Chapter 8: The Name They Gave Her
Aaliyah couldn't hear the audience anymore.
The stage lights blurred.
The graduation decorations disappeared behind a wall of noise inside her head.
Amara had survived.
Somewhere.
Under another name.
Aaliyah looked at Detective Harris.
“Can you find the adoption agency?””
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“I can't promise.””
“I need an answer.””
The detective studied her face.
“Then we'll start now.””
Renee stepped forward.
“You don't know what you're asking.””
Aaliyah turned.
“I know exactly what I'm asking.””
“You're going to tear everything apart.””
“It was already torn apart.””
Derrick looked at Renee.
“She's right.””
Renee's face crumpled.
“Derrick…”
“You lied to me.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“You stole twenty-two years from me.””
“I loved you.””
“That doesn't make it okay.””
Renee looked at Aaliyah.
“I loved you too.””
Aaliyah's eyes burned.
“Then why did you make me hate my mother?””
Renee couldn't answer.
Monique stepped beside her daughter.
“You don't have to forgive her today.””
Aaliyah looked at her.
“I don't know if I can ever forgive her.””
Monique nodded.
“You don't have to.””
Detective Harris unfolded the torn document.
“There is a problem.””
Everyone looked at him.
“The agency closed twenty years ago.””
Derrick frowned.
“Then how do we find the records?””
“The records were transferred.””
“To where?””
He looked at the paper.
“That's what we're trying to determine.””
Calvin suddenly spoke.
“I know.””
Everyone turned.
Detective Harris approached him.
“Where?””
Calvin looked at Aaliyah.
“The records weren't destroyed.””
“Where are they?””
He hesitated.
“Renee knows.””
Renee shook her head.
“No.””
Calvin smiled bitterly.
“You kept one copy.””
Renee's eyes widened.
“I burned it.””
“No.””
“I burned everything.””
“You burned the original.””
He looked at Aaliyah.
“But you kept the photograph.””
Renee went completely still.
Aaliyah whispered, “What photograph?””
Renee looked at her.
“You've seen it.””
“No, I haven't.””
“You have.””
Aaliyah shook her head.
“What are you talking about?””
Renee's eyes filled.
“The photograph of you and your sister.””
Aaliyah froze.
“I only saw the photograph Calvin brought.””
“No.””
Renee slowly reached into her handbag.
She pulled out a small, worn envelope.
Monique gasped.
“That.””
Renee held it tightly.
“I kept it because I couldn't destroy it.””
Aaliyah stepped forward.
“Give it to me.””
Renee didn't move.
“Please.””
Aaliyah's voice softened.
“Renee.””
The woman finally handed over the envelope.
Aaliyah opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Two newborn babies lay side by side.
One had a tiny hospital bracelet.
The other wore a white knitted cap.
Aaliyah stared.
“They look exactly alike.””
Monique touched the photograph.
“They were twins.””
Aaliyah looked up.
“Twins?””
Monique nodded.
“You and Amara were identical.””
Derrick's eyes filled with tears.
“I had two daughters.””
“Yes.””
He turned away.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he asked:
“Why did you only bring one home?””
Renee whispered, “Because Calvin told me to.””
Calvin's expression hardened.
“You're blaming me now?””
“You told me she was dangerous.””
“She was evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
Calvin didn't answer.
Aaliyah stepped toward him.
“Evidence of what?””
Calvin looked at her.
“Your birth was connected to a medical fraud investigation.””
Monique stared.
“You're still lying.””
Calvin shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at Derrick.
“Your father was using the hospital to falsify records.””
Derrick's eyes widened.
“And you helped him.””
“I was trying to get out.””
“You used my wife.””
“I used everyone.””
Aaliyah stared at the photograph.
“Why were Amara's records changed?””
Calvin's voice dropped.
“Because someone wanted the twins separated.””
“Who?””
Calvin looked at Renee.
“She knows.””
Renee shook her head.
“I don't.””
“You do.””
“No.””
“You saw the name.””
“What name?””
Calvin said nothing.
Detective Harris stepped closer.
“Mr. Walker, this is your last chance.””
Calvin looked toward the auditorium doors.
Then back at Aaliyah.
“The woman who adopted Amara wasn't a stranger.””
Monique's face went pale.
Aaliyah whispered, “Who was she?””
Calvin shook his head.
“I can't tell you.””
Derrick stepped forward.
“You will.””
Calvin looked at him.
“Ask your wife.””
Everyone turned toward Renee.
She was staring at the photograph.
Her lips were moving silently.
Aaliyah approached her.
“Who adopted my sister?””
Renee looked up.
Tears streamed down her face.
“I thought she was dead.””
“Who adopted her?””
“I was told never to ask.””
“Who?””
Renee closed her eyes.
Then she whispered a name.
Aaliyah's heart stopped.
It was a name she had heard every year on her birthday.
A name Renee had always told her belonged to someone who cared about her family.
A name that had been sitting inside their family photo albums for twenty-two years.
Aaliyah whispered:
“No.””
Renee nodded.
“Yes.””
And then the auditorium lights suddenly flickered.
May you like
Detective Harris looked toward the doors.
Someone had just locked them from the outside.
