Chapter 9: The Brother Who Never Existed
By seven the following morning, the story had spread across every major business news website.
ROBERT MITCHELL DEAD AT 72.
STERLING INDUSTRIAL GROUP FACES QUESTIONS OVER HISTORICAL PATENT CLAIMS.
NORTHSTAR EXECUTIVE ADRIAN MITCHELL MISSING.
I sat in Mr. Bennett's office, watching the headlines scroll across his computer.
The acquisition hearing was scheduled for ten.
But Adrian's disappearance had changed everything.
Naomi arrived shortly after eight.
She looked exhausted.
Her hair was tied loosely behind her head, and she wore the same sweater from the night before.
She placed her phone on the desk.
"Police searched Adrian's apartment.""
"And?""
"Nothing. His passport is missing. So are several company files.""
Mr. Bennett folded his hands.
"Did you know he planned to leave?""
"No.""
"Did he contact you?""
She shook her head.
I watched her carefully.
"Naomi, did Adrian ever tell you why he chose you?""
She frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"Why you? Out of everyone he could have hired, why did he specifically approach you?""
She looked down.
"He said my research was exceptional.""
"Was that before or after he discovered your family connection to Thomas Carter?""
Her expression changed.
"I don't know.""
"Think.""
She rubbed her forehead.
"About three years ago, he asked me to bring him some old family photographs. He said he was preparing a documentary about the original medical research project.""
"Did you?""
"Yes.""
"Did you give him anything from your mother's house?""
She hesitated.
"One photograph.""
"What photograph?""
"A picture of my father with your mother.""
I looked at Mr. Bennett.
"Where is it now?""
"I don't know.""
Naomi took a breath.
"Adrian said Thomas had left behind a secret. He believed the secret involved a child who had been removed from the original family records.""
I stared at her.
"Did he say which child?""
She shook her head.
"No. But he told me something strange.""
"What?""
"He said he had spent his entire life looking for his real family.""
I leaned back.
"His real family?""
"Yes.""
I thought about the DNA report Claire had shown us.
The conflicting names.
The altered hospital records.
The two women named Eleanor.
Something wasn't right.
Mr. Bennett stood.
"I think we need to locate Daniel Price.""
Daniel's office was in a glass building in the financial district.
His assistant initially refused to let us in.
"Mr. Price is unavailable.""
Mr. Bennett placed a legal notice on the desk.
"Then he'll have to become available.""
Ten minutes later, Daniel appeared.
He looked irritated.
"Ethan. I heard about Robert.""
I stepped into his office.
"Where is Adrian?""
Daniel frowned.
"How would I know?""
"Because you've been working with him.""
Daniel walked behind his desk.
"I haven't spoken to Adrian in weeks.""
"That's interesting. His private recordings suggest otherwise.""
For the first time, Daniel looked genuinely alarmed.
"What recordings?""
I placed a transcript on his desk.
His eyes moved over the first paragraph.
Then he pushed it away.
"Those are fabricated.""
"Are they?""
"Anyone can create a recording.""
"Then you'll have no problem explaining it to the police.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
Mr. Bennett stepped forward.
"We also have questions about Thomas Carter's medical records.""
Daniel sat down.
"Thomas died of natural causes.""
"Then why was his original medical report altered?""
"I don't know.""
I leaned across the desk.
"Why did you tell me my father was trying to protect the company from me?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Because I believed it.""
"Did you know about the forged authorization?""
He said nothing.
"Did you know my mother's signature was fake?""
Still nothing.
Then I placed the hospital photograph on the desk.
It showed Robert Mitchell and Daniel outside the hospital twenty years earlier.
Daniel stared at it.
"Where did you get that?""
"Claire Morgan.""
He looked toward the window.
"She shouldn't have that.""
"Why?""
He didn't answer.
I lowered my voice.
"Daniel, who was Adrian's mother?""
He slowly looked up.
"His mother?""
"Yes.""
Daniel's expression became unreadable.
"Robert's wife.""
"That's what the records say.""
"Then why are you asking?""
"Because the DNA report says something different.""
His face drained of color.
I knew then that he recognized the document.
"Tell me the truth.""
Daniel stood.
"You have no idea what you're getting involved in.""
"Then explain it.""
He walked to the office door and locked it.
When he turned around, his voice was barely audible.
"Adrian Mitchell was never Robert's biological son.""
I stared.
"Who was his father?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Thomas Carter.""
The room went silent.
I remembered Naomi's words.
Tell Ethan that Thomas Carter never had a son.
But according to Daniel, he had.
I took a breath.
