Chapter 13: The Daughter Who Wasn't Hers
For several seconds, I couldn't understand what Margaret had just said.
“Elena isn't Helen's daughter.””
I stared at my grandmother.
“What does that mean?””
Margaret's hands trembled as she picked up the fallen chair.
“It means your mother raised a child who wasn't biologically hers.””
Sarah looked between us.
“Are you saying Elena was adopted?””
Margaret nodded.
“Not exactly.””
Officer Ramirez stepped closer.
“Mrs. Carter, I need you to explain this carefully.””
Margaret took a deep breath.
“Twenty-eight years ago, Evelyn gave birth to a little girl. She wasn't married, and she was struggling financially. Helen convinced her to let the baby stay with our family temporarily.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because Helen couldn't have another child.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“But Elena is younger than me.””
“By three years.””
Margaret nodded.
“Your mother wanted a daughter. Evelyn wanted to finish school and get herself established. They agreed that the arrangement would last six months.””
“And it didn't?””
Margaret shook her head.
“Helen refused to return the baby.””
I stared at the wall.
Elena.
My sister.
The person who had spent fourteen months keeping my son beneath her floor.
The person who had attended our father's funeral.
The person who had held Sarah while she cried.
She wasn't my biological sister?
“Did Elena know?”” I asked.
Margaret looked away.
“Not until recently.””
“How recently?””
“After your father died.””
Sarah folded her arms.
“Why would Helen hide that from her?””
“Because she was afraid Evelyn would come back for her.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“Then why did Evelyn take Caleb?””
Margaret shook her head.
“She didn't. Caleb was her son. She had every right to him.””
“But you just said she stole Elena.””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“Helen told Evelyn that the baby had died.””
The room became silent.
Sarah whispered, “Oh, my God.””
Margaret continued.
“Evelyn spent years believing her daughter was buried somewhere. She only discovered the truth when she found the original birth records in the barn.””
I looked at the recorder.
“That's what Dad was investigating.””
“Yes.””
“And Mom killed him?””
Margaret's face tightened.
“I don't know whether she physically killed him. But I know she arranged for him to be silenced.””
Officer Ramirez immediately wrote something down.
“Where is Evelyn now?””
Margaret shook her head.
“I don't know.””
The phone on the table began ringing again.
Sarah looked at the screen.
It was the same unknown number.
She answered.
“Oliver?””
A little boy whispered, “Mom?””
Sarah closed her eyes.
“I'm not your mother, sweetheart. But I'm going to help you. Where are you?””
A pause.
“There's a big white house.””
“Can you see a street sign?””
“No.””
“Is anyone with you?””
The child started crying.
“Grandma Evelyn.””
Margaret grabbed the phone.
“Oliver, it's Grandma Margaret. Listen to me. Are you safe?””
“I don't know.””
“Is Evelyn hurting you?””
“No. She says I'm going to meet my real family.””
Margaret looked at me.
“Where is she taking you?””
Oliver sniffled.
“There's a car.””
Then a woman's voice sounded in the background.
“Who are you talking to?””
The boy gasped.
The call ended.
Ramirez was already moving.
“Get the number traced. Contact highway patrol. We need to locate the vehicle.””
I turned toward Margaret.
“Can you recognize Evelyn?””
She nodded.
“Of course.””
“Then describe her.””
Margaret closed her eyes.
“She's almost identical to Helen. Same height, same eyes, same voice. The only difference is a small scar beneath her left ear.””
I looked at Sarah.
“Your mother had that scar?””
Sarah shook her head.
“No.””
Margaret's expression changed.
“Then it was Evelyn.””
Ramirez received a message.
She read it, then looked at us.
“We have a possible location. A property registered to an inactive company outside Flagstaff.””
I grabbed my keys.
Ramirez stopped me.
“You are not driving into an active investigation.””
“That's a child.””
“And that's why trained officers are going.””
Sarah took my hand.
“Daniel, we have to go.””
Ramirez hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“You can follow our convoy. You will remain outside until the scene is secure.””
We left the hospital with Margaret.
Before we reached the parking lot, my phone rang.
Elena.
I stared at her name.
For a moment, I considered ignoring it.
Then I answered.
“Where are you?””
She was crying.
“Daniel, I need you to listen.””
“I'm listening.””
“Michael is dead.””
I stopped walking.
“What?””
“I just received a message from someone at the house. He was found in his car.””
“How?””
“I don't know.””
“Where are you?””
“Police custody.””
“Then why are you calling me?””
“Because Evelyn is going to the property.””
I looked toward Ramirez.
“What property?””
“The white house.””
My blood ran cold.
“Evelyn has Oliver.””
Elena began sobbing.
“Daniel, she's going to take him to the barn.””
“Why?””
“Because there's something buried there.””
“What?””
Elena whispered:
“The original birth records. And the truth about who killed our father.””
Then she said something else.
Something I hadn't expected.
“Please don't let her find the second key.””
The call disconnected.
I looked at Ramirez.
“What second key?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Margaret suddenly reached into her handbag.
Her fingers closed around something metallic.
A small brass key.
She looked at me with terror in her eyes.
“Your father gave this to me before he died.””
I stared at it.
“Why?””
Margaret swallowed.
“Because the second key opens the room where he kept the real records.””
May you like
She looked toward the road.
“And if Evelyn gets there first, she'll destroy the only evidence that can prove what happened to all of you.””
