Chapter 17: Elizabeth's Real Story
Elizabeth didn't look frightened.
She looked disappointed.
As if we'd interrupted something she'd planned carefully for years.
Daniel slowly stood, keeping one hand on Martin's shoulder.
"Mom?""
Elizabeth glanced at him.
"Don't call me that.""
He stared.
"You raised me.""
"I protected you.""
"From what?""
"From the truth.""
I stepped between her and my father.
"You shot him?""
"No. Martin did.""
She nodded toward the blood spreading across Dad's shirt.
"Though I admit I'm not particularly upset about it.""
My stomach turned.
"Why?""
Elizabeth looked at the brass key in my hand.
"Because Robert should have handed it over twenty-eight years ago.""
Dad struggled to sit upright.
"You were never supposed to be involved, Elizabeth.""
She laughed.
"That's what you always told yourself. You needed someone to handle the paperwork, didn't you? Someone respectable. Someone who could make children disappear without anyone asking questions.""
Daniel looked at her.
"What children?""
She sighed.
"You're old enough to hear it now.""
She stepped farther into the warehouse.
"Your father—your real father—was a man named Peter Collins. He was a civilian medical researcher. He worked with Rebecca and Laura.""
Daniel's expression changed.
"Then why did you tell me I was Laura's son?""
"Because Laura died before you were old enough to remember her.""
"How?""
Elizabeth looked at Martin.
"He knows.""
Martin wiped blood from his lip.
"Laura wasn't killed. She escaped.""
Elizabeth's eyes narrowed.
"She didn't escape. She was taken.""
Dad shook his head.
"Enough.""
Elizabeth turned toward him.
"You don't get to decide when the truth ends, Robert.""
She faced me.
"Your mother, Margaret, was involved in the hospital transfers. She signed the authorization because she believed the children were being moved to safety. She didn't know the real purpose.""
"Which was?""
Elizabeth hesitated.
Then she answered.
"The operation was designed to erase identities. The people behind it wanted to move children connected to witnesses, investigators, and military personnel into families that would never be suspected.""
I thought of Emily.
"That's why her records were changed?""
"Yes. Rebecca had discovered the scheme. Her daughter was one of the children they wanted to hide.""
"Emily.""
Elizabeth nodded.
"Michael and Helen raised her because they were considered safe. Robert arranged it after Rebecca was killed.""
Thomas stepped forward.
"Then why did you tell us she was mine?""
"Because I needed you searching in the wrong direction.""
Thomas looked devastated.
"You used me.""
"I used everyone.""
Daniel stared at her.
"And me?""
Elizabeth's face softened for the first time.
"You were the only child I couldn't bear to lose.""
"Then why lie about my parents?""
"Because Peter Collins was still alive when you were born. He was being hunted. If anyone discovered you were his son, they would have used you to find him.""
I looked at Dad.
"Is Peter alive?""
Dad didn't answer.
Elizabeth smiled faintly.
"That's the question your father has been avoiding.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Where is he?""
Elizabeth looked directly at him.
"He's closer than you think.""
Martin suddenly laughed.
"Don't listen to her.""
Elizabeth turned.
"You're in no position to give advice.""
Martin struggled to his feet.
"Robert has the original ledger. He knows who Peter really is.""
Dad pressed his hand against his wound.
"Martin, stop.""
But Martin continued.
"Tell them, Robert. Tell them why you kept the name Collins out of every official report.""
Dad looked at me.
His expression told me he was afraid.
"Peter Collins wasn't just a researcher," he said.
"He was the person who designed the identity-transfer system.""
Daniel went still.
"You're saying my father created it?""
"Yes.""
"And you worked with him?""
"For a short time.""
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Longer than that.""
Dad looked at her.
"Don't.""
"You signed the first transfer order, Robert. You knew exactly what the system was designed to do.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Then why did you help?""
Dad looked at me.
"Because I thought I could control it. I believed the children would be protected.""
"And when you realized what was happening?""
"I tried to shut it down.""
Martin laughed.
"You tried to save yourself.""
Dad didn't respond.
Thomas approached Elizabeth.
"Where is Peter now?""
She looked at him.
"At the house.""
Daniel's voice cracked.
"Which house?""
"Mine.""
He stared at her.
"You said you were alone.""
"I lied.""
I looked at the brass key.
"That's what the cabinet is for, isn't it?""
Elizabeth nodded.
"The ledger will show every child who was transferred. It will also show who authorized each transfer.""
"And the recording?""
"Names. Dates. Instructions. Everything.""
Dad struggled to stand.
"Sarah, don't give her the key.""
Elizabeth took another step toward me.
"Your father wants you to believe he's protecting you. But he is protecting himself.""
"Why would I trust you?""
"Because I have something you need.""
She reached into her coat and removed a small photograph.
It showed a young woman holding a baby.
The woman was Margaret.
The baby was me.
On the back was a handwritten date: May 14, 1987.
Below it were four words.
The first child survived.
I looked up.
"What does that mean?""
Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears.
"It means you weren't the first baby Margaret gave birth to.""
The warehouse seemed to tilt.
Dad closed his eyes.
Thomas whispered something under his breath.
I looked at Elizabeth.
"How many children did my mother have?""
Elizabeth swallowed.
"Two.""
"Where is the other one?""
She looked toward Daniel.
"Standing in this room.""
I stared at him.
Daniel looked as confused as I felt.
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Not Daniel.""
Her eyes moved toward the entrance.
A man stepped out of the shadows.
He was older, with silver hair and a scar running down his cheek.
He looked at my father.
Then he looked at me.
And finally, he spoke.
"Hello, Sarah.""
Dad whispered his name.
"Peter.""
Daniel stared at the man.
"My father?""
Peter nodded.
Then he looked at me.
"Your brother has been looking for you for thirty-nine years.""
I couldn't breathe.
My brother.
The first child.
The one Margaret had supposedly lost.
Peter stepped closer.
"Sarah, your mother didn't give birth to two children.""
May you like
He glanced at Robert.
"She gave birth to three.""
