Chapter 8: The Last Secret of Thomas Carter
Naomi couldn't stop shaking.
I pulled a chair toward her.
"Tell me exactly what Adrian said.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"About six months ago, Adrian showed me some old medical records. He said Thomas Carter had been involved in an investigation against Robert Mitchell.""
"That's true.""
"He also said Thomas had tried to expose the Mitchell family before he died.""
I waited.
"Then he showed me a letter.""
"What letter?""
"One supposedly written by Thomas to my mother. It said he was afraid someone would hurt him.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you keep it?""
"No. Adrian took it back.""
"Did he say how Thomas died?""
Naomi nodded.
"He said it was a heart attack.""
I stared at her.
"And you believed him?""
"He had the hospital records.""
"People can fake records.""
"I know that now.""
She stood and walked to the kitchen.
Her hands shook as she poured water into a glass.
"Ethan, I need you to understand something. Adrian didn't just give me a job. He paid for my research, introduced me to people who could advance my career, and promised to help me establish my own laboratory.""
"Using my company's money.""
She lowered the glass.
"I didn't know.""
"You knew enough to sign those agreements.""
"I was afraid of losing everything.""
I looked at her.
"You were afraid of losing your career. I lost my father's company.""
She closed her eyes.
"I know.""
"No, Naomi. You don't.""
I stood.
For a moment, I wanted to say everything I had held inside since graduation.
But I was tired.
Tired of explaining the difference between loving someone and using them.
I reached for the door.
"Ethan, wait.""
I turned.
She was holding something.
A small silver USB drive.
"Adrian gave me this two months ago.""
"What is it?""
"He told me to keep it somewhere safe. He said it contained the original research files.""
I took it.
"Have you opened it?""
"No.""
"Why are you giving it to me?""
Her eyes filled again.
"Because I think it contains something he doesn't want anyone to see.""
I slipped it into my pocket.
"Thank you.""
She stepped closer.
"Can I come with you tomorrow?""
I studied her face.
"To the hearing?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because I want to tell the truth.""
I nodded slowly.
"Then tell it.""
At 9:30 that night, Mr. Bennett called.
"Ethan, where are you?""
"Driving home.""
"Come to my office. Now.""
His voice was urgent.
I turned the car around.
When I arrived, Victoria Hayes was already there.
She had brought her laptop.
Mr. Bennett pointed to the USB drive.
"Is that the device Naomi gave you?""
"Yes.""
Victoria connected it to her computer.
A folder appeared.
There were dozens of files, most of them research documents.
Then she opened a folder titled PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.
The first file was an audio recording.
Adrian's voice filled the office.
"Thomas was becoming a problem. Robert wanted the matter settled before he went to the authorities.""
A second voice answered.
Daniel Price.
"What about Eleanor?""
Adrian replied.
"She won't say anything. She's already been warned.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
Victoria paused the recording.
"Do you recognize the second voice?""
"Yes.""
"Daniel?""
"Yes.""
Mr. Bennett leaned forward.
"Continue.""
Victoria pressed play.
Daniel's voice returned.
"What if Thomas refuses to cooperate?""
Adrian laughed.
"Then we use the same method Robert used with Eleanor.""
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
I looked at Victoria.
"Can we use this?""
"Not without verifying the recording's origin and authenticity. But it's significant evidence.""
Mr. Bennett stood.
"Send a copy to the authorities. We also need a forensic examination.""
Victoria nodded.
She opened another file.
This time it was a scanned medical report.
Thomas Carter.
Date of death: November 18.
Cause: Cardiac arrest.
But there was a handwritten note beneath the doctor's signature.
*Patient presented with unexplained toxic exposure. Further investigation recommended.*
Mr. Bennett leaned closer.
"That was never included in the final report.""
Victoria opened the next document.
An internal Northstar email.
*Subject: Thomas Carter — Medical File*
The sender was Daniel Price.
The recipient was Robert Mitchell.
The message contained only two lines.
*The original report has been removed from the hospital archive. No further action is required.*
My hands curled into fists.
"Daniel helped cover up my father's death.""
Victoria shook her head.
"We can't conclude that yet.""
"Then what do you call this?""
