Chapter 11: The Father I Was Told Was Dead
I read the sentence again.
Your father isn't dead, Noah.
For eleven years, I had believed my biological father had died before I was born.
My mother never spoke badly about him.
She simply said he wasn't part of our lives.
When I was younger, I asked whether he would ever come to my birthday.
She would kiss my forehead and tell me that some people made mistakes they couldn't undo.
Then Curtis arrived.
He told me a different story.
He said my father had abandoned us because he didn't want a child.
I believed him.
Now Aunt Sarah was telling me everything I knew was wrong.
"Who is my father?"" I asked.
Sarah looked at Daniel.
He slowly lowered his head.
"His name is Daniel Brooks.""
I stared at the man sitting beside the window.
The same man who had been introduced as my mother's former business partner.
The same man whose daughter appeared in the photograph.
I shook my head.
"No.""
Daniel stood slowly.
"Noah...""
"You're my father?""
He nodded.
I stepped backward.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I was afraid you would hate me.""
I looked at Ray.
He didn't interrupt.
Daniel approached but stopped when I raised my hand.
"Don't.""
He froze.
"I deserve that," he whispered.
I looked at the photograph again.
My mother.
Daniel.
The little girl.
And suddenly, memories began connecting.
Mom used to keep a photograph inside her bedroom drawer.
Curtis had taken it away one afternoon and told me never to ask about it again.
I had thought the man in the picture was a friend.
He was my father.
"Why did Mom say you were dead?""
Daniel sat down.
"Because after the business collapsed, I was involved in something terrible. Your mother discovered that I had helped transfer money illegally. I was facing criminal charges.""
"Did you steal our money?""
Daniel looked down.
"I helped Curtis move some of it. I told myself it was temporary. I thought I could fix everything before Margaret found out.""
"But she found out.""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't you come back?""
Daniel's voice cracked.
"Because Curtis threatened your mother. He told me he would use my mistakes to destroy her if I tried to expose him.""
I clenched my jaw.
"So you left her alone?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
I wanted to shout.
I wanted to ask why he hadn't come to my birthday, why he hadn't helped when Curtis took our food, why he hadn't searched for us when we disappeared from school.
Instead, I asked one question.
"Did you know Lily was locked in that room?""
Daniel looked horrified.
"What?""
"Did you know we were sleeping in a storage room?""
"No.""
"Did you know I was working at the truck stop?""
He shook his head.
I stared at him.
"Then you weren't looking very hard.""
Daniel covered his face.
Ray placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You don't have to forgive him today, son.""
I nodded.
Officer Miller picked up the flash drive from the box.
"We need to find out what's on this.""
He connected it to a secure computer.
Several folders appeared.
One was labeled BANK RECORDS.
Another was labeled PROPERTY TRANSFERS.
The final folder contained a single video file.
The date matched the day before my mother's death.
Officer Miller opened it.
The screen showed my mother sitting in the hospital room.
She looked exhausted.
Her face was pale, and her hair was tied loosely behind her head.
But her voice was clear.
"If you're watching this, then Curtis has probably told you that I was unstable, that I was confused, and that I didn't know what I was signing.""
I felt Lily squeeze my hand.
Mom continued.
"That's a lie.""
She lifted several documents toward the camera.
"Curtis has been stealing from the inheritance my father left for Noah and Lily. He used Daniel's name, my signature, and several false property transfers to hide the money.""
Daniel lowered his head.
Mom continued.
"I gave Daniel a chance to correct his mistakes. He refused at first, but eventually he agreed to help me recover the original records.""
Officer Miller glanced at Daniel.
Mom looked directly into the camera.
"But there is something else.""
She leaned closer.
"Curtis has been working with someone inside the hospital. Someone who has access to patient records and medication schedules.""
Sarah covered her mouth.
The video continued.
"I don't know how far this goes. I don't know who else is involved. But if something happens to me, I need my children protected.""
Then Mom paused.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Noah, sweetheart, if you're watching this, I need you to know something.""
I moved closer to the screen.
"You were never the reason I stayed. You were the reason I kept fighting.""
I started crying.
She smiled faintly.
"And Lily, my little sunshine, Mommy loves you. I wish I could watch you grow up.""
The video ended.
Nobody spoke.
Then Officer Miller replayed the final section.
This time, he noticed something in the background.
A reflection in the glass cabinet behind my mother.
A person standing near the doorway.
Officer Miller paused the video.
He enlarged the image.
The person wore a white medical coat.
Evelyn leaned forward.
"That's Dr. William Foster.""
Officer Miller looked at her.
"Who is he?""
"He was the physician responsible for Margaret's care.""
Sarah began shaking her head.
"No.""
Ray turned toward her.
"What?""
Sarah pointed at the screen.
"That's not Dr. Foster.""
Everybody looked at her.
She took a shaky breath.
"That's Curtis.""
I stared.
The reflection was blurry, but the shape of the face and the distinctive scar above the left eyebrow were unmistakable.
Curtis had a scar exactly like that.
Officer Miller immediately closed the video.
"We need the original medical records.""
Daniel spoke.
"I have something that might help.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded hospital receipt.
"I found this in Margaret's old apartment.""
Officer Miller unfolded it.
It was a payment receipt for a private medical consultation.
The patient's name was Margaret Hayes.
But the person who had paid was listed as Robert Hayes.
Detective Robert.
Officer Miller stared at the document.
"That's why he was involved.""
Sarah nodded.
"He arranged the private consultation. Curtis told me it was to keep Margaret comfortable.""
I looked at the receipt.
"Was my mother sick?""
Evelyn gently answered.
"Yes. But her condition wasn't supposed to be fatal.""
I looked up.
"What do you mean?""
Evelyn's voice trembled.
"Margaret was recovering. Her doctors expected her to return home.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did she die?""
Nobody answered.
Officer Miller picked up the phone and called the hospital's medical records department.
He requested the original medication logs.
Then he called the medical examiner.
Within minutes, his expression changed.
He turned toward us.
"There's a problem.""
Ray stepped closer.
"What kind?""
Officer Miller looked at the video.
"Margaret's official medical file says she died at 9:14 p.m.""
He paused.
"But the nurse's original handwritten notes show she was still speaking at 11:32 p.m.""
I felt the room spin.
"That's impossible.""
Officer Miller shook his head.
"Someone altered the records.""
Then Daniel spoke.
"I know who was with her at 11:32.""
Everyone turned.
Daniel looked directly at me.
"Your mother wasn't alone when she died.""
"Who was there?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Your father.""
May you like
He pointed toward himself.
"And I heard her last words.""
