Chapter 5: The Second Child
The door swung open.
A man stood in the hallway.
Black.
Tall.
Early sixties.
Gray beard.
Dark suit.
He held a folded newspaper beneath one arm.
Daniel stared at him.
The man's eyes moved from Daniel to Evelyn.
Then to Ava.
His expression didn't change.
But his hand tightened around the newspaper.
“Daniel Carter,” he said.
Daniel stepped into the doorway.
“Who are you?””
The man smiled faintly.
“My name is Walter Brooks.””
Evelyn gasped.
“Walter.””
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“You know him?””
She whispered, “My husband.””
Leah felt the pieces shift.
“You said Evelyn was protecting them.””
Walter looked at Leah.
“Evelyn has always had a habit of believing she can fix things.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“You promised you weren't coming here.””
Walter ignored her.
His gaze returned to Ava.
“So that's the girl.””
Daniel's voice hardened.
“Don't look at her.””
Walter raised both hands.
“I didn't come to hurt anyone.””
“Then why are you here?””
“Because you opened a door that was supposed to stay closed.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“What door?””
Walter looked at the photograph on the table.
“The past.””
Ava stepped beside Leah.
Walter noticed.
“You have her mother's eyes.””
Ava stared at him.
“Did you take my brother?””
Walter's expression flickered.
“No.””
“Then who did?””
Walter looked at Daniel.
“Your mother.””
Daniel's fists clenched.
“She died.””
“I know.””
“Then tell me where my brother is.””
Walter remained silent.
Leah stepped forward.
“An eight-year-old girl has been carrying this secret for years. You know something. So stop protecting dead people.””
Walter looked at her.
“You don't understand what you're asking.””
“I understand that a child deserves the truth.””
Walter sighed.
“Her brother wasn't supposed to survive.””
Ava's face went pale.
“But he did.””
Walter looked at her.
“Yes.””
Daniel's breathing stopped.
“You know where he is?””
“I know where he was.””
“Where?””
Walter hesitated.
Then he reached into his jacket.
Daniel immediately stepped between him and Ava.
Walter pulled out a photograph.
He placed it on the table.
It showed a little Black boy, maybe seven years old, standing beside a Christmas tree.
He had the same eyes as Ava.
The same small crease above his left eyebrow.
Leah picked up the photograph.
“This is him.””
Ava whispered, “That's my brother.””
Daniel stared at the boy.
His eyes filled with tears.
“What is his name?””
Walter answered quietly.
“Eli.””
Ava touched the photograph.
“Eli.””
Daniel looked at Walter.
“Where is he?””
Walter didn't answer.
“Where is my son?””
Walter finally said, “I don't know.””
Daniel slammed his hand onto the table.
“You just showed me a picture of him!””
“Because I wanted you to know he existed.””
“You knew!””
“Yes.””
“For eight years?””
Walter looked away.
“Yes.””
Leah stared at him.
“Why?””
Walter's face hardened.
“Because keeping one child hidden was easier than explaining two.””
Evelyn began crying.
Daniel turned toward her.
“You knew too.””
“I knew about Eli,” she said.
“You knew he was alive?””
“Yes.””
“And you let me believe both my children were dead?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“From what?””
Evelyn looked at Walter.
“From your family.””
Daniel stared at her.
“My family?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Your mother was involved in something much bigger than the hospital.””
“What?””
“She was taking children.””
Silence.
Leah's eyes widened.
“Why?””
Walter answered.
“Money.””
Daniel shook his head.
“My mother wasn't a criminal.””
Walter looked directly at him.
“You don't know the woman she was.””
He placed another document on the table.
Daniel unfolded it.
It was a list.
Names.
Birth dates.
Hospital records.
Payments.
At the bottom were two names circled in red.
*Ava Carter.*
*Eli Carter.*
Daniel's knees nearly buckled.
Leah caught his shoulder.
“This can't be real.””
Walter said nothing.
Daniel stared at the list.
“Who paid her?””
Walter's silence was answer enough.
“Who?””
Walter finally looked at Ava.
“A private adoption network.””
Leah's stomach turned.
“You're saying someone bought my children?””
Walter nodded.
“Eli was taken first.””
“And Ava?””
“Renee got her out.””
Daniel looked toward Evelyn.
“Why didn't Renee come to me?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“She tried.””
“When?””
“Three times.””
“Why didn't I know?””
Walter slowly answered.
“Because every message she sent was intercepted.””
Daniel stared at him.
“By who?””
Walter looked at the door.
“Someone very close to you.””
Ava suddenly spoke.
“My mom knew.””
Everyone turned.
Ava reached into the wooden box.
She pulled out a folded letter.
“This was for Daddy.””
Daniel took it.
His fingers shook as he opened it.
Renee's handwriting covered the page.
Daniel read silently.
His face changed with every line.
Leah watched him.
“What does it say?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Ava whispered, “Read it.””
Daniel finally spoke.
“She says Eli is still alive.””
Leah's heart jumped.
“Where?””
Daniel continued reading.
Then his expression went blank.
“What's wrong?”” Leah asked.
He looked up.
“She says she knows who has him.””
“Who?””
Daniel looked at the final line.
His voice broke.
“She says it's someone I've trusted my entire life.””
At that exact moment, Daniel's phone rang.
The screen showed one name.
His face went white.
Leah saw it.
“Who is calling?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Ava looked at the phone.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“That's the name on the photograph.””
