Chapter 9: The Woman in the Photograph
The auditorium doors wouldn't open.
Derrick pulled one.
Nothing.
He pulled again.
“Who's out there?””
No answer.
Aaliyah turned toward Renee.
“You said the name.””
Renee was crying.
“Yes.””
“Say it again.””
Renee shook her head.
“I can't.””
“You owe me.””
Monique stepped forward.
“Tell her.””
Renee looked at Monique.
“You don't understand.””
“I understand enough.””
Aaliyah's voice cut through them.
“Who adopted Amara?””
Renee whispered:
“Your grandmother.””
Derrick froze.
“My mother?””
Renee nodded.
Aaliyah's face went numb.
“My grandmother died before I was born.””
“Yes.””
“That's what you told me.””
“Yes.””
“So how could she adopt Amara?””
Renee stared at her.
“She didn't.””
Aaliyah frowned.
“Then why did you say—”
“Because the woman who adopted her used your grandmother's identity.””
Derrick stepped backward.
“What?””
Renee looked at him.
“She had access to your father's records.””
Monique's eyes narrowed.
“Who was she?””
Renee looked toward Calvin.
He shook his head.
Renee ignored him.
“She was a nurse.””
Aaliyah stared.
“Which nurse?””
Renee's voice broke.
“The nurse who delivered you.””
Derrick looked at Monique.
“You knew her?””
Monique nodded slowly.
“Her name was Evelyn.””
Renee said, “Evelyn Brooks.””
Detective Harris immediately wrote it down.
“Where is she now?””
Renee shook her head.
“She disappeared.””
“When?””
“After the adoption.””
“How long after?””
“Two days.””
Aaliyah's hands began trembling.
“You said Amara was dead.””
“I believed she was.””
“Why?””
“Because Evelyn told me.””
Monique stepped closer.
“And you believed her?””
“I had no reason not to.””
“You knew she was using your mother-in-law's identity.””
“I didn't know at first.””
“When did you find out?””
Renee stared at the photograph.
“Years later.””
Derrick's voice was barely audible.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because by then, you loved Aaliyah.””
“That doesn't answer me.””
“I was afraid you'd leave.””
Derrick closed his eyes.
“You made me raise my daughter believing her mother was dead.””
Renee whispered, “I know.””
“You let me mourn a woman who was alive.””
“I know.””
“You let me believe I only had one child.””
“I know.””
Derrick opened his eyes.
“Why?””
Renee's face collapsed.
“Because I was afraid.””
Aaliyah stared at her.
“You weren't afraid.””
Renee looked up.
“You were selfish.””
Renee nodded through her tears.
“Yes.””
The honesty stunned Aaliyah more than another lie would have.
Then Monique noticed something.
“Wait.””
Everyone turned.
She pointed at the old photograph.
“The hospital bracelet.””
Aaliyah looked down.
“What about it?””
Monique's eyes narrowed.
“Amara's bracelet had a number.””
Detective Harris examined the image.
“Can you read it?””
Monique leaned closer.
“Four-seven-one.””
Renee shook her head.
“No.””
Monique looked at her.
“You remember.””
“I don't.””
“You do.””
Renee backed away.
“You don't know what that number means.””
“Tell me.””
Renee's breathing became rapid.
“It was the room number.””
Derrick looked confused.
“What room?””
Renee whispered:
“The neonatal ward.””
Detective Harris checked his notes.
“Room 471?””
Renee nodded.
“But that room was closed after the fire.””
Monique stared at him.
“What fire?””
The detective went silent.
Derrick stepped forward.
“What fire?””
Harris looked uncomfortable.
“The hospital archive shows a fire three days after the twins were born.””
Monique's face went white.
“You never told me.””
“Because the official report says no patient records were lost.””
Calvin suddenly laughed.
“Official report.””
Detective Harris turned toward him.
“You know otherwise.””
Calvin looked at Aaliyah.
“The fire wasn't an accident.””
Monique whispered, “What did you burn?””
Calvin said nothing.
Derrick grabbed his arm.
“What did you burn?””
“Records.””
“Which records?””
“The ones that could prove where Amara went.””
Aaliyah stepped closer.
“Then why do you still have evidence?””
Calvin looked at her.
“Because I couldn't destroy everything.””
He opened his briefcase again.
This time he removed a small cassette tape.
Aaliyah stared at it.
“What is that?””
“A recording.””
“Of what?””
“The night Amara disappeared.””
Monique's eyes widened.
“You recorded us?””
“I recorded the truth.””
Detective Harris reached for the tape.
Calvin held it back.
“No.””
“What are you doing?””
Calvin looked at Aaliyah.
“She should hear it first.””
Aaliyah's voice trembled.
“What will I hear?””
Calvin looked toward Renee.
“Her voice.””
Renee's eyes widened.
“My voice?””
“You were there.””
“I don't remember.””
“You will.””
Aaliyah reached for the tape.
Before she could take it, a loud metallic bang came from behind the locked auditorium doors.
Everyone turned.
Another bang.
Then another.
Someone was trying to force their way inside.
Detective Harris drew closer to the entrance.
“Stay back.””
Aaliyah looked at the cassette in Calvin's hand.
Then at Renee.
Then at Monique.
A voice came through the locked doors.
An elderly woman's voice.
Weak.
Breathless.
But unmistakably female.
“Renee…”
Renee stopped breathing.
The voice came again.
“I know you can hear me.””
Monique's eyes widened.
She whispered:
“Evelyn.””
The woman outside screamed one final sentence.
“Aaliyah, your sister is alive.””
And from inside the auditorium, Renee whispered the words that made everyone turn toward her.
“No.””
May you like
She stared at the doors.
“She found us.””