"A reason to investigate.""
Mr. Bennett picked up the phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
Before he could dial, the office door opened.
A young woman entered.
She looked around thirty, with dark hair and a leather folder under her arm.
"Mr. Reed?""
"Who are you?""
"My name is Claire Morgan. I'm a journalist with the Metropolitan Ledger.""
Mr. Bennett immediately stepped forward.
"This is a private office.""
"I know. I'm sorry to arrive unannounced.""
She placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed Robert Mitchell standing outside a hospital.
Beside him was Daniel Price.
And in the background, partly obscured by a doorway, stood my father.
"When was this taken?"" I asked.
"November 18, twenty years ago. The day Thomas Carter died.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Why are you showing me this?""
Claire opened her folder.
"Because I've been investigating the Mitchell family's medical research foundation for eight months. Two former employees disappeared after reporting financial irregularities.""
"Disappeared?""
"One moved overseas under suspicious circumstances. The other died in what police called a workplace accident.""
Mr. Bennett crossed his arms.
"What does this have to do with Ethan?""
Claire looked directly at me.
"Your father contacted my editor shortly before his death.""
I froze.
"What?""
"He wanted to publish documents proving Robert Mitchell had manipulated the original patent agreement and concealed evidence surrounding Thomas Carter's death.""
"Did he give your editor the documents?""
"No. He said he would deliver them personally.""
"Why didn't he?""
Claire lowered her eyes.
"Because he died three days later.""
I sat down.
My father had been preparing to expose the truth.
And someone had stopped him.
Claire placed another photograph on the desk.
It showed my father leaving a restaurant.
A woman walked beside him.
I recognized her immediately.
Evelyn Carter.
"Your father met Evelyn two days before he died," Claire said.
I looked at Victoria.
She seemed just as surprised.
"Why?"" I asked.
Claire hesitated.
"Because Evelyn had discovered that Thomas Carter wasn't Adrian's biological father.""
The room went silent.
I looked at the journalist.
"Who was?""
Claire opened the final page of her folder.
A DNA report.
The biological father listed for Adrian Mitchell was Robert Mitchell.
But there was another name in the document.
The biological mother was Eleanor Reed.
I exhaled.
"That's what we already know.""
Claire shook her head.
"No. You don't.""
She turned the page.
A second DNA comparison had been performed.
It showed that Adrian and Ethan shared the same mother.
But it also revealed something else.
The sample labeled E. Reed did not belong to the woman who had raised me.
It belonged to another individual.
I looked at Claire.
"Who is E. Reed?""
She answered quietly.
"Your father's younger sister.""
I stared at the report.
"My aunt?""
Claire nodded.
"According to these results, Adrian was not your mother's biological son.""
I felt the room tilt.
"Then who was his mother?""
Claire looked at me.
"Your aunt Eleanor Reed.""
I shook my head.
"My mother's name was Eleanor.""
"Exactly.""
For the first time, I understood why my father's letter had been so carefully worded.
There had been two women with the same name.
And someone had deliberately confused their identities.
Before I could ask another question, Claire's phone rang.
She answered.
Listened.
Then slowly lowered it.
"What happened?"" I asked.
She looked at me.
"Robert Mitchell's estate manager just contacted me.""
"Why?""
"Because Robert died this morning.""
I stared.
Claire continued.
"Before he died, he left instructions for a private message to be delivered to you.""
She handed me a sealed envelope.
My name was written across it.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
I opened it.
Inside was a single sentence.
*Ethan, if you want to know who really raised Adrian, ask Daniel why he changed the hospital records.*
I looked at the date on the envelope.
It had been prepared three weeks earlier.
Robert Mitchell had known he was dying.
And he had known I would eventually find out.
At 11:46 p.m., my phone rang again.
Naomi.
I answered.
"Ethan?""
"What's wrong?""
She was crying.
"Adrian is gone.""
"What do you mean?""
"He's not at the hotel. His apartment is empty. His office is locked.""
"Call the police.""
"I did.""
Her voice broke.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
"He left me a note.""
I closed my eyes.
"What does it say?""
May you like
Naomi whispered the words.
*Tell Ethan that Thomas Carter never had a son.*
