were several letters, all addressed to Eleanor.
Every envelope.
Inside were several letters, all addressed to Eleanor.
Every one had been returned unopened.
“I wrote for years,” he said.
“I begged her to tell me one had been returned unopened.
“I wrote for years,” he said.
“I begged her to tell me where you were. Eventually, the letters stopped coming back. I assumed she had where you were.
Eventually, the letters stopped coming back. I assumed she had moved.””
“Why didn't you go to the police?””
“I did. Charles Whitmore was already a moved.””
“Why didn't you go to the police?””
“I did. Charles Whitmore was already a powerful man. He showed them documents claiming I had threatened Eleanor powerful man. He showed them documents claiming I had threatened Eleanor.
Then someone attacked me outside my. Then someone attacked me outside my apartment. I spent three months in the hospital.””
He touched the scar at apartment. I spent three months in the hospital.””
He touched the scar at his temple.
“After that, I was advised to disappear.””
“ his temple.
“After that, I was advised to disappear.””
“By whom?””
“A physician who had worked at the hospital where you were born. HeBy whom?””
“A physician who had worked at the hospital where you were born. He told me the people involved had enough influence to make sure I never saw you told me the people involved had enough influence to make sure I never saw you.””
Nia felt sick.
“Did you know about Ethan?””
Michael nodded slowly.
“He was my son too.””
Nia felt sick.
“Did you know about Ethan?””
Michael nodded slowly.
“He was my son too.””
The room fell silent.
Nia looked at him.
“Then.””
The room fell silent.
Nia looked at him.
“Then why did everyone say Charles was his father?””
“Charles raised him why did everyone say Charles was his father?””
“Charles raised him. He gave him his name. And when Eleanor married Charles, she.
He gave him his name. And when Eleanor married Charles, she believed the secret would remain buried.””
Michael's voice trembled.
believed the secret would remain buried.””
Michael's voice trembled.
“But Ethan found out. He came to see me when he was twenty-one. He wanted“But Ethan found out.
He came to see me when he was twenty-one. He wanted to know why his medical records had been changed.””
“What happened to him?””
Michael looked toward to know why his medical records had been changed.””
“What happened to him?””
Michael looked toward the window.
“He told me he was going to expose the institute. Two weeks later, I the window.
“He told me he was going to expose the institute. Two weeks later, I was informed that he had died.””
“Did you see his was informed that he had died.””
“Did you see his body?””
“No.””
“Did you see a death certificate?””
“Years body?””
“No.””
“Did you see a death certificate?””
“Years later. It carried Charles's authorization.””
Nia remembered the amended death certificate.
The missing later. It carried Charles's authorization.””
Nia remembered the amended death certificate.
The missing files.
The altered genetic reports.
The stolen files.
The altered genetic reports.
The stolen samples.
“Do you know why they wanted Lily?””
Michael's expression changed.
samples.
“Do you know why they wanted Lily?””
Michael's expression changed.
He looked at her daughter for a long moment.
“He looked at her daughter for a long moment.
“Because Ethan was never supposed to have children.””
Nia frowned.
“WhatBecause Ethan was never supposed to have children.””
Nia frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“Charles believed Ethan carried a hereditary condition that would make does that mean?””
“Charles believed Ethan carried a hereditary condition that would make him incapable of fathering a child. When Ethan challenged that diagnosis him incapable of fathering a child. When Ethan challenged that diagnosis, the institute's records became a battlefield.””
Michael stood and walked to the bookshelf.
He, the institute's records became a battlefield.””
Michael stood and walked to the bookshelf.
He took down a thick folder secured with an elastic band.
took down a thick folder secured with an elastic band.
Inside were handwritten notes, laboratory summaries, and a photograph of a young manInside were handwritten notes, laboratory summaries, and a photograph of a young man standing beside Michael.
Ethan.
Nia recognized him from the family photographs she standing beside Michael.
Ethan.
Nia recognized him from the family photographs she had seen at Eleanor's mansion.
