Chapter 9: The Child in the Photograph
Marcus felt as if the ground had shifted beneath him.
“What do you mean, not me?””
His father didn't answer.
He walked closer to the pool, keeping several feet between them.
Daniel stood behind Marcus.
Diane looked ready to collapse.
Vanessa whispered, “Marcus…”
He held up a hand.
“No.””
His eyes stayed on the man.
“Show me the photograph.””
The man extended the envelope.
Marcus took it.
Inside was an old photograph.
He pulled it out.
A young Diane sat in a hospital room.
She looked exhausted.
Beside her was a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket.
A man stood beside the bed.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
His father.
But there was something wrong.
The baby had a hospital bracelet.
Marcus leaned closer.
The photograph was old, but the bracelet was clear.
*BABY BOY — HARTWELL*
Underneath it was a handwritten number.
*#12*
Marcus looked up.
“What does twelve mean?””
His father answered.
“The twelfth child.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
Diane closed her eyes.
Marcus turned toward her.
“Mom.””
She said nothing.
“What's happening?””
His father spoke.
“Your grandmother didn't just keep twelve shoes.””
Marcus looked at the black prototype still sitting on the patio table.
“She kept twelve blood samples.””
Marcus stared.
“Why?””
“To prove which child carried the genetic marker needed to open the vault.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That isn't what happened.””
His father looked at him.
“You weren't there.””
“I was.””
“You were unconscious.””
Marcus turned toward Daniel.
“What is he talking about?””
Daniel swallowed.
“After the factory fire, I was hospitalized.””
His father nodded.
“And while he was unconscious, your mother made the exchange.””
Diane whispered, “I was trying to save Marcus.””
Marcus turned.
“Save me from what?””
She looked at him.
“From the people who believed you were the twelfth.””
His father stepped closer.
“They were wrong.””
Marcus's brow furrowed.
“Then who was?””
The man pointed at the photograph.
“The baby beside you.””
Marcus looked down.
The infant's bracelet again.
*#12*
“But that's me.””
“No.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That was taken after I was born.””
Diane's voice trembled.
“Marcus…”
He looked at her.
“Tell me.””
She couldn't.
His father answered.
“You were born two days earlier.””
Marcus stared.
“What?””
“Your mother gave birth to twins.””
The world seemed to go silent.
Marcus looked at Diane.
“You had twins?””
She nodded.
“One boy.””
“And?””
“One girl.””
Marcus's eyes widened.
“Where is she?””
Diane's face collapsed.
“She died.””
His father shook his head.
“No.””
Diane looked at him.
“You don't know.””
“I know she survived.””
Marcus stared.
His father continued.
“She was taken from the hospital.””
Diane covered her mouth.
Marcus's voice cracked.
“Who took her?””
His father looked at Daniel.
Daniel's face was pale.
“Not him,” the man said.
Then he looked at Diane.
“Not her.””
Marcus's breathing quickened.
“Then who?””
The man pointed toward Vanessa.
Everyone turned.
Vanessa froze.
“No.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What?””
She backed away.
“I didn't know.””
His father nodded.
“You didn't.””
Marcus stepped toward Vanessa.
“What didn't you know?””
Vanessa shook her head violently.
“Don't look at me like that.””
His father said quietly, “Ask her where she got her DNA report.””
Marcus stopped.
The laboratory report.
He turned to Vanessa.
“You said you found it in James's room.””
“Yes.””
“Who gave it to James?””
“I don't know.””
“Whose name was on it?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
She looked at Diane.
Diane whispered, “Vanessa…”
Marcus's voice hardened.
“Answer me.””
Vanessa began crying.
“Mine.””
Marcus stared.
“What?””
“The DNA report was mine.””
The patio went silent.
Vanessa held up her hands.
“I didn't understand it.””
Marcus looked at the report.
Then at her.
“What did it say?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“That I was related to you.””
“How?””
“I don't know.””
His father stepped forward.
“It means she's your sister.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
Vanessa started sobbing.
“No, I'm not.””
Diane closed her eyes.
Marcus looked at her.
“Mom.””
Diane whispered, “I didn't know.””
His father stared at Diane.
“You knew enough.””
“I thought she was dead.””
“You were wrong.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She stood barefoot beside the pool, her red dress stained at the hem, tears running down her face.
“You knew?”” Marcus asked.
She shook her head.
“I swear I didn't.””
“Then why did you come into my life?””
“I thought you were just Marcus.””
“Who are you?””
She looked at Diane.
Then at the man claiming to be Marcus's father.
Then back at Marcus.
“My name is Vanessa Hartwell.””
Marcus's breath caught.
Diane began to cry.
Vanessa whispered, “Your twin sister.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Daniel suddenly stepped forward.
“That's impossible.””
The man's expression hardened.
“No.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You died.””
“I survived.””
“I saw the body.””
“You saw a body.””
Daniel's face drained.
The man turned toward him.
“And you helped them bury the wrong man.””
Marcus looked between them.
“Wait.””
His father's eyes met his.
“Daniel didn't know.””
Marcus frowned.
“Didn't know what?””
“That the man he buried wasn't me.””
Daniel's voice broke.
“I was told it was you.””
Diane stared at him.
“You believed them?””
“I believed the evidence.””
Marcus looked down at the DNA report.
Something suddenly clicked.
He flipped the page over.
There was another result beneath Vanessa's.
A second comparison.
*MARCUS HARTWELL — BIOLOGICAL FATHER: 99.98%*
Marcus looked up.
His father nodded.
“Yes.””
Marcus's eyes filled with tears.
“You're really my father.””
“Yes.””
For the first time that night, the man smiled without bitterness.
“My name is Michael.””
Marcus stared.
“Michael?””
“Michael Hartwell.””
Diane covered her face.
Marcus turned toward her.
“Why did you call him Daniel?””
She looked up.
Her voice was barely audible.
“Because Daniel was the name of the man who took his place.””
Marcus slowly turned.
Daniel stood motionless.
Michael looked at him.
“You wore my name for eight years.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“You were supposed to be dead.””
“I was.””
“Then how are you standing here?””
Michael smiled sadly.
“Because your mother wasn't the only person who lied.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Who else?””
Michael pointed toward the mansion.
“Your grandmother.””
Marcus frowned.
“She died ten years ago.””
Michael nodded.
“And before she died, she left one final instruction.””
“What?””
Michael looked toward the black shoe.
“The twelfth pair was never meant to open the vault.””
He paused.
“It was meant to identify the person who stole the child.””
Marcus's eyes widened.
Michael looked directly at Vanessa.
“Your sister wasn't kidnapped by strangers.””
Vanessa stopped crying.
Michael's voice became quiet.
“She was given away.””
Diane whispered, “Michael…”
He looked at her.
“You know who took her.””
Diane's face crumpled.
Marcus stepped toward his mother.
“Who?””
Diane looked at Vanessa.
Then at Marcus.
Finally, she whispered the words she had spent nearly three decades trying to bury.
“I gave your sister to someone I trusted.””
Marcus's voice shook.
“Who?””
May you like
Diane looked toward Daniel.
And Daniel's expression told Marcus the answer before she ever said it.
