Chapter 5: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Sarah stared at the glowing screen.
No one moved.
Daniel came up behind her.
“Mom?””
She couldn't answer.
The message remained on the screen.
*ASK ROBERT WHY HE TOLD EVERYONE YOU WERE DEAD.*
Daniel read it.
His face hardened.
He turned slowly toward his father.
“Dad.””
Robert looked at the phone.
Then at Sarah.
Then down at the floor.
Daniel's voice was barely above a whisper.
“Who did you tell I was dead?””
Robert shook his head.
“I never said that.””
Sarah turned.
“Then why would someone send this to me?””
“I don't know.””
Vanessa suddenly reached for the phone.
Daniel stopped her hand.
“Don't touch it.””
Vanessa pulled back.
“I was just trying to help.””
“You've done enough.””
Captain Reed examined the phone without touching it.
“Mrs. Hayes, did you know anyone who might have access to your old records?””
Sarah shook her head.
“I don't understand any of this.””
Daniel looked at his mother.
“What do you remember about the night I was born?””
Sarah closed her eyes.
The room disappeared for a moment.
She saw white hospital lights.
A plastic bassinet.
A tiny hand wrapped around her finger.
Robert standing beside the bed.
Then another memory surfaced.
A nurse entering the room.
A man arguing in the hallway.
A door slamming.
Sarah opened her eyes.
“There was someone else.””
Robert's head snapped up.
“Sarah.””
She looked at him.
“Who was he?””
Robert didn't speak.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Who?””
Sarah pressed a hand to her temple.
“I don't know his name.””
“You've never told me?””
“I thought it was a dream.””
Robert's voice broke.
“It wasn't.””
Sarah turned toward him.
“You know who he was.””
Robert's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.””
Daniel looked furious.
“Then say his name.””
Robert remained silent.
Daniel slammed the medal onto the nearest table.
“Say it.””
Robert flinched.
“His name was Michael.””
Sarah's face went blank.
“Michael…”
The name seemed to unlock something.
A man's voice.
A laugh.
A photograph.
A hand resting gently on her pregnant stomach.
Sarah stumbled backward.
“Oh my God.””
Daniel caught her elbow.
“Mom?””
She looked at him.
“Michael Brooks.””
Robert nodded.
Daniel frowned.
“Brooks?””
“My maiden name,” Sarah whispered.
Robert's shoulders sagged.
“He was your mother's brother.””
Sarah stared at him.
“My brother?””
“He disappeared before you married me.””
She shook her head.
“My brother died.””
Robert said nothing.
Sarah's expression changed.
“Didn't he?””
Robert looked away.
Daniel stepped between them.
“Dad, answer her.””
Robert whispered, “That’s what I was told.””
Sarah's voice trembled.
“By whom?””
Robert looked toward Captain Reed.
The captain opened another file.
“There is a death certificate attached to the original records.””
Sarah reached for it.
Her fingers shook as she read the name.
*Michael Brooks.*
Date of death: eighteen years ago.
Location: unknown.
Cause: pending investigation.
Sarah looked up.
“This isn't a real death certificate.””
Captain Reed nodded.
“That is correct.””
Daniel stared.
“Then why does it exist?””
“Because someone wanted Michael Brooks legally presumed dead.””
Sarah looked at Robert.
“Who?””
Robert didn't answer.
Vanessa suddenly whispered, “It was you.””
Everyone turned.
Robert glared at her.
“Vanessa.””
“You said you had no choice.””
“Stop.””
“You said if Michael came back, Daniel would find out everything.””
Sarah's face hardened.
“What did Michael know?””
Vanessa looked at Robert.
Robert's eyes pleaded with her.
But she continued.
“He knew Daniel wasn't supposed to be raised by you.””
Silence.
Sarah slowly shook her head.
“I was his mother.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Yes.””
“Then what are you saying?””
“I don't know.””
“You know something.””
Vanessa looked toward Daniel.
“Your father made an agreement.””
Robert shouted, “Enough!””
The room fell silent.
Daniel walked toward him.
“What agreement?””
Robert's breathing became uneven.
“I was young.””
“You were thirty.””
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
Robert looked at Sarah.
“Of losing you.””
Sarah whispered, “You already lost me.””
Robert's eyes filled.
“No. I lost myself.””
Captain Reed stepped between them.
“Mr. Hayes, there is one more issue.””
Robert stared at him.
The captain held up a photograph.
“We found this attached to the sealed file.””
He handed it to Daniel.
Daniel looked down.
The photograph was old.
Faded.
It showed Sarah outside a hospital.
She was holding baby Daniel.
Beside her stood a man Daniel had never seen.
Michael.
But there was something else.
Written on the back in blue ink were seven words:
*He knows what happened to Daniel's first father.*
Daniel turned the photograph over.
His eyes widened.
“Mom.””
Sarah looked at him.
“What?””
He pointed toward the man's face.
“You said Michael disappeared before you married Dad.””
“Yes.””
Daniel swallowed.
“Then why was he photographed with me after I was born?””
Sarah stared at the picture.
Her lips parted.
She couldn't speak.
Robert slowly backed away.
Captain Reed noticed.
“Mr. Hayes?””
Robert looked toward the exit again.
Daniel caught his arm.
“You're not going anywhere.””
Robert looked at his son.
Then his expression changed.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Something closer to surrender.
“I need to tell you something.””
Daniel held his breath.
Robert whispered:
“Michael didn't disappear.””
Sarah's face drained of color.
“Then where is he?””
Robert looked at her.
“He's been alive this entire time.””
The ballroom doors opened behind them.
A man in his late fifties stepped inside.
Sarah turned.
Her clutch fell from her hand.
The man stopped beneath the American flags.
His eyes met hers.
May you like
And he said one word.
“Sarah.””