Michael pointed to a handwritten notation.
“Ethan had seen at Eleanor's mansion.
Michael pointed to a handwritten notation.
“Ethan's original genetic results showed that the diagnosis was's original genetic results showed that the diagnosis was wrong. Someone had changed the findings. They wanted Charles to believe Ethan was wrong.
Someone had changed the findings. They wanted Charles to believe Ethan was incapable of having biological children.””
“But why?””
Michael turned toward her.
“Because Charles was incapable of having biological children.””
“But why?””
Michael turned toward her.
“Because Charles was afraid that if Ethan had children, the family inheritance would become complicated. Ethan afraid that if Ethan had children, the family inheritance would become complicated. Ethan had discovered that Charles had diverted money from the institute into private accounts. A legitimate heir could have challenged the trust.””
had discovered that Charles had diverted money from the institute into private accounts. A legitimate heir could have challenged the trust.””
Nia's stomach tightened.
“So Lily's existence threatens his financialNia's stomach tightened.
“So Lily's existence threatens his financial scheme.””
“That's part of it.””
Michael hesitated.
“ scheme.””
“That's part of it.””
Michael hesitated.
“There's something else. Ethan was married briefly beforeThere's something else. Ethan was married briefly before he disappeared from public records.
His wife gave birth to a daughter, but the child was taken into he disappeared from public records. His wife gave birth to a daughter, but the child was taken into foster care after the mother died.””
Nia stared at him.
“A daughter?””
Michael nodded.
“Her records were sealed foster care after the mother died.””
Nia stared at him.
“A daughter?””
Michael nodded.
“Her records were sealed. I never learned what happened to her.””
Nia's mouth went dry.
“What was. I never learned what happened to her.””
Nia's mouth went dry.
“What was her name?””
Michael looked at the folder.
“Eleanor told me she called the child Grace.””
her name?””
Michael looked at the folder.
“Eleanor told me she called the child Grace.””
Nia shook her head.
“That doesn't explain Lily.””
“No,” Michael replied.
“But itNia shook her head.
“That doesn't explain Lily.””
“No,” Michael replied.
“But it may explain why Charles is so desperate to control the family records.””
He handed Nia a final page.
It was a photocopy of an old may explain why Charles is so desperate to control the family records.””
He handed Nia a final page.
It was a photocopy of an old birth registration.
The child's name had been blacked out.
But the birth registration.
The child's name had been blacked out.
But the date remained visible.
October 14.
Nia's birthday.
Her hands began to tremble.
Michael looked at her with tears date remained visible.
October 14.
Nia's birthday.
Her hands began to tremble.
Michael looked at her with tears in his eyes.
“Nia, there's a possibility that the adoption you were told about in his eyes.
“Nia, there's a possibility that the adoption you were told about wasn't the adoption that actually happened.””
Before she could ask what he meant, headlights swept across the front windows.
wasn't the adoption that actually happened.””
Before she could ask what he meant, headlights swept across the front windows.
A car had stopped outside the house.
Michael's face drainedA car had stopped outside the house.
Michael's face drained of color.
He hurried to the curtain and peered through a narrow gap.
“Oh, God.””
“What is it?”” Brooks demanded.
Michael turned toward Nia.
“Charles has found us.””
And then someone knocked on the front door.
Three slow, deliberate knocks.
Followed by a voice Nia recognized immediately of color.
He hurried to the curtain and peered through a narrow gap.
“Oh, God.””
“What is it?”” Brooks demanded.
Michael turned toward Nia.
“Charles has found us.””
And then someone knocked on the front door.
Three slow, deliberate knocks.
Followed by a voice Nia recognized immediately.
“Michael, open the door. It's time we finished what we started.””
Charles Whitmore had arrived.
And he was carrying a document with Nia's name on it.
.
“Michael, open the door. It's time we finished what we started.””
May you like
Charles Whitmore had arrived.
And he was carrying a document with Nia's name on it.
