Chapter 6: The Medical Records
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
I stood beside the black SUV, staring at the young man's photograph.
Daniel was alive.
My little boy, whom I had mourned for twenty years, had grown into a man.
But Evelyn's final words had opened another wound.
He might not remember me.
I looked at her.
"What did Thomas do?""
Evelyn gripped her handbag.
"Daniel was sent to a private residential facility after the accident.""
"Why?""
"He suffered a serious head injury. He had memory problems. He needed rehabilitation.""
Roy frowned.
"Where was this facility?""
"Outside Richmond.""
I shook my head.
"Why wasn't I contacted?""
"Because Thomas told the hospital you had died.""
My breath caught.
"He told them I was dead?""
Evelyn nodded.
"He presented documents showing that you had abandoned Daniel years earlier and that you had no legal authority to make medical decisions.""
Roy's expression darkened.
"Who signed those documents?""
"Thomas.""
I felt sick.
"How could a hospital believe that?""
"He had a lawyer. He had Henry's old guardianship papers. And after the accident, Daniel couldn't speak for himself.""
I pressed the photograph against my chest.
"Did Henry know?""
"Eventually.""
"Eventually?""
Evelyn looked away.
"He found out three years later. He started paying for Daniel's care and tried to arrange a meeting.""
"Then why didn't he bring him home?""
"Because Daniel was afraid of Thomas.""
I stared at her.
"My son was afraid of his own brother?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Thomas visited him several times. He told Daniel that his mother had died and that the people who wanted to see him were trying to hurt him.""
I closed my eyes.
I imagined Daniel lying in a hospital bed, looking toward the door every time someone entered.
I imagined him asking for his mother.
And I imagined someone telling him I was gone.
Roy put a steady hand on my shoulder.
"We need those records.""
Evelyn nodded.
"I know where the hospital keeps the archived files.""
"Then take us there.""
She hesitated.
"Thomas will know.""
Roy gave her a cold look.
"He already knows.""
Evelyn looked toward the road.
"There's something else.""
I felt my heart sink.
"What now?""
"Daniel wasn't the only person injured that night.""
Roy straightened.
"Who else?""
"Thomas.""
I frowned.
"What happened?""
Evelyn took a breath.
"Henry had discovered the forged guardianship papers. He confronted Thomas in the house. They argued. Daniel tried to stop them.""
I remembered the little boy in the photograph.
His missing sweater button.
His smile.
"Go on," I whispered.
"Thomas shoved him. Daniel fell down the stairs.""
I covered my mouth.
Evelyn continued.
"Henry rushed him to the hospital. Thomas told the police Daniel had fallen while playing. But Henry knew the truth.""
Roy's jaw tightened.
"Why didn't Henry report it?""
"He tried. Thomas threatened to accuse him of striking Daniel first. He said he would tell the police Henry was abusive and unstable.""
I shook my head.
"Henry would never hurt that child.""
"I know.""
Evelyn's voice cracked.
"He was terrified of losing both sons.""
I looked at her.
"So he allowed Thomas to control everything?""
"Yes.""
I stepped away from her.
"Your husband let my child disappear. You watched it happen. And Henry spent twenty years sending money instead of bringing him home.""
Evelyn began crying.
"I know.""
"No. You don't know.""
My voice trembled.
"I spent Christmases setting an extra place at the table because I couldn't stop imagining Daniel coming home. I kept his birthday cards. I bought him a coat every winter for years, even though I knew he was growing up somewhere without me.""
I wiped my cheeks.
"And you knew he was alive.""
Evelyn lowered her head.
"I am sorry.""
I looked at Roy.
"Can we get to Richmond today?""
He nodded.
"Absolutely.""
But before we could leave, Curtis came running from the entrance.
"Roy!""
Roy turned.
"What happened?""
Curtis held up his phone.
"Someone's been trying to access the storage unit remotely.""
The manager hurried behind him.
"I just received a call from the owner. Someone reported that Unit 214 contained stolen property.""
Roy frowned.
"Who made the report?""
The manager checked his screen.
"Thomas Dawson.""
Evelyn went pale.
"He knows we found the documents.""
Roy looked toward the road.
"Then we need to move.""
I climbed into the truck, clutching Daniel's photograph.
As Roy started the engine, my phone rang.
I stared at the unfamiliar number.
"Hello?""
A man's voice answered.
It sounded tired, cautious, and strangely familiar.
"Mrs. Dawson?""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Yes. Who is this?""
There was a long silence.
Then the man whispered:
"My name is Daniel.""
I stopped breathing.
"Daniel?""
"I was told you were dead.""
Tears spilled down my cheeks.
"Oh, sweetheart. No. No, I'm here.""
He breathed shakily.
"Are you really my mother?""
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
"Yes. I've been looking for you.""
Another silence followed.
Then Daniel said something that made Roy pull the truck to the side of the road.
"There's something you need to know about Dad.""
I gripped the phone.
"What about him?""
Daniel's voice dropped.
"He came to see me two days before he died.""
I began crying harder.
"What did he tell you?""
Daniel hesitated.
"He said he was finally going to tell you the truth about the accident.""
My heart pounded.
"Which accident, sweetheart?""
"The one that put me in the hospital.""
Then Daniel whispered:
"Mom, I don't think I fell down those stairs.""
I stared at Roy.
Daniel continued.
"I found something in my medical records. Something the doctors wrote down that night.""
"What did they write?""
His breathing became uneven.
"They said I was brought in with injuries consistent with someone being struck before the fall.""
I couldn't move.
Then he said the words that changed everything.
"And Mom, the person who brought me to the hospital wasn't Thomas.""
A pause.
"It was Henry.""
Roy slowly turned toward me.
May you like
Daniel's voice broke.
"He told the doctors I was his only son.""
