Chapter 18: The Children in the Photograph
Marcus looked up.
"What did you say?""
Daniel's eyes were fixed on Robert.
"He took another child.""
"Who?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Elizabeth.""
Elizabeth stepped closer.
"What?""
Daniel nodded.
"James didn't just protect you and me. He protected three babies that night.""
Samuel looked stunned.
"Three?""
Daniel nodded.
"Catherine's daughter. The baby Richard believed was his. And the child James raised as his own.""
Elizabeth shook her head.
"You're saying I was switched too?""
Daniel looked at her.
"Not exactly.""
He glanced toward Robert.
"He was going to tell you.""
Marcus tightened his grip on Robert's hand.
"Then tell us now.""
Daniel took a breath.
"Richard believed Catherine had given birth to a boy. He wanted that child because he thought a male heir would give him control over the partnership's future.""
Elizabeth frowned.
"But I was born a girl.""
"Yes. Catherine gave birth to you. But there was another baby born that night.""
Marcus felt a chill.
"Me.""
Daniel nodded.
"Richard believed Marcus was Catherine's son. He thought he could claim him as his heir.""
Elizabeth looked toward Samuel.
"Then why was Marcus raised by James?""
"Because James and Robert made a deal. They switched the records to keep Richard from taking either child.""
Samuel shook his head.
"That's not what happened.""
Daniel turned toward him.
"You knew?""
Samuel looked away.
"I knew there were two children. I didn't know about the third.""
Margaret stepped forward.
"Samuel, stop protecting secrets.""
Samuel looked at her.
She continued.
"Tell them what happened to Catherine's first baby.""
Elizabeth's face went pale.
"First baby?""
Margaret nodded.
"Catherine gave birth to twins.""
Silence.
Marcus looked at Elizabeth.
"Twins?""
"One boy and one girl," Margaret said.
"The boy disappeared before the hospital records were finalized.""
Daniel looked toward the woods.
"Richard took him.""
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Who was the boy?""
Margaret's eyes filled.
"Daniel.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
Marcus stared at him.
"You were Catherine's son?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
Elizabeth stepped backward.
"So you're my twin brother?""
Daniel's voice broke.
"Yes.""
Marcus looked between them.
The pieces were falling into place, but each answer created another question.
"Then who am I?""
Daniel looked at him.
"You were born to another woman. Your mother died during childbirth. James took you in because he had promised her he would.""
Marcus felt the words land like a blow.
"Who was my mother?""
Robert stirred.
Everyone turned.
His eyes opened slightly.
"Her name was Anna.""
Marcus leaned closer.
"Robert?""
Robert struggled to speak.
"Anna Reed. James's sister.""
Samuel looked shocked.
"James had a sister?""
Robert nodded.
"She died before you were old enough to remember.""
Marcus felt his throat tighten.
"Then James was my uncle.""
Robert managed a faint smile.
"By blood, yes. By choice, your father.""
Marcus lowered his head.
He had spent his life believing one thing, then another, and now everything seemed to be changing again.
Daniel placed a hand on his shoulder.
"James loved you.""
Marcus looked up.
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
"Because Richard would have used you to get to the partnership.""
Robert's breathing grew weaker.
"Marcus.""
Marcus leaned closer.
"Yes?""
"The case.""
Marcus opened the metal box.
Inside were the documents, photographs, and cassette tape.
Robert pointed to a folded page.
"Read it.""
Marcus unfolded the document.
It was an original birth record.
The name at the top was Anna Reed.
The child's name was Marcus Reed.
The father was listed as unknown.
But attached to it was a handwritten statement signed by James.
*I accept this child as my son, and I will raise him as my own.*
Marcus's eyes filled.
He pressed the paper against his chest.
Robert whispered:
"That's the truth.""
A medical team arrived moments later.
They loaded Robert into an ambulance.
Marcus climbed in beside him.
Daniel followed in another vehicle with Elizabeth and the others.
At the hospital, doctors took Robert into emergency surgery.
Marcus waited in the corridor.
He still held the letter.
Daniel sat beside him.
For a long time, neither spoke.
Finally, Marcus asked:
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Daniel stared at the floor.
"I wanted to.""
"When?""
"Years ago.""
"Why didn't you?""
"Because James asked me not to. He said you deserved to grow up without feeling like a secret.""
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"So everyone decided what I deserved.""
Daniel looked at him.
"You're right.""
Marcus folded the letter.
"I don't know who my family is anymore.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"You do. We're still here.""
Elizabeth approached.
She sat on Marcus's other side.
"He's my brother," she said, looking at Daniel.
Then she looked at Marcus.
"And you're my brother too, whether we share blood or not.""
Marcus looked at her.
For the first time that day, he felt something other than anger.
He nodded.
Across the corridor, Margaret was speaking quietly with Samuel.
Their hands were clasped.
But Samuel looked troubled.
Marcus noticed.
"What's wrong?""
Samuel approached.
"The police found something in Richard's car.""
"What?""
"A second set of partnership records.""
Ethan appeared behind him.
"And a list of names.""
Marcus frowned.
"Whose names?""
Ethan handed him a photograph of the page.
It contained five entries.
Robert Brooks.
James Reed.
Thomas Carter.
Samuel Brooks.
Richard Voss.
But beneath them were three additional names.
Anna Reed.
Catherine Brooks.
And one more.
*Helen Brooks.*
Marcus looked up.
"Why is Helen on this list?""
Samuel's face darkened.
"Because she wasn't just Robert's wife.""
Marcus stared at him.
"What do you mean?""
Samuel looked toward the operating room.
"She was the sixth founder of the partnership.""
Marcus shook his head.
"That's impossible.""
"Robert hid it because Richard wanted her removed from the agreement.""
Ethan pointed to a line beneath Helen's name.
It read:
*PRIMARY TRUSTEE. ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE BROOKS LAND.*
Marcus looked at the document again.
"Then Richard never owned the farm?""
Samuel shook his head.
"Not legally.""
"Then why did he go after it?""
Samuel's voice dropped.
"Because the land isn't the most valuable thing there.""
He pointed to a final line at the bottom of the page.
*THE MILLER'S CREEK PROPERTY CONTAINS THE ORIGINAL PARTNERSHIP VAULT.*
Marcus looked at him.
"What's in the vault?""
Samuel hesitated.
"Everything Richard has spent twenty years trying to destroy.""
Before anyone could respond, the operating room doors opened.
A surgeon stepped out.
Marcus stood immediately.
"How is he?""
The surgeon looked at him.
"We've stabilized him, but there's something you need to understand.""
Marcus's heart pounded.
"What?""
The surgeon lowered his voice.
"Your father was carrying an object inside his jacket. It appears to have been damaged during the shooting.""
He held up a small evidence bag.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Helen Brooks standing beside a man Marcus had never seen before.
May you like
On the back, in Robert's handwriting, were seven words:
*Helen knows who really killed James.*
