Chapter 12: The Reunion at St. Mary's
I refused to go alone.
Agent Hayes made that very clear.
Thomas had already demonstrated that he was willing to threaten Catherine, shoot at investigators, and disappear whenever he sensed danger.
But he had one weakness.
He believed I would always come when he called.
And he was counting on it.
At 2:36 a.m., a convoy of unmarked vehicles entered the St. Mary's parking garage.
Agent Hayes sat beside me.
“Remember, you don't negotiate with him.””
“I understand.””
“He may try to manipulate you.””
“He's been doing that since I was born.””
She looked at me.
“Then tonight it ends.””
I stared through the windshield.
The hospital windows glowed against the dark sky.
Somewhere inside was my sister.
Abigail.
The little girl in Daniel's photograph.
The woman who had grown up without knowing she had a twin.
I wondered whether she laughed like me.
Whether she had the same habits.
Whether she hated thunderstorms.
Whether she had ever wondered why she felt something was missing.
Agent Hayes touched my shoulder.
“We're ready.””
We entered through the emergency department.
A nurse at the reception desk looked up.
“Can I help you?””
Agent Hayes displayed her badge.
“Federal investigation. We're looking for Abigail Reed.””
The nurse frowned.
“She's on the third floor.””
“Is she working tonight?””
“Yes. She just started her shift.””
My heart began racing.
We took the elevator.
The third-floor corridor was quiet.
A cleaning cart stood near the nurses' station.
A young woman in blue scrubs was reviewing a patient's chart.
She had dark hair tied into a loose bun.
And above her left eyebrow was a small scar.
I stopped walking.
She looked up.
“Can I help you?””
Her voice was gentle.
Familiar.
I couldn't explain why.
I simply stared.
Agent Hayes stepped forward.
“Are you Abigail Reed?””
“Yes.””
“We need to speak with you.””
Abigail looked at me.
“What's this about?””
I tried to speak.
Nothing came out.
Then she smiled politely.
“Are you all right?””
I nodded.
“What's your full name?””
She frowned.
“Abigail Catherine Reed.””
Catherine.
My mother's name.
I felt tears filling my eyes.
“I'm Elena.””
She blinked.
“Okay?””
I stepped closer.
“I think we're sisters.””
Her expression changed.
“I'm sorry?””
I pulled out the photograph.
The one Daniel had left inside the metal box.
Abigail took it.
Her fingers trembled.
“Where did you get this?””
“It belonged to my father.””
She stared at the picture.
Then she turned it over.
Elena's sister. Keep her away from Thomas.
Her face went pale.
“Who is Thomas?””
I looked at her.
“Your adoptive father.””
She shook her head.
“My adoptive father died five years ago.””
“His name was Thomas Reed.””
“No.””
She stepped backward.
“My father was Thomas Bennett.””
I looked at Agent Hayes.
She opened the file.
“Abigail, your original birth records identify you as Catherine Reed's daughter. You were born on October fourteenth, twenty-three years ago, alongside another girl.””
Abigail looked between us.
“That's impossible.””
I held out my hand.
“I'm Elena.””
She stared at me.
“Twins?””
I nodded.
Her eyes filled.
“Oh, my God.””
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then she reached for my hand.
Her fingers were cold.
I held them tightly.
“I've spent my whole life wondering why I felt like something was missing,” she whispered.
I began crying.
“So have I.””
She looked at the photograph again.
“Is that our mother?””
“Yes.””
“Is she alive?””
I nodded.
Abigail covered her mouth.
Then she laughed through her tears.
“I'm going to meet my mother?””
Before I could answer, the elevator doors opened.
A familiar voice came from the corridor.
“Abigail.””
Thomas Reed stepped out.
He wore a dark suit and carried a leather briefcase.
Two men stood behind him.
Abigail turned.
“Dad?””
Thomas smiled.
“Sweetheart. What are you doing here?””
She looked at me.
Then back at him.
“Who is this woman?””
Thomas's smile disappeared.
I stepped forward.
“I'm her twin sister.””
He sighed.
“I see.””
Abigail looked confused.
“Dad, what's happening?””
Thomas walked toward her.
“Come with me. We need to talk.””
She didn't move.
“Is it true?””
He glanced at the photograph in her hand.
“Abigail, you've been through enough tonight.””
“Is it true?””
