Chapter 8: The Midnight Choice
“Put the gun down, Marcus.””
Harris's voice was steady.
Marcus laughed.
“You still talk like you're in charge.””
“I am in charge.””
“No.””
Marcus raised the gun slightly.
“You're exactly where I've always needed you.””
Daniel stared at his brother.
“Why the hell are you doing this?””
Marcus's eyes settled on him.
“Because you never listen.””
“You threatened my daughter.””
“I protected her.””
“You kidnapped a child.””
Marcus glanced at the little girl behind Amelia.
“I rescued her.””
Amelia stepped in front of the child.
“From what?””
Marcus's expression changed.
“From the same people who took you.””
“You're one of them.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“I'm the reason you're alive.””
Amelia's hands curled into fists.
“You staged my death.””
“I staged the accident.””
“You watched my car crash.””
“I watched you survive.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“You knew she survived.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Of course.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
Marcus smiled sadly.
“Because you wouldn't have helped me.””
Daniel took a step forward.
“You're right.””
Harris raised his weapon.
“Marcus, drop yours.””
Marcus didn't look at him.
“Do you know why your brother has spent three years hating himself?””
Daniel said nothing.
“Because he thinks he abandoned Amelia.””
Marcus's voice became quiet.
“He didn't.””
Amelia stared at Daniel.
Marcus continued.
“He was manipulated.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“You manipulated me.””
“Yes.””
“And threatened Lily.””
“Yes.””
“And forged my signature.””
“Yes.””
Marcus didn't flinch.
Daniel's voice shook.
“Why?””
Marcus pointed at the girl behind Amelia.
“Because she is the proof.””
Amelia looked back.
The little girl was trembling.
She looked exactly like Lily.
Same eyes.
Same curls.
Same small scar near her eyebrow.
Daniel stared at her.
“What's your name?””
The girl hesitated.
“Lily.””
Marcus laughed softly.
“That's what they told you.””
Daniel looked at Amelia.
She was staring at the child with a mother's desperate confusion.
“What is your real name?”” she asked.
The girl's eyes filled.
“I don't know.””
Marcus lowered the gun slightly.
“She was taken from the hospital.””
Daniel froze.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“Which hospital?””
“The same one where your real daughter was born.””
Amelia whispered, “No.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You remember the night?””
“I remember Lily being born.””
“You remember one room.””
He pointed toward the far wall.
“You don't remember what happened after.””
Amelia's face tightened.
“What happened?””
“Your daughter developed complications.””
Daniel stared.
“Lily was healthy.””
Marcus nodded.
“Your daughter was.””
Amelia's breathing stopped.
Marcus continued.
“Another baby was brought into the maternity ward that night.””
Harris looked at him.
“Why?””
Marcus's eyes shifted toward him.
“Because her mother was killed.””
Amelia shook her head.
“Who was the mother?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Who?””
He looked at Daniel.
“Your father's mistress.””
Daniel's face emptied.
“What?””
Marcus nodded.
“She gave birth hours before she died.””
Amelia whispered, “That doesn't make sense.””
“It does when you understand the family.””
Marcus walked closer.
Harris raised his weapon again.
“Stay there.””
Marcus stopped.
“You want the truth?””
Harris didn't answer.
“Then listen.””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Your father had another family.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
“He had another daughter.””
“No.””
“She was the woman who died giving birth.””
Daniel's eyes widened.
“The other baby…”
Marcus nodded.
“Was her daughter.””
Amelia looked at the little girl.
“Then why does she look like Lily?””
“Because your father arranged it.””
“What does that mean?””
“Doctors were paid.””
“Doctors?””
“Records were changed. Blood types were altered. Birth certificates were switched.””
Daniel stared at the two children in his mind.
“Why?””
Marcus's voice hardened.
“Because your father wanted one child protected.””
“Which one?””
Marcus looked at Amelia.
“Yours.””
Silence.
Daniel whispered, “Then why change her identity?””
“Because the people hunting your father wanted his bloodline.””
Amelia frowned.
“What bloodline?””
Marcus looked toward the dark ceiling.
“The family wasn't just wealthy.””
He paused.
“They were connected.””
“To what?””
“Everything.””
Harris scoffed.
“That's not an answer.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You know exactly what I'm talking about.””
Harris's expression became rigid.
Amelia saw it.
“You know?””
Harris didn't respond.
Daniel turned.
“Detective?””
Harris lowered his weapon a fraction.
“My father was on the task force investigating Daniel's father.””
Daniel stared.
“What?””
“He wasn't investigating him.””
Harris nodded.
“He was protecting him.””
Marcus smiled.
“Exactly.””
Daniel looked at the two men.
“So my father built this whole system?””
“No,” Marcus said.
“He inherited it.””
“From whom?””
Marcus's eyes darkened.
“Your grandfather.””
Amelia felt cold spread through her chest.
“How many people were involved?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Marcus.””
“Enough.””
“Enough for what?””
“Enough to bury a murder.””
“What murder?””
Marcus looked at the little girl.
“Her mother.””
The child's face crumpled.
“You said my mommy was gone.””
Marcus looked at her.
“I said nothing.””
She stared at him.
“I remember her.””
Marcus's expression changed.
For the first time, the confidence left his face.
“What do you remember?””
The girl touched her head.
“A red dress.””
Amelia frowned.
“What else?””
“She was crying.””
