Chapter 11: The## Chapter 11: The Brother Who Wasn't Missing
Brother Who Wasn't Missing
I couldn't speak.
I couldn't speak.
Michael was still on the phone.
"Daniel? AreMichael was still on the phone.
"Daniel? Are you there?""
I looked at Rachel.
She had heard enough to understand.
"Mike," I you there?""
I looked at Rachel.
She had heard enough to understand.
"Mike," I finally said.
"Come over.""
"I don't finally said.
"Come over.""
"I don't think that's a good idea.""
"Why?""
"Because Robert is already think that's a good idea.""
"Why?""
"Because Robert is already on his way.""
My stomach tightened.
"How do you know?""
" on his way.""
My stomach tightened.
"How do you know?""
"Because he called me ten minutes ago.""
I stared at the phone.
Because he called me ten minutes ago.""
I stared at the phone.
"What did he say?""
"He told me you were asking questions.""
"And"What did he say?""
"He told me you were asking questions.""
"And?""
Michael sighed.
"He said it was time to stop pretending.""
I gripped?""
Michael sighed.
"He said it was time to stop pretending.""
I gripped the counter.
"Come over. Please.""
There was a long the counter.
"Come over. Please.""
There was a long pause.
Then Michael said, "Give me twenty minutes.""
He hung pause.
Then Michael said, "Give me twenty minutes.""
He hung up.
Rachel sat down.
"Daniel, what if he's lying?""
up.
Rachel sat down.
"Daniel, what if he's lying?""
"About what?""
"Everything. What if Dad arranged this whole thing?""
I"About what?""
"Everything. What if Dad arranged this whole thing?""
I looked at the two newborns in the photograph.
"I don't looked at the two newborns in the photograph.
"I don't know anymore.""
Lily stood near the window.
"Can I know anymore.""
Lily stood near the window.
"Can I ask something?""
I turned.
"Of course.""
"If Michael is your brother ask something?""
I turned.
"Of course.""
"If Michael is your brother, does that mean he's my uncle?""
I nodded.
She looked, does that mean he's my uncle?""
I nodded.
She looked down.
"I've never had an uncle.""
The simplicity of down.
"I've never had an uncle.""
The simplicity of the sentence hurt more than I expected.
I walked over to her.
"You do now.""
the sentence hurt more than I expected.
I walked over to her.
"You do now.""
She gave me a small, uncertain smile.
For the first time since meeting her, sheShe gave me a small, uncertain smile.
For the first time since meeting her, she looked less like a stranger.
Then Emma's school called.
I answered immediately looked less like a stranger.
Then Emma's school called.
I answered immediately.
"Mr. Bennett? This is Mrs. Collins from.
"Mr. Bennett? This is Mrs.
Collins from the front office. There's been a the front office. There's been a small problem.""
My heart jumped.
"Is Emma okay?""
"She's small problem.""
My heart jumped.
"Is Emma okay?""
"She's fine physically. But a woman came to collect her fine physically. But a woman came to collect her.""
I stood up.
"Who?""
"She said she was a relative.""
I stood up.
"Who?""
"She said she was a relative. She knew Emma's nickname and gave us your father's name as a reference.""
My blood ran. She knew Emma's nickname and gave us your father's name as a reference.""
My blood ran cold.
"What happened?""
"Emma refused to leave with her. We asked the woman for identification cold.
"What happened?""
"Emma refused to leave with her. We asked the woman for identification, and she left.""
I gripped the phone.
"What did she look like?""
"Gray coat., and she left.""
I gripped the phone.
"What did she look like?""
"Gray coat. White hair.""
I closed my eyes.
The woman Emma had seen outside school.
My mother White hair.""
I closed my eyes.
The woman Emma had seen outside school.
My mother.
"Did she leave a message?""
"Yes. She asked us to tell you that she needed to speak.
"Did she leave a message?""
"Yes. She asked us to tell you that she needed to speak to Emma before it was too late.""
I hung up.
Rachel stood immediately.
"What's wrong to Emma before it was too late.""
I hung up.
Rachel stood immediately.