Thomas's voice softened.
“I raised you. I fed you. I paid for your education.
I was there when you were sick. Whatever these people tell you, remember who your family is.””
Abigail looked at him.
“Were you my biological father?””
He didn't answer.
That was enough.
She began crying.
“You lied to me?””
Thomas's expression hardened.
“I protected you.””
“From what?””
“From people who would use you.””
I stepped forward.
“Like you used me?””
Thomas turned toward me.
“Elena, this is not the time.””
“It's exactly the time.””
Agent Hayes moved between us.
“Thomas Reed, you're under arrest.””
Thomas laughed.
“On what grounds?””
“Conspiracy, financial fraud, witness intimidation, and suspected involvement in the death of Daniel Hayes.””
His smile vanished.
He looked at Abigail.
“Tell them to leave.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Abigail.””
“No!””
Her voice echoed down the corridor.
“You told me my mother died giving birth. You told me I was an only child. You told me my father was dead.””
Thomas's jaw tightened.
“I did what was necessary.””
Abigail stepped closer to me.
“Why?””
Thomas looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said something that made my stomach turn.
“Because your mother wanted to keep both of you.””
I stared.
“What?””
Thomas smiled bitterly.
“Catherine was going to expose everything. She knew about the trust. She knew about Richard. She knew about the accounts.””
Abigail shook her head.
“You took me because of money?””
Thomas didn't answer.
Agent Hayes moved forward.
“Put your hands where I can see them.””
Thomas suddenly reached into his briefcase.
One of his men lunged toward the nurses' station.
A hospital alarm sounded.
Agent Hayes drew her weapon.
“DROP IT!””
Thomas threw the briefcase.
It struck the floor.
Documents scattered across the corridor.
He ran toward the stairwell.
Two investigators pursued him.
His second man was tackled against the wall.
I pulled Abigail behind me.
“Stay back!””
Then a gunshot cracked through the corridor.
Someone screamed.
Thomas stumbled.
He grabbed the railing, trying to stay upright.
Agent Hayes rushed toward him.
“Don't move!””
Thomas looked at me.
His face was twisted with anger.
“You think you've won?””
I stood beside my sister.
“Yes.””
He laughed weakly.
“Then ask your mother what happened to Richard's first wife.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Thomas looked at Abigail.
“Ask her why your father had another daughter before you were born.””
Agent Hayes restrained him.
But his words remained.
Richard had been married when my mother became pregnant.
He had two children.
He had told me about them.
But he had never mentioned a daughter who might be connected to this family.
Abigail squeezed my hand.
“Elena?””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“There's something strange.””
She pointed toward the scattered documents.
One had landed near her feet.
It was a medical report.
She picked it up.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then she stopped.
“Why is my name here?””
I took the document.
It was a hospital admission record dated five years earlier.
Patient: Thomas Reed.
Cause of admission: Cardiac arrest.
The attending physician's name was printed beneath.
Dr. Samuel Price.
I stared.
“Thomas was treated by the same doctor who delivered us.””
Abigail nodded slowly.
Then she pointed to the second page.
A handwritten note appeared at the bottom.
Patient requested confirmation that daughter remains unaware of original parentage.
I looked at her.
“Your parentage?””
She shook her head.
“I don't understand.””
I turned the page.
There was a DNA test result attached.
The biological relationship section listed three individuals.
Thomas Reed.
Abigail Reed.
And…
Richard Bennett.
I stared at the result.
Abigail wasn't Thomas's biological daughter.
But she wasn't Richard's either.
The report identified a third man.
A man whose name I had never seen before.
Dr. Samuel Price.
I looked toward Agent Hayes.
“There's something wrong with this report.””
She took it from me.
Her face went pale.
“Mrs. Whitmore…”
“What?””
She pointed to the date.
The DNA test had been performed only six months ago.
And beneath the laboratory signature was a note:
*PATERNITY CONFIRMED: DR. SAMUEL PRICE.*
I looked at Abigail.
Then toward the stairwell where Thomas had disappeared.
My sister had been stolen from our mother.
Raised by a man who wasn't her father.
And her biological father was the doctor who had helped erase our mother's existence.
But the worst part was still ahead.
Because when Agent Hayes turned the final page, she found another name.
May you like
The person who had paid for the DNA test.
*Adrian Whitmore.*
