Chapter 14: The Truth About Thomas
The news of Robert's arrest should have felt like justice.
Instead, it made everything more complicated.
Detective Shaw received the official report while we were still inside my childhood home's basement.
Thomas Reed.
My biological father.
The man whose name I had only recently learned.
The man whose money had funded the trust.
The man Robert had supposedly killed in a construction accident.
According to the police report, Robert had been arrested after investigators uncovered evidence that Thomas's death certificate had been falsified.
But the medical examiner had discovered something else.
Thomas's body had never been buried where the family believed.
The coffin at the funeral had contained someone else.
"Who?"" I asked.
Rebecca closed the report.
"We don't know yet.""
I stared at her.
"How can someone be buried under the wrong name?""
"Because the original identification records were altered.""
Daniel sat on the basement steps.
"This family is sick.""
I looked at him.
"You were part of it.""
He lowered his head.
"I know.""
Rebecca received another call.
She listened, then walked toward the stairs.
When she returned, her expression was grim.
"Robert is refusing to speak.""
"Then what do we do?""
"We keep investigating. But Vanessa's location is still our immediate priority.""
I took out my phone.
She had sent another message.
*Midnight. Old river property. Come alone. If you bring the police, Thomas disappears.*
I showed Rebecca.
She read it twice.
"She's threatening your son.""
"I know.""
"We'll organize a controlled approach.""
I shook my head.
"She'll see the officers.""
"We're not going to let you walk into a dangerous situation without support.""
I looked at the photograph of Vanessa and Sarah.
Something about it bothered me.
Sarah's expression.
She wasn't smiling.
She was staring at the camera with a look of warning.
I turned the photograph over again.
The handwriting beneath the original message was almost invisible.
I tilted it toward the basement light.
There was another sentence.
Ask Vanessa who signed the birth certificate.
I looked at Daniel.
"Did Vanessa ever marry?""
He frowned.
"Not that I know of.""
"Was she legally registered as Thomas's mother?""
"I don't know.""
I called the medical center again.
This time, I requested the original birth certificate information through the detective.
A few minutes later, Rebecca received a secure copy.
She studied it.
Then she looked at me.
"Marcus, the boy's birth certificate lists you as the father.""
I swallowed.
"And the mother?""
Rebecca hesitated.
"Sarah.""
I frowned.
"Then why did Vanessa say she was raising him?""
"Because she was listed as the temporary guardian.""
"Who authorized that?""
Rebecca turned the page.
The guardian's signature belonged to Margaret Cole.
Again.
My mother had arranged another transfer.
But the document contained an additional witness signature.
Victor Hale.
I looked toward Daniel.
"Your mother and Victor were working together.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"That's what it looks like.""
I examined the date.
It was four years old.
The transfer had occurred three days after Sarah's supposed death.
There was a medical note attached.
Infant requires ongoing treatment for congenital cardiac condition.
I read it again.
My son had been born with a heart condition.
I felt my throat tighten.
"Was he treated?""
Rebecca nodded.
"The records show multiple surgeries and follow-up appointments.""
"Who paid?""
"Funds from Thomas Reed's trust.""
I sat down.
So Robert hadn't simply hidden my son.
He had controlled every aspect of his life.
And Vanessa had been part of the arrangement.
I thought about the way she had spoken to Lily at the wedding.
The way she had called her a liar.
The way she had told me she loved me.
Perhaps she had never wanted me.
Perhaps she had wanted the trust, the money, and the child.
But why had she kept Thomas?
Why hadn't she simply abandoned him?
At 11:40 p.m., Rebecca and her team began preparing the operation.
I was given a small microphone and instructed to keep my phone connected.
Daniel insisted on accompanying us.
"You're not going," I told him.
"Marcus, I know Vanessa better than you do.""
"That's exactly why I don't trust you.""
He looked at me.
"I deserve that.""
I turned away.
Then he spoke again.
"Sarah told me something before she disappeared.""
I stopped.
"What?""
"She said Vanessa had once saved Thomas's life.""
I looked at him.
"How?""
"He had a cardiac emergency when he was a baby. Vanessa was the one who found him and called the ambulance.""
I frowned.
"Why would she do that if she wanted the trust?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know. Maybe she loved him.""
That possibility unsettled me.
Not every action in this story could be explained by greed.