"What's wrong?""
I told them.
Lily looked toward the front door?""
I told them.
Lily looked toward the front door.
"Maybe it really was your mother.""
"I.
"Maybe it really was your mother.""
"I think it was.""
"Then why didn't she come here?""
I didn't know.
But something about the think it was.""
"Then why didn't she come here?""
I didn't know.
But something about the timing frightened me.
My mother had been in contact with Emma before timing frightened me.
My mother had been in contact with Emma before I even knew she was alive.
Why?
Twenty minutes I even knew she was alive.
Why?
Twenty minutes later, Michael arrived.
He parked across the street and walked toward the house later, Michael arrived.
He parked across the street and walked toward the house.
I opened the door before he knocked.
He looked exhausted.
His hair was damp.
I opened the door before he knocked.
He looked exhausted.
His hair was damp from the rain, and his hands were shaking.
"Hey, Dan.""
I stepped aside from the rain, and his hands were shaking.
"Hey, Dan.""
I stepped aside.
He entered.
His eyes immediately found the photograph on the counter.
.
He entered.
His eyes immediately found the photograph on the counter.
Then he saw Rachel.
"Hi, Rachel.""
She stared at himThen he saw Rachel.
"Hi, Rachel.""
She stared at him.
"Do you know who you are?""
Michael gave a sad smile.
"That's what.
"Do you know who you are?""
Michael gave a sad smile.
"That's what we're here to discuss.""
I closed the door.
"Start talking we're here to discuss.""
I closed the door.
"Start talking.""
Michael sat down.
For a few moments, he simply stared at his hands.""
Michael sat down.
For a few moments, he simply stared at his hands.
Then he rolled up his left sleeve.
A crescent-shaped birthmark sat just above.
Then he rolled up his left sleeve.
A crescent-shaped birthmark sat just above his wrist.
Identical to mine.
"Your mother gave me his wrist.
Identical to mine.
"Your mother gave me this name," he said.
"Michael.""
"Why?""
" this name," he said.
"Michael.""
"Why?""
"Because she couldn't bear to hear the name Robert had chosen.""
IBecause she couldn't bear to hear the name Robert had chosen.""
I frowned.
"What name?""
"Robert wanted to call me Edward.""
Rachel looked confused.
"Why Edward?""
frowned.
"What name?""
"Robert wanted to call me Edward.""
Rachel looked confused.
"Why Edward?""
Michael glanced at her.
"Because it was the name of his father.Michael glanced at her.
"Because it was the name of his father. The man who left the family estate to Margaret.""
I felt a chill The man who left the family estate to Margaret.""
I felt a chill.
"The inheritance.""
Michael nodded.
"Your grandfather's will stated that.
"The inheritance.""
Michael nodded.
"Your grandfather's will stated that the estate would pass to Margaret's children equally. But Robert found a the estate would pass to Margaret's children equally. But Robert found a loophole.
He believed that if one child was legally recognized as the primary heir loophole. He believed that if one child was legally recognized as the primary heir, he could control the trust.""
"Which child?""
Michael looked at, he could control the trust.""
"Which child?""
Michael looked at me.
"You.""
"Why me?""
"Because the hospital records listed you as the surviving male me.
"You.""
"Why me?""
"Because the hospital records listed you as the surviving male child.""
I shook my head.
"But you survived too child.""
I shook my head.
"But you survived too.""
"Yes. And Robert knew.""
Michael leaned forward.
"Margaret discovered.""
"Yes. And Robert knew.""
Michael leaned forward.
"Margaret discovered that the hospital had switched our identification bracelets. that the hospital had switched our identification bracelets. She suspected the switch had been deliberate.""
"Why would they do that?""
"Because She suspected the switch had been deliberate.""
"Why would they do that?""
"Because Robert wanted one child to disappear from the records. He wanted the estate to remain under Robert wanted one child to disappear from the records. He wanted the estate to remain under his control.""
I stared at him.
"So he gave you away?""
Michael nodded his control.""
I stared at him.
"So he gave you away?""
Michael nodded.
