Chapter 8: The Name on the Bracelet
Marcus picked up the phone.
“Who is this?””
The woman didn't answer immediately.
He could hear breathing on the other end.
Slow.
Uneven.
Then she said, “My name is Renee.””
Marcus looked at Arthur.
Arthur had backed against the wall.
“Renee what?””
“Renee Carter.””
Lorraine gasped.
Marcus turned.
“You know her?””
Lorraine's face had gone pale.
“She was my daughter.””
Marcus stared.
“What?””
Renee's voice came through the phone.
“Mom?””
Lorraine stepped forward.
“Renee?””
A long silence followed.
Then Renee laughed softly.
“I knew you'd be there.””
Lorraine covered her mouth.
Marcus looked at the Dean.
“This is insane.””
Renee spoke again.
“I've spent years trying to tell you.””
Marcus tightened his grip on the phone.
“Tell me what?””
“That you're not the only one who was lied to.””
Arthur whispered, “Renee, stop.””
She ignored him.
“Your grandfather told my mother the baby was unwanted.””
Lorraine shook her head.
“He told me the child had been abandoned.””
Renee continued.
“He gave me the baby.””
Marcus's heart pounded.
“You raised the third child?””
“Yes.””
“Where is he?””
Renee hesitated.
“He's here.””
Marcus stopped.
“Here?””
“In the city.””
Daniel looked around the hall.
Marcus's voice cracked.
“What's his name?””
Renee went silent.
Arthur stepped forward.
“Marcus, don't.””
Marcus turned on him.
“You don't get to stop this.””
He returned the phone to his ear.
“What's his name?””
Renee whispered:
“Elias.””
Marcus repeated it.
“Elias.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Do you know him?””
“No.””
Renee said, “You do.””
Marcus froze.
“What?””
“You've known him for years.””
The phone nearly slipped from Marcus's hand.
“What are you talking about?””
Renee's breathing became shaky.
“Elias is one of the reasons your father worked at the university.””
Arthur closed his eyes.
Marcus looked at him.
“Dad?””
Arthur didn't answer.
Renee continued.
“He has been watching over you.””
Marcus's voice dropped.
“Why?””
“Because Arthur asked him to.””
Marcus felt sick.
“You've known me?””
A different voice suddenly came through the phone.
A man's voice.
Young.
Calm.
“Marcus?””
Marcus stopped breathing.
He knew that voice.
Not personally.
But he'd heard it.
Many times.
At the university.
In the library.
In the student center.
On campus.
Marcus's eyes widened.
“No.””
The voice continued.
“It's me.””
Marcus whispered, “Elias?””
“Yes.””
Daniel looked confused.
“Who is Elias?””
Marcus couldn't answer.
The voice said, “We met freshman year.””
Marcus's mind raced.
A face appeared in his memory.
A quiet Black student who had helped him find a classroom during orientation.
A guy who had shared notes with him during sophomore year.
A stranger who had once repaired Marcus's laptop charger in the library.
A friend Marcus had never really known.
Marcus whispered, “You…”
Elias laughed nervously.
“I know.””
Arthur moved toward him.
“Give me the phone.””
Marcus pulled away.
“You knew?””
Arthur nodded.
“How long?””
“Since you were eighteen.””
Marcus stared.
“Since I was eighteen?””
Arthur's voice broke.
“He found me.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
Arthur looked at the floor.
“That you'd stop seeing him as your friend.””
Marcus looked at the phone.
“Elias, do you know who you are?””
“Yes.””
“Do you know who I am?””
“Yes.””
“You're my brother.””
Silence.
Then Elias whispered:
“Yes.””
Marcus sat down.
His legs no longer felt strong enough to hold him.
Daniel lowered himself into the chair beside him.
“So now there are three of us.””
Marcus nodded.
Evelyn approached slowly.
“Can I speak to him?””
Marcus handed her the phone.
Evelyn held it with both hands.
“Elias?””
The voice on the other end broke.
“Mom?””
Evelyn collapsed into tears.
Marcus looked away.
Daniel stared at the floor.
Arthur stood alone.
For the first time, Marcus saw how old his father really looked.
Not late fifties.
Older.
As though every secret had added another year to his face.
Marcus walked toward him.
“You knew about Elias.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about Daniel.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Mom was alive.””
Arthur nodded.
“Yes.””
Marcus's voice shook.
“What didn't you know?””
Arthur looked at him.
“The truth about the night you were born.””
Marcus frowned.
“What do you mean?””
Arthur reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a tiny plastic bag.
Inside was a hospital bracelet.
Marcus stared at it.
The bracelet was yellowed with age.
There was a name written across it.
*Baby C.*
Below that was a number.
Marcus looked at Arthur.
“Where did you get this?””
“I found it six months ago.””
“Where?””
Arthur hesitated.
“At Calvin's house.””
Marcus stared.
“My grandfather kept it?””
Arthur nodded.
“Inside a locked box.””
Daniel took the bracelet.
He turned it over.
There was writing on the back.
A date.
A time.
And one word.
*Elias.*
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“That proves he was Baby C.””
Arthur nodded.
“But it also proves something else.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What?””
Arthur's eyes filled with tears.
“I wasn't the one who took Elias.””
Marcus frowned.
“Then who did?””
Arthur looked toward Lorraine.
Lorraine was crying.
Marcus followed his gaze.
“Mom?””
Lorraine shook her head.
“No.””
Arthur whispered:
“She was.””
Everyone turned toward Evelyn.
Evelyn's face went white.
“I don't remember.””
Arthur stepped closer.
“You signed the transfer.””
“I told you, I couldn't.””
“You could.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.””
Arthur reached into his pocket and pulled out a final photograph.
It showed Evelyn in a hospital bed.
Awake.
Holding a newborn baby.
Marcus stared at the photograph.
Evelyn was smiling.
And in her arms was Elias.
Marcus looked at her.
“You remember now?””
Evelyn stared at the picture.
Her face slowly changed.
“I…”
She touched her forehead.
“I remember the baby.””
Arthur whispered, “What happened next?””
Evelyn's eyes widened.
Then she looked directly at Marcus.
“I gave him to someone.””
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“Who?””
Evelyn's lips trembled.
“I don't know.””
Then the phone in Marcus's hand buzzed.
A text message appeared from Elias.
*Ask your father why my hospital bracelet was found in Calvin's safe.*
Marcus looked at Arthur.
May you like
Arthur saw the message.
And for the first time, he looked genuinely terrified.