Some people had made terrible decisions while believing they were protecting someone.
But the damage remained.
At midnight, we arrived at the river property.
The house was dark.
A single light glowed upstairs.
Rebecca positioned officers around the building.
I walked toward the front door.
"Marcus," she whispered through the earpiece.
"Remember, stay calm.""
I knocked.
The door opened.
Vanessa stood there.
She was holding a little boy.
He had dark hair and a small scar above his eyebrow.
Thomas.
My son.
He looked at me with cautious eyes.
"Who are you?"" he asked.
I crouched.
"I'm Marcus.""
Vanessa tightened her arms around him.
"He's tired.""
"Let me hold him.""
"Not yet.""
I looked at her.
"Why did you lie to me?""
She swallowed.
"Because Robert told me what would happen if I didn't.""
"You're an adult. You could have walked away.""
"Not with him.""
She looked down at Thomas.
"When he was born, he couldn't breathe properly. The doctors said he might not survive the first week. I stayed at the hospital every night.""
Her voice cracked.
"I was there when he had his first surgery. I was there when he learned to walk. I was there when he called me Mommy.""
I stared at her.
"You let me believe you were pregnant.""
"I was supposed to carry him.""
"But Sarah did.""
Vanessa nodded.
"Sarah found out about the embryo transfer. She changed everything.""
I looked at Thomas.
He was playing with the collar of her sweater.
"Why did you keep him from me?""
"Because Robert said you'd take him away.""
"He's my son.""
"He's also the only person who ever loved me without asking for anything.""
I felt a strange mixture of anger and pity.
Then I noticed something.
Thomas was wearing a hospital bracelet.
The same type shown in the photograph.
I looked closer.
There was a number written on it.
A medical identification number.
I remembered the birth records.
The original file had been altered.
"Vanessa, where did you get that bracelet?""
Her face changed.
"Why?""
"Who gave it to you?""
She looked toward the staircase.
Then a familiar voice came from upstairs.
"Because I did.""
Sarah appeared at the top of the stairs.
Alive.
Her face was thinner than I remembered, but her eyes were the same.
I couldn't breathe.
"Sarah.""
She looked at me.
"Marcus.""
I took one step toward her.
Then stopped.
For four years, I had dreamed about this moment.
Now that it was happening, I didn't know whether to embrace her or ask her why she had abandoned us.
Sarah descended slowly.
"I know you hate me.""
"I don't hate you.""
My voice broke.
"I don't know what I feel.""
She nodded.
"I understand.""
I looked at Thomas.
"Is he mine?""
Sarah nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why did you let Vanessa raise him?""
"Because she was the only person Robert couldn't easily control through money.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"That's not why you chose me.""
Sarah looked at her.
"No. It wasn't.""
Then she turned toward me.
"Marcus, there's something I need to tell you before you decide whether you can ever forgive me.""
I swallowed.
"What?""
Sarah looked down at Thomas.
"Robert didn't arrange the embryo transfer.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Sarah's eyes filled.
"I did.""
The room went silent.
She continued.
"I knew I was going to die. I knew you would never agree to another pregnancy while I was sick. So I made a decision without telling you.""
I stared at her.
"You arranged for our son to be created?""
She nodded.
"And I used Vanessa's help because she worked at the clinic.""
I looked toward Vanessa.
She lowered her head.
Sarah continued.
"But I didn't know she had made a separate arrangement with Robert.""
I felt dizzy.
"So everyone was using everyone.""
Sarah nodded.
"Yes.""
Then she whispered:
"And the baby Robert believed was Thomas wasn't the child he was looking for.""
I stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
Sarah reached into her pocket and removed a small photograph.
It showed two newborn boys.
Identical.
My blood ran cold.
"There were twins, Marcus.""
She looked at me.
"One is Thomas. The other is the child Robert has been searching for.""
I looked at Vanessa.
Her face had gone white.
Then the front door slammed.
An officer shouted.
"Police! Nobody move!""
Vanessa suddenly grabbed Thomas and ran toward the back exit.
Sarah screamed.
"Vanessa, no!""
I started after them.
But Sarah grabbed my arm.
"Marcus, stop!""
I turned.
She was crying.
"The second boy is already in danger.""
"Where is he?""
May you like
Sarah looked directly into my eyes.
"With your mother.""