"Then why did Robert claim Adrian was his?""
"Because Robert wanted to control him.""
"How?""
"Thomas and Robert had a complicated arrangement. Thomas was married to Evelyn, but he had a relationship with Eleanor Reed.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Which Eleanor?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Your father's sister.""
I stared at him.
"You're saying Adrian and I aren't half-brothers?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No. Adrian was born to your aunt. Thomas was his biological father. Robert adopted him and raised him as his own.""
I tried to process it.
"Then why did my mother appear in the hospital photograph?""
"Because she helped arrange the adoption.""
I looked at Mr. Bennett.
He seemed equally stunned.
Daniel continued.
"Your father wanted to protect his sister. She had become involved with Thomas while he was still married to Evelyn. When Adrian was born, Robert agreed to raise the child if the family kept the truth hidden.""
I lowered my head.
"So my father knew?""
"Yes.""
"Did Thomas know?""
"Yes.""
"Did Evelyn know?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Eventually.""
I turned toward the door.
"Then why did everyone lie?""
Daniel's voice cracked.
"Because the truth would have destroyed three families.""
I faced him again.
"Three families have already been destroyed.""
He looked down.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he opened a drawer and removed a small black notebook.
"Your father gave me this shortly before he died.""
I stared.
"You told me you had nothing from him.""
"I lied.""
"What's inside?""
"Names. Dates. Financial transfers. Everything Robert did to secure control of the patent.""
I reached for it.
Daniel held it back.
"There's one condition.""
I stared at him.
"You're in no position to negotiate.""
"I want protection. If I testify, Robert's associates will come after me.""
"Robert is dead.""
"His family isn't.""
I took a step closer.
"Then tell me where Adrian is.""
Daniel looked at me.
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
He shook his head.
"I helped him leave the country.""
My hands tightened.
"When?""
"Last night.""
I stepped toward him.
"Where did you send him?""
Daniel looked frightened now.
"He said he was going to find the original hospital records.""
"Why?""
"Because the person listed as his mother in those records isn't your aunt.""
I froze.
"Then who is it?""
Daniel opened the notebook.
He turned to the last page.
A handwritten name appeared.
*Evelyn Carter.*
I stared.
"You're saying Naomi's mother gave birth to Adrian?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Then why did the DNA report identify my aunt?""
"Because the samples were switched.""
"By whom?""
Daniel closed the notebook.
"Adrian.""
I stared at him.
The man had manipulated the records, the acquisition, and possibly the entire family history.
But why would he want everyone to believe he was my aunt's son?
Daniel answered before I could ask.
"Because if Adrian was Thomas Carter's legitimate biological son, he could claim a share of the original patent under the old family agreement.""
I shook my head.
"But if Evelyn was his mother, he was Thomas's son anyway.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Not legally.""
I frowned.
"Explain.""
"Thomas and Evelyn's marriage had been annulled before Adrian was conceived. The original patent agreement included a succession clause protecting only children born within the legal family line.""
I understood.
Adrian needed to prove he was the legitimate heir.
He needed the company.
And he needed my signature to make the transfer appear voluntary.
I reached for the notebook.
This time, Daniel let go.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Claire Morgan.
*Ethan, I found the original hospital administrator. She has agreed to speak with us.*
A second message followed.
*But she insists you come alone.*
I showed Mr. Bennett.
He shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
I typed a reply.
*Where?*
Claire responded immediately.
*St. Mary's Hospital. Old records department. Noon.*
Then another message appeared.
*One more thing. The administrator says your father visited her the night Adrian was born.*
I stared at the screen.
My father had known the truth from the beginning.
And according to Daniel, he had helped arrange the adoption.
I looked at the notebook in my hands.
There was one final page, folded beneath the back cover.
I opened it.
My father's handwriting appeared.
*Ethan, if Adrian ever returns, remember this: he is not the person you should fear most.*
Below it was a name.
*Naomi Carter.*
I looked up.
Naomi was standing in the doorway.
She had arrived without us hearing her.
Her face was pale.
"Why did your father write my name?"" she whispered.
Nobody answered.
Then she placed a document on the desk.
It was a hospital birth certificate.
Her birth certificate.
And the father's name wasn't Thomas Carter.
It wasn't Robert Mitchell.
It wasn't anyone from the family we had spent the last three days investigating.
It was my father's name.
*Edward Reed.*
My father.
Naomi looked at me through tears.
"Ethan, I think we've been asking the wrong question all along.""
She turned the certificate toward me.
"Your father didn't just leave me his company.""
May you like
She swallowed.
"He was my biological father, too.""
