Chapter 13: The Brother My Father Never Mentioned
Daniel dropped into a chair.
He stared at the photograph as though the paper itself had become dangerous.
"That's impossible," he whispered.
Robert stood motionless.
The detective who had been preparing to leave with Richard turned back.
"Mr. Carter, I think we'd better hear this.""
Robert nodded slowly.
"His name was Jonathan Carter. He was my older brother.""
I looked at my father.
"You had a brother?""
"Yes.""
"Why have you never mentioned him?""
"Because he died twenty years ago.""
Daniel lifted his head.
"Then how is he standing in this photograph with Margaret?""
Robert took the photograph.
"Because this was taken before he disappeared.""
He examined the back.
His fingers began trembling.
"October 1991.""
Claire approached.
"Samuel knew about Jonathan's relationship with Margaret. He used it to control him.""
My father looked at her.
"Tell them everything.""
Claire swallowed.
"Jonathan and Margaret were engaged. They had planned to marry. But when Margaret became pregnant, Samuel discovered that Jonathan had been transferring company money into a private account.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because Jonathan had discovered that Samuel was stealing from the company. He was collecting evidence.""
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
"Then why did my father disappear?""
Robert answered.
"Because Samuel threatened to expose him as a thief. Jonathan fled before he could be arrested.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Was he my biological father?""
Robert shook his head.
"No. I was.""
I stared at him.
"Then why does the note say the child was born before the marriage?""
"Because Margaret and I were already together when she became pregnant. Jonathan was helping us hide the pregnancy from Samuel.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why?""
"Because Samuel had already threatened Margaret. He believed any child connected to me could eventually claim part of the company.""
Daniel suddenly stood.
"Wait. If Jonathan wasn't my father, why did Richard tell me he was?""
Robert looked toward him.
"Because Richard wanted you to believe you were the legitimate heir to Jonathan's shares.""
Daniel sat down again.
For the first time, I saw something other than arrogance on his face.
He looked lost.
Claire placed another document on the table.
"This is the original financial agreement between Samuel, Jonathan, and Robert.""
She pointed to a paragraph.
"Jonathan owned thirty percent of the original company. Robert owned forty percent. Samuel controlled the remaining thirty.""
I looked at the numbers.
"Where did Jonathan's shares go?""
"Richard inherited them," Claire explained.
"He used them to establish control over the company.""
Robert shook his head.
"That transfer was fraudulent.""
Daniel looked at Richard's empty chair.
"So Richard isn't the real owner?""
"Not legally," Robert replied.
The detective took the document.
"These records will be examined.""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"All these years, I believed I was part of the family.""
Vanessa approached him.
"You are.""
He looked at her.
"You knew?""
She shook her head.
"I knew Richard had lied about our family. I didn't know how much.""
Daniel gave a bitter laugh.
"You married me.""
Vanessa looked down.
"Yes.""
I turned toward her.
"Wait. You and Daniel were married?""
She nodded.
"Before I met you.""
I stared.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Richard told me to keep my previous marriage private. He said it would damage the family's reputation.""
Michael looked at her.
"And you agreed?""
"I was young. I was scared. I made terrible decisions.""
Michael stepped away.
"You're not the only one who was scared.""
He looked at Daniel.
"You knew about me?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No. I swear.""
Michael's expression hardened.
"Then why did you laugh when that waitress was being humiliated?""
Daniel looked down.
"I don't have an excuse.""
For once, nobody interrupted.
Then my father spoke.
"There's something else.""
He reached inside his coat and removed a small black notebook.
The leather cover was worn, and the pages had yellowed with age.
"Jonathan left this with me before he disappeared.""
Claire took it carefully.
She opened the first page.
A list of names appeared.
Several were familiar.
Richard Whitmore.
Samuel Whitmore.
Daniel Whitmore.
Then another name.
*Dr. Peter Lawson.*
The detective leaned closer.
"Who is that?""
Robert answered.
"The doctor who signed Margaret's death certificate.""
I looked at the notebook.
"Wasn't Samuel the attending physician?""
"He was the hospital director. Dr. Lawson performed the examination.""
Claire turned several pages.
There were dates, bank transfers, and handwritten notes.
Then she stopped.
Her face changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
She pointed to a sentence.
*Payment received. Margaret's death confirmed. Child transferred. Remaining evidence destroyed.*
Below it was a signature.
Peter Lawson.
And beside it, another signature.
*Evelyn Carter.*
I turned toward my mother.
She looked horrified.
"That's not my signature.""
The detective examined the page.
"Are you certain?""
"Absolutely.""
Claire compared it with the other documents.
"She's right. The handwriting is different.""
Robert stared at the notebook.
"Someone forged her signature.""
I felt anger rising again.
"Who?""
Claire turned another page.
There was a photograph attached.
It showed a man standing outside the hospital with a medical bag.
I recognized him immediately.
Dr. Peter Lawson.
He had been in the photograph with Samuel.
But there was something else.
Behind him stood a young woman holding a baby.
My mother.
I looked at her.
"Mom, why are you in this photograph?""
She took it.
Her hands began trembling.
Then she whispered:
"Because I was there the night Margaret died.""
I stepped toward her.
"What?""
Evelyn sat down.
"I heard someone arguing with her in the hospital corridor. I went to see what was happening.""
"Who?""
"Jonathan.""
My father went completely still.
"Jonathan was there?""
She nodded.
"He was holding a baby. He said Margaret was in danger and asked me to take the child.""
Robert's eyes filled.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he made me promise.""
She looked at Daniel.
"He said if I ever revealed what happened, the person responsible would come after the children.""
I leaned closer.
"What happened to Jonathan?""
My mother began crying.
"He was murdered that night.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
Robert gripped the table.
"By whom?""
My mother looked at the photograph.
Then she answered.
"Dr. Lawson.""
The detective immediately took out her phone.
"Do you know where he is now?""
My mother nodded.
"He lives in a retirement community outside Boston.""
The detective made a call.
But before she could finish, my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke calmly.
"Marcus Carter?""
"Who is this?""
"Dr. Peter Lawson.""
My mother gasped.
The detective motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
Lawson continued.
"I understand you've been examining some old medical records.""
I said nothing.
He laughed softly.
"Your father should have destroyed them.""
"Did you kill Margaret?""
A pause.
Then he answered.
"I did what I was paid to do.""
My mother's hand flew to her mouth.
"Who paid you?""
"Samuel Whitmore.""
"And Jonathan?""
Another pause.
"Jonathan was an unfortunate complication.""
I clenched my jaw.
"Why are you calling?""
The doctor gave a small laugh.
"Because there's something you should know before you celebrate.""
"What?""
"The child Evelyn took from that hospital wasn't the child she believes she saved.""
My mother began shaking.
Lawson continued.
"And if you want to know which baby she actually carried out, you should examine the bracelet still attached to the original hospital photograph.""
The call ended.
I looked down at the photograph.
There was a tiny hospital bracelet around the baby's wrist.
The name was barely visible.
I enlarged it.
Then my blood ran cold.
The bracelet didn't say Marcus.
May you like
It said:
*PETER LAWSON JR.*