"But Margaret found me.""
"When?""
"When I.
"But Margaret found me.""
"When?""
"When I was four.""
Rachel gasped.
"What?""
"She visited the family who was raising was four.""
Rachel gasped.
"What?""
"She visited the family who was raising me. She told them she was my biological mother. She tried to bring me me.
She told them she was my biological mother. She tried to bring me home.""
"Why didn't she?""
Michael's eyes filled.
"Because Robert threatened to have her declared home.""
"Why didn't she?""
Michael's eyes filled.
"Because Robert threatened to have her declared mentally incompetent. He had already collected medical mentally incompetent. He had already collected medical records, statements from doctors, and affidavits claiming she was unstable.""
I records, statements from doctors, and affidavits claiming she was unstable.""
I remembered the documents in room 214.
"Vivian helped him remembered the documents in room 214.
"Vivian helped him.""
"Yes.""
Michael looked at Lily.
"And then Vivian discovered something about herself.""
.""
"Yes.""
Michael looked at Lily.
"And then Vivian discovered something about herself.""
"That Margaret was her mother," Lily said.
Michael nodded"That Margaret was her mother," Lily said.
Michael nodded.
"She became obsessed with the idea that Margaret.
"She became obsessed with the idea that Margaret owed her a family. Robert used that obsession.""
I leaned back.
" owed her a family. Robert used that obsession.""
I leaned back.
"How did you end up living across the street from me?""
Michael gave a painful smileHow did you end up living across the street from me?""
Michael gave a painful smile.
"That part wasn't an accident.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
.
"That part wasn't an accident.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"Robert arranged it.""
The room went silent.
"He wanted"Robert arranged it.""
The room went silent.
"He wanted me close," Michael continued.
"He wanted to keep an eye on me. He told me I was adopted and me close," Michael continued.
"He wanted to keep an eye on me. He told me I was adopted and that the people who raised me were my real parents that the people who raised me were my real parents.""
"Did you believe him?""
"For years.""
Michael rubbed his.""
"Did you believe him?""
"For years.""
Michael rubbed his forehead.
"Then, when I was twenty-six, I received a letter from Margaret. She told me the forehead.
"Then, when I was twenty-six, I received a letter from Margaret. She told me the truth.""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because truth.""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she asked me not to.""
"Why?""
"She said you were already surrounded she asked me not to.""
"Why?""
"She said you were already surrounded by people who could hurt you. She wanted me to become someone by people who could hurt you. She wanted me to become someone you could trust before you learned what had happened.""
I you could trust before you learned what had happened.""
I shook my head.
"That's insane.""
"I know.""
"You were my neighbor for shook my head.
"That's insane.""
"I know.""
"You were my neighbor for eight years.""
"Yes.""
"You watched my daughter grow up.""
His eyes eight years.""
"Yes.""
"You watched my daughter grow up.""
His eyes filled.
"Yes.""
"And you never thought I deserved to know?""
filled.
"Yes.""
"And you never thought I deserved to know?""
Michael lowered his head.
"I thought about telling you every day.""
I walked towardMichael lowered his head.
"I thought about telling you every day.""
I walked toward the window.
I remembered Michael helping Emma with her bicycle.
the window.
I remembered Michael helping Emma with her bicycle.
I remembered him carrying Sarah's groceries.
I remembered the night EmmaI remembered him carrying Sarah's groceries.
I remembered the night Emma had a fever and Michael had stayed awake with us until morning.
He had had a fever and Michael had stayed awake with us until morning.
He had been there for everything.
And yet, the most important thing about him had remained been there for everything.
And yet, the most important thing about him had remained hidden.
"Did you know about Lily?""
Michael nodded.
" hidden.
"Did you know about Lily?""
Michael nodded.
"Margaret told me.""
"Did you know about Vivian?""
"Yes.""
I turnedMargaret told me.""
"Did you know about Vivian?""
"Yes.""
I turned.
"Then why did you let her raise my daughter.
"Then why did you let her raise my daughter?""
Michael's expression changed.
"Because I didn't know she had taken her.""
