Chapter 8: The Woman in the Photograph
The police took the attacker downstairs.
Daniel stayed with Lily while I sat beside Evelyn in the hotel suite.
My cheek was swelling, and there was blood on my shirt.
But I barely noticed.
I couldn't stop looking at the photograph.
My mother.
Alive.
The image had been taken outside a private medical facility surrounded by trees. She was wearing a pale blue coat and holding a walking stick.
She looked older than the woman I remembered.
But there was no doubt.
It was her.
“Where is this place?”” I asked.
Evelyn leaned closer.
“St. Catherine's.””
Margaret, who had arrived with two officers, immediately shook her head.
“That facility closed eight years ago.””
I turned toward her.
“Then where is she?””
“I don't know.””
“You've been investigating my father. You found photographs, medical records, financial documents. How can you not know?””
Margaret opened her folder.
“Because someone has been moving the records between facilities. Every time we get close, the patient disappears.””
I stared at her.
“How many facilities?””
“Four that we know of.””
“And nobody thought to tell me?””
“Your father specifically requested that you remain uninvolved.””
I laughed bitterly.
“My father doesn't get to make that decision anymore.””
Margaret looked at the photograph.
“There's something else.””
She placed a document on the table.
It was an old transfer authorization.
The patient's name had been changed, but the hospital identification number was still visible.
Margaret pointed to it.
“Look at the signature.””
I leaned forward.
The signature at the bottom read:
*Dr. Samuel Hayes.*
My father's younger brother.
My uncle.
I hadn't seen Samuel in fifteen years.
After my mother's supposed death, he had left the country following a bitter disagreement with my father.
We had been told he moved to Australia.
He never called.
Never sent birthday cards.
Never attended family gatherings.
I had assumed he wanted nothing to do with us.
“Why would my uncle sign this?””
Margaret looked uncomfortable.
“Because he was the doctor who treated your mother after the accident.””
I shook my head.
“Samuel was a surgeon?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did my father tell me he had moved abroad?””
Margaret didn't answer.
Evelyn did.
“Because Samuel helped your father hide your mother.””
I looked at her.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“Evelyn, how much have you been hiding?””
She began crying.
“More than I should have.””
I stood.
“Give me his number.””
Margaret shook her head.
“I have something better.””
She removed a small card from her folder.
A handwritten address.
“He's in town.””
I stared.
“What?””
“He returned three months ago. I believe he's been trying to contact you.””
I took the card.
The address was for a private medical office in the northern part of the city.
Before I could say anything, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Marcus?””
I froze.
“Who's this?””
“It's Samuel.””
My uncle.
I closed my eyes.
“Where have you been?””
“There's no time to explain.””
“You have fifteen years to explain!””
“I know.””
“Did you sign my mother's transfer papers?””
A pause.
“Yes.””
I felt my anger rise.
“Why?””
“Because your father begged me to save her.””
“Is she alive?””
Another pause.
Then he said:
“She was alive when I last saw her.””
My throat tightened.
“When was that?””
“Yesterday.””
I gripped the phone.
“Where?””
“Marcus, I need you to listen. Your father wasn't the only one they were keeping hidden.””
“Who else?””
“Your mother.””
“Where is she?””
“I can take you to her.””
I looked toward Margaret.
She was listening carefully.
“Give me the address.””
“Not over the phone.””
“Samuel—”
“Someone has been monitoring your calls. If I give you the location, they'll move her again.””
I stared at the photograph.
“Then tell me where to meet you.””
He gave me an address.
A small private clinic near the old railway station.
“Come alone,” he said.
“No.””
“Marcus, please. If you bring the police, they'll know.””
I looked at Margaret.
“I'll be there.””
Samuel exhaled.
“And Marcus?””
“What?””
“Don't bring James Bennett.””
I turned toward the door.
James was standing there.
He had arrived without anyone noticing.
His face was expressionless.
“Why?”” I asked.
My uncle's voice dropped.
“Because James was the person who signed the order to transfer your mother after the first facility.””
The call disconnected.
I slowly lowered the phone.
James looked at me.
“What did Samuel say?””
I stared at him.
“You knew my mother was alive.””
His face changed.
“Marcus—”
“Don't.””
“I can explain.””
“Did you sign the transfer order?””
James remained silent.
Margaret stepped forward.
“Mr. Bennett, I think you should accompany us to the station.””
James looked toward the police officers.
Then he smiled.
It was a small, cold smile.
“You people really don't understand what's happening.””
One officer reached for his arm.
James suddenly knocked a glass from the table.
The crash distracted everyone for half a second.
He grabbed my phone and hurled it through the window.
The glass shattered.
“Stop him!”” Margaret shouted.
James rushed toward the corridor.
Daniel emerged from the elevator just in time to block him.
The two men collided.
James struck Daniel in the stomach and tried to run past him, but the officers caught him near the staircase.
As they restrained him, James turned toward me.
“You're making a terrible mistake, Marcus!””
I walked closer.
“Tell me where my mother is.””
He laughed.
“You think finding her will fix everything?””
“Where is she?””
“Your mother knows what your father did.””
I stepped forward.
“What did he do?””
James leaned toward me.
“He didn't hide her because she was in danger.””
He paused.
“He hid her because she knew who killed your grandfather.””
I felt my stomach twist.
My grandfather had died when I was a child.
A heart attack, according to my father.
Another death in a family that suddenly seemed built on lies.
Before I could ask another question, James was dragged away.
Margaret picked up her folder.
“We need to move quickly.””
I looked at her.
“Are you coming with me?””
“Yes.””
“Can I trust you?””
She held my gaze.
“No one should trust anyone blindly at this point.””
It was the first honest answer I had heard all day.
I turned toward Evelyn.
“Stay with Lily. The police will protect you.””
Evelyn nodded.
Lily ran over and hugged me.
“Are you going to find your mommy?””
I froze.
She looked up at me.
“I heard Grandma talking. She said your mommy might still be alive.””
I knelt and kissed her forehead.
“I'm going to try.””
Lily slipped something into my hand.
A tiny folded piece of paper.
“What is this?””
“I found it in Grandma's handbag.””
I unfolded it.
There was a name written in a child's handwriting.
*DR. SAMUEL HAYES.*
Beneath it was a second line.
*HE SAID MOMMY ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO SURVIVED.*
I looked at Lily.
“What do you mean?””
She pointed toward the photograph of my mother.
“Grandma said there was another person in the car.””
I stared at her.
“My mother was in the passenger seat. My father was driving.””
Lily shook her head.
“No, Uncle Marcus.””
She pointed to the photograph.
“Grandma said there was a baby.””
My hands went numb.
A baby?
I was sixteen when my mother supposedly died.
I had never heard of another child.
And according to everything my father had told me, my parents had never planned to have another baby.
I looked at Evelyn.
She was crying.
“Is it true?”” I asked.
She couldn't answer.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“Your mother was pregnant when the accident happened.””
