Chapter 10: The Children Hidden in the Files
Walter read the document three times.
Two additional children.
Two names he had never heard.
Two lives that had apparently been erased before he even knew they existed.
He slowly lowered the paper.
“How many children did my wife have?””
Susan Whitaker-Reed looked at the floor.
“I don't know.””
“You worked on the adoption files.””
“I handled Emily's case. I didn't know about the others until recently.””
Danny grabbed the document.
“Who are they?””
Susan pointed to the first name.
“Michael Hayes. Born in 1997.””
Then she pointed to the second.
“Rebecca Hayes. Born in 2001.””
Walter stared.
“Danny was born in 1975. Eleanor and I married in 1973. We never had another child.””
Susan nodded.
“That's what the public records show.””
“Then these records are wrong.””
Susan opened another folder.
“Unfortunately, they aren't.””
She placed three birth certificates on the desk.
All three listed Eleanor Hayes as the mother.
Walter Hayes was listed as the father.
The first belonged to Danny.
The second belonged to Michael.
The third belonged to Rebecca.
Walter sat down.
“Michael was born when?””
“March 1997.””
“And Rebecca?””
“August 2001.””
Walter covered his mouth.
He remembered 1997.
He had spent that year working long hours repairing commercial equipment.
Eleanor had told him she was visiting her sister.
But she had never had a sister.
In 2001, Walter had been recovering from surgery.
Eleanor had told him she needed to spend several nights at a friend's house because she couldn't handle watching him struggle.
He had thanked her for taking care of him.
Now he wondered whether she had been somewhere else entirely.
Danny stared at the certificates.
“Why would she have two more children?””
Susan shook her head.
“I don't know whether they were both biological children. That's what the records claim, but I haven't seen the original medical files.””
Walter looked at her.
“And you didn't think to tell me?””
Susan's eyes filled.
“I was threatened.””
“By Charles?””
“Yes.””
Walter stood.
“Everyone was threatened. My son was threatened. My wife was threatened.
My daughter was taken. My grandchildren grew up without knowing their grandfather.””
His voice broke.
“And everybody decided I was the easiest person to lie to.””
Danny stepped beside him.
“Dad, we'll find them.””
Walter looked at the two names.
“Where?””
Susan pulled out another document.
“Michael was adopted by a couple in Pennsylvania. Rebecca's adoption record was sealed shortly after her birth.””
Danny frowned.
“Who arranged it?””
Susan turned the paper.
The signature was familiar.
Richard Miller.
Walter looked at Danny.
“Your uncle?””
Danny nodded.
“Apparently.””
Susan continued.
“There is one more thing. Michael's adoptive parents contacted our agency several years ago. They wanted help finding his biological family.””
Walter's eyes widened.
“Did they find us?””
“No. The request was stopped.””
“By whom?””
Susan looked toward the door.
“Charles Bennett.””
They left the counseling center with copies of the documents.
Rhett had already arranged for Caleb to investigate Michael's adoption records through publicly available information and legitimate legal channels.
Walter sat in the truck, staring at the birth certificate.
“Do you think Eleanor loved them?””
Danny looked at him.
“Who?””
“The children.””
Danny took a breath.
“I don't know.””
Walter folded the document.
“She used to talk about having another baby.””
Danny looked surprised.
“When?””
“When you were little. She said she wanted a house full of children.””
He paused.
“I told her we couldn't afford it.””
Danny lowered his eyes.
“Maybe she wanted something different from the life we had.””
Walter looked at him.
“Nothing excuses what she did.””
“I know.””
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Danny asked:
“Dad, did Mom ever tell you about a place called Willow Creek?””
Walter frowned.
“No.””
Danny stared at the road.
“That's where I was taken after the hospital.””
Rhett glanced at him.
“What's there?””
“A private facility. I was kept there for nearly four months.””
“Did you see anyone?””
Danny shook his head.
“Only nurses. Except once.””
“Who?””
“My mother.””
Walter turned sharply.
“You said Eleanor never came back.””
Danny swallowed.
“I remembered something after hearing Patricia's recording.””
He rubbed his left hand.
“She visited me the night before I was moved. She was crying. She told me she had another child.””
Walter's breathing stopped.
“What did she say?””
Danny looked at him.
“She said the child was in danger, too.””
That evening, Caleb returned with a file.
He placed it on the cabin table.
“I found Michael.””
Walter stood immediately.
“Where?””
“Outside Pittsburgh. His adoptive parents are both alive. He lives under the name Michael Foster.””
Walter gripped the chair.
“Does he know?””
Caleb shook his head.
“He knows he was adopted. His parents told him when he was young.””
Danny looked at the file.
“Has anyone contacted him?””
“No. But there's something strange.””
Caleb opened a photograph.
It showed a young man in his early thirties standing beside a motorcycle.
He had dark hair and Walter's unmistakable jawline.
Walter touched the picture.
“He looks like Danny.””
Danny studied it.
“Yeah.””
Caleb continued.
“Michael contacted a private investigator last year. He was looking for his biological father.””
Walter looked up.
“Why?””
“Because he received an anonymous letter claiming his father was still alive.””
Walter stared at the photograph.
“Who sent it?””
Caleb turned the page.
The letter had been mailed from Kentucky.
The signature at the bottom was a single initial.
*E.*
Walter sat down.
“Eleanor?””
Danny nodded slowly.
“Maybe.””
Rhett examined the envelope.
“There's a postmark.””
Caleb pointed to it.
“Louisville. Six months before Eleanor died.””
Walter looked at Danny.
His wife had apparently tried to contact another child before her death.
But why?
And why had she never contacted Danny?
Then Caleb's phone rang.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through.
“Is this Caleb Morgan?””
“Who's asking?””
“My name is Emily Whitaker.””
Everyone froze.
Caleb slowly looked at Walter.
“Where are you?””
The woman whispered:
May you like
“I think I'm being followed.””
Then the call disconnected.