I stared.
"What?""
"Margaret?""
Michael's expression changed.
"Because I didn't know she had taken her.""
I stared.
"What?""
"Margaret told me Laura had signed temporary guardianship papers. She said Lily told me Laura had signed temporary guardianship papers. She said Lily was safe. I didn't discover Vivian had kept her until recently.""
was safe. I didn't discover Vivian had kept her until recently.""
"How recently?""
"Three weeks ago.""
I remembered"How recently?""
"Three weeks ago.""
I remembered the photograph.
Vivian standing beside the baby.
"You were at the lake house?""
Michael nodded the photograph.
Vivian standing beside the baby.
"You were at the lake house?""
Michael nodded.
"That's when I saw Lily.""
She looked at him.
.
"That's when I saw Lily.""
She looked at him.
"You saw me?""
"Yes. You were in the garden. I recognized the cres"You saw me?""
"Yes. You were in the garden. I recognized the crescent bracelet.""
Lily looked down at her wrist.
She wore a small silver charmcent bracelet.""
Lily looked down at her wrist.
She wore a small silver charm.
The same one from the photograph.
"My grandmother gave me this when I.
The same one from the photograph.
"My grandmother gave me this when I was little," she whispered.
Michael nodded.
"Margaret had it made from the original was little," she whispered.
Michael nodded.
"Margaret had it made from the original hospital bracelet.""
Lily began crying.
Then Michael reached into his jacket.
He hospital bracelet.""
Lily began crying.
Then Michael reached into his jacket.
He removed a folded piece of paper.
"There's one more thing.""
I removed a folded piece of paper.
"There's one more thing.""
I took it.
It was a copy of a hospital record.
The date was the day I took it.
It was a copy of a hospital record.
The date was the day I was born.
Two male infants.
One female infant.
Three separate identification was born.
Two male infants.
One female infant.
Three separate identification numbers.
Beside one of the boys was a handwritten numbers.
Beside one of the boys was a handwritten note:
Transferred to private care by order of Robert Bennett.
The other boy's record note:
Transferred to private care by order of Robert Bennett.
The other boy's record contained a different note.
Identity reassigned.
And contained a different note.
Identity reassigned.
And beside the girl's name:
Death certificate issued without physical verification.
beside the girl's name:
Death certificate issued without physical verification.
I looked up.
"Three babies.""
Michael nodded.
"Yes.""
"WhichI looked up.
"Three babies.""
Michael nodded.
"Yes.""
"Which means the girl might have survived too.""
Michael didn't means the girl might have survived too.""
Michael didn't answer.
Instead, he pointed to the bottom of the page.
There was a signature.
answer.
Instead, he pointed to the bottom of the page.
There was a signature.
Samuel Hayes.
And underneath it, a handwritten message:
*I was instructed toSamuel Hayes.
And underneath it, a handwritten message:
I was instructed to record three deaths. I witnessed none.
Before I could process it record three deaths. I witnessed none.*
Before I could process it, someone knocked at the front door.
Three sharp knocks.
Then a woman's voice called from, someone knocked at the front door.
Three sharp knocks.
Then a woman's voice called from outside.
"Daniel? It's Margaret.""
My mother.
I ran toward outside.
"Daniel? It's Margaret.""
My mother.
I ran toward the door.
But Michael grabbed my arm.
"Wait.""
I turned.
the door.
But Michael grabbed my arm.
"Wait.""
I turned.
"What?""
He looked terrified.
"That's not your mother.""
The knocking stopped.
Then the woman"What?""
He looked terrified.
"That's not your mother.""
The knocking stopped.
Then the woman outside spoke again.
This time, she used a voice I recognized.
outside spoke again.
This time, she used a voice I recognized.
My mother's voice.
"Daniel, sweetheart. Open the door.""
Michael stepped betweenMy mother's voice.
"Daniel, sweetheart. Open the door.""
Michael stepped between me and the entrance.
Then he whispered:
"Your mother is me and the entrance.
Then he whispered:
May you like
"Your mother is still in the hospital.""
still in the hospital.""
