Chapter 15: Evelyn's Secret
Evelyn had never been a woman who frightened easily.
She had buried her husband, raised two sons, survived a difficult marriage, and worked thirty years in a school cafeteria.
She had seen children arrive hungry.
She had seen parents disappear.
She had comforted mothers who cried in grocery-store parking lots because they couldn't afford birthday cakes.
But nothing had prepared her for Boone walking into the hospital room holding a photograph.
"Mrs. Carter?""
Evelyn looked up.
"What's wrong?""
Boone placed the photograph on the table.
"Do you recognize this?""
Evelyn looked down.
Her face changed.
The photograph showed Laura holding Sophie.
Behind them stood Evelyn herself.
And another little girl.
Evelyn slowly picked it up.
"Where did you get this?""
"From the man who tried to photograph Sophie.""
Evelyn looked at the little girl in the picture.
Then she closed her eyes.
"Oh, Laura.""
Boone pulled up a chair.
"Who is she?""
Evelyn didn't answer.
"Mrs. Carter, we need to know.""
Sophie stirred in her sleep.
Evelyn looked at her granddaughter.
Then she began crying.
"Her name was Lily.""
Boone remained silent.
Evelyn continued.
"Laura came to me the night Sophie was born. She was carrying two babies.""
Boone leaned forward.
"Twins?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Two little girls.""
Michael, who had been standing near the window, turned sharply.
"What?""
Evelyn looked at him.
"Laura gave birth to twins.""
Michael stared.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Laura begged me not to.""
"Why?""
Evelyn wiped her cheeks.
"She said Ryan had discovered the pregnancy. He knew about the twins. He told Daniel that one child could be placed with a family who had been waiting for years.""
Michael shook his head.
"Placed?""
"Laura refused. She wanted both girls.""
Boone looked at the photograph.
"Then what happened?""
Evelyn's voice trembled.
"Ryan came to the hospital that night. He said there had been a mistake with the paperwork. He told us one of the babies had died.""
Michael staggered backward.
"Which one?""
Evelyn pointed to Sophie.
"This one was with Laura.""
"Where was Lily?""
Evelyn began crying harder.
"I was supposed to take her.""
The room became silent.
Michael stared at her.
"You?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Laura handed me the baby. She said I should take her somewhere safe until she could arrange things.""
"Where did you take her?""
"I never got the chance.""
Evelyn looked toward the door.
"Daniel came to my house the next morning. He said Ryan had found out about the baby. He threatened me.""
Michael's voice became cold.
"What did he threaten?""
"He said if I didn't cooperate, he would tell the police I had kidnapped her.""
Boone stared.
"So you gave Lily back?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"No.""
She looked down at her hands.
"I hid her.""
Michael stepped forward.
"Where?""
Evelyn took a long breath.
"With my sister.""
Boone frowned.
"Your sister?""
"I had a younger sister named Margaret. She lived in Kentucky. She had been trying to adopt a child for years.""
Michael looked at the photograph again.
"Was Lily with her?""
Evelyn nodded.
"For almost a year.""
"Then what happened?""
Evelyn covered her mouth.
"Margaret died.""
Michael closed his eyes.
Evelyn continued.
"After the funeral, I went to bring Lily home. But she was gone.""
Boone stared at her.
"How?""
"Someone had taken her.""
"Did you report it?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"I was afraid. Ryan told me Margaret had signed adoption papers. He showed me documents. He said the child had been placed with another family.""
Michael's hands began shaking.
"And you believed him?""
"No. But I couldn't prove anything.""
Boone studied her.
"Why didn't you tell Laura?""
Evelyn looked toward Sophie.
"Because Laura came to me months later and said she had found Lily. She told me Lily was safe with a family. She begged me to keep quiet until she could expose Ryan.""
Michael looked devastated.
"Laura knew?""
Evelyn nodded.
"She knew where Lily was.""
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"She said she was afraid you'd do something reckless.""
Michael sat down.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he looked at Evelyn.
"Did you know she was alive?""
Evelyn nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
Michael covered his face.
Boone felt the weight of the room.
Another secret.
Another child.
Another family that had been manipulated by Ryan.
Then Evelyn reached into her handbag.
She removed a small envelope.
"I've kept this for five years.""
Inside was a hospital identification bracelet.
It was tiny.
Pink.
And it carried a handwritten name.
*LILY REEVES.*
Michael held it carefully.
His hands trembled.
"Why keep this?""
"Because I promised Laura I'd never forget her.""
Sophie woke up.
She looked at the bracelet.
"Is that my sister?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
Sophie sat up.
"I have a sister?""
Michael kissed her forehead.
"You do.""
"Can I meet her?""
Michael looked at Boone.
"We'll find her.""
Boone's phone rang.
Agent Shaw.
He answered.
"What's happening?""
"We found Patricia Coleman.""
"Where's Lily?""
"She's safe. But there's a problem.""
Boone stood.
"What problem?""
"Patricia says Laura came to her house three days ago.""
Michael immediately approached.
"Was Lily there?""
"Yes.""
"Where's Laura now?""
Agent Shaw paused.
"Patricia says Laura left with her.""
Michael's expression brightened.
"Then they're together?""
"That's what we thought.""
Boone frowned.
"Thought?""
"Patricia has just identified a second woman who came to her house the same day.""
"Who?""
"Someone claiming to be Laura's sister.""
Michael went still.
"Laura doesn't have a sister.""
Agent Shaw lowered her voice.
"That's not what the birth records say.""
Boone looked at Evelyn.
Her face had gone completely white.
Michael turned toward her.
"Who is Laura's sister?""
Evelyn began shaking her head.
"No.""
"Mom?""
She whispered:
"Her name is Margaret.""
Michael stared.
"Margaret? Your sister?""
Evelyn nodded.
"She died five years ago.""
Agent Shaw spoke again.
"Mr. Mercer, we found something else in Patricia's house.""
"What?""
"A photograph of Laura and another woman.""
Boone waited.
Agent Shaw continued.
"They're identical.""
Michael slowly lowered his head.
Then Evelyn said something that made the room fall silent.
"Because Laura had a twin sister.""
Sophie looked up.
"Then which one is my mommy?""
Nobody answered.
Boone looked toward the hospital corridor.
Somewhere outside, a phone began ringing.
And when Michael checked his screen, the caller identification displayed two words:
*LAURA REEVES.*
He answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
May you like
"Michael, don't trust Evelyn.""
Then the call ended.