“Who was?””
“My mommy.””
The girl looked toward Marcus.
“She said a man named Daniel was going to save us.””
Daniel's breath caught.
“I never met her.””
“She said you would.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“That's enough.””
The little girl continued.
“She said…”
Marcus's voice sharpened.
“Enough.””
“She said Daddy would come back.””
Daniel stared.
“Daddy?””
The girl pointed toward the dark hallway.
“He came.””
Everyone turned.
A man stepped into view.
Silver hair.
Gray suit.
Daniel couldn't breathe.
His father.
Alive.
Older.
But unmistakable.
Amelia's hand flew to her mouth.
Harris lowered his weapon.
Marcus turned.
“Father.””
The older man looked at him.
“You failed.””
Marcus froze.
“What?””
“You were told to keep them apart.””
“I did.””
“You brought all of them here.””
Marcus looked confused.
“I thought—”
“You thought wrong.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You're alive.””
His father looked at him.
“Yes.””
“You let me believe you were dead.””
“It was necessary.””
“You destroyed my family.””
“No.””
He looked at Amelia.
“She did.””
Amelia's face hardened.
“What did I do?””
“You found the ledger.””
“Yes.””
“You should never have opened it.””
“You killed my mother?””
The old man's expression changed.
“Your mother was collateral.””
Amelia took a step toward him.
“You killed her.””
“She knew too much.””
“You murdered her.””
“I preserved the family.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You keep saying family.””
His father looked at him.
“Because you still don't understand what family means.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“I understand enough.””
He pointed toward the children.
“You took babies.””
“I protected them.””
“You changed identities.””
“I protected them.””
“You destroyed my marriage.””
“I preserved yours.””
Amelia stared at him.
“What?””
The older man looked at her.
“Daniel never knew why we needed you gone.””
Daniel stepped between them.
“Don't.””
His father continued anyway.
“Amelia discovered the ledger because she was investigating Vanessa.””
Vanessa's name made everyone stiffen.
Daniel turned.
“Why Vanessa?””
Marcus looked away.
His father said, “Because Vanessa knew the truth.””
Vanessa's face crumpled.
Daniel stared at her.
“You knew about the children.””
“Yes.””
“How long?””
Vanessa whispered, “Since before I married you.””
Daniel looked devastated.
“You knew.””
“I was threatened.””
“By my father?””
“Yes.””
“By Marcus?””
“Yes.””
“By both of them?””
Vanessa nodded.
Amelia stepped toward her.
“And you still stayed.””
Vanessa began crying.
“Where could I go?””
The older man looked at her coldly.
“You were always free to leave.””
Vanessa laughed through her tears.
“No.””
Her voice became louder.
“You made sure I couldn't.””
Daniel stared.
“How?””
Vanessa turned toward the children.
“You should ask him what happened to my sister.””
The room went silent.
Amelia looked at the older man.
“Her sister?””
The man said nothing.
Vanessa wiped her face.
“My sister worked at the hospital.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“She helped switch the records.””
“Yes.””
“What happened to her?””
Vanessa pointed at the old man.
“She disappeared.””
The little girl suddenly spoke.
“I know where she is.””
Everyone turned.
The child looked at Daniel.
“She was in the red room.””
Vanessa stopped breathing.
“What did you say?””
“The red room.””
Vanessa's legs nearly gave out.
“No.””
The child nodded.
“There were lots of pictures.””
“Of who?””
“Babies.””
Amelia looked at Daniel.
The old man moved toward the girl.
“Come here.””
The child backed away.
“No.””
His voice became harder.
“Come here.””
Amelia stepped in front of her.
“You don't touch her.””
He looked at Amelia.
“You still think you're protecting her.””
“I am.””
“You don't know which child you're protecting.””
Daniel looked at him.
“What are you talking about?””
The old man reached into his pocket.
He removed a small envelope.
Then he dropped it onto the floor.
“Inside is the DNA report.””
Daniel stared at it.
“For which girl?””
“The one you call Lily.””
Amelia's heart hammered.
Daniel looked at the second child.
Then toward the corridor where the other girl had supposedly been taken.
“Where is my daughter?””
His father smiled.
“That's the question.””
Daniel stepped toward him.
“Where?””
The old man raised one finger.
“Before midnight.””
Then he pointed to the warehouse's far end.
“Choose.””
The lights suddenly went out.
A scream tore through the darkness.
Then another.
Daniel lunged forward.
“LILY!””
A gunshot exploded.
Harris shouted.
“DOWN!””
Emergency lights snapped back on.
The room was empty.
The little girl was gone.
So was Marcus.
And on the concrete floor, beside the blood-red glow of an exit sign, lay the DNA envelope.
Daniel grabbed it.
He tore it open.
One sheet fell out.
He looked at the result.
His face collapsed.
Amelia rushed to him.
“What does it say?””
Daniel couldn't speak.
She took the paper.
Read the first line.
Then the second.
Then stopped.
Her eyes widened.
“No.””
Daniel looked at her.
“What?””
Amelia held the report with trembling fingers.
“This isn't a DNA test.””
Harris stepped closer.
“What is it?””
Amelia turned the page over.
A second message had been printed on the back.
*THE TEST IS REAL.*
Underneath:
*THE NAME IS NOT.*
May you like
And at the bottom, one final line:
*LILY REED DIED THREE YEARS AGO.*
