PART 5 — THE SECOND BABY
“I’m saying Michael wasn’t born alone.”
I stared at Anna.
For a few seconds, I genuinely thought I’d misunderstood her.
“What does that mean?”
Anna looked like she was struggling to breathe.
Detective Miller stepped closer.
“Mrs. Hayes, sit down.”
“I don’t want to sit down.”
“Anna,” I said. “What second baby?”
She pressed both hands against her temples.
“I don’t know.”
“You just said there was another baby.”
“I know what I said.”
“Then tell me what you remember.”
Her eyes moved toward the photograph of Richard.
“I haven’t thought about this in years.”
“Thought about what?”
“The delivery.”
The storage unit became completely silent.
Anna swallowed.
“When I went into labor, I was alone. My parents didn’t know I was pregnant until late in the pregnancy, and by then our relationship was… difficult.”
She closed her eyes.
“I delivered Michael at St. Matthew’s Hospital.”
“I know that hospital,” I said.
“It closed years ago.”
“Twenty-eight years ago,” Detective Shaw said.
Anna nodded.
“My labor was complicated.”
“How complicated?”
“I lost a lot of blood.”
Her voice became distant.
“They gave me medication. I remember people shouting. Nurses moving quickly.”
She opened her eyes.
“And I remember hearing two babies crying.”
My skin prickled.
“Two?”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone tell you that you had twins?”
“No.”
“Then why didn’t you ask?”
“I did.”
Anna’s eyes filled with tears.
“The nurse told me another woman had delivered in the room next door.”
Detective Miller asked:
“Did you believe her?”
“I had no reason not to.”
“Until now,” I said.
Anna looked at me.
“Until now.”
I felt as though every answer we found opened another door.
Behind every door was another lie.
I turned toward Detective Miller.
“Can you get Michael’s birth records?”
“We can request them.”
“How long?”
“Depends on what still exists.”
“Do it.”
He nodded to Detective Shaw.
She stepped into the hallway to make a call.
I turned back toward the blue box.
“If Richard knew something about another baby, Carol must have known too.”
Anna crouched beside me.
We searched through everything.
Old medical bills.
Photographs.
Receipts.
Bank statements.
Then I found a thin folder wedged beneath the cassette tape.
ST. MATTHEW’S.
Inside were photocopies of hospital records.
Most were routine.
Admission forms.
Medication charts.
Insurance paperwork.
Then Anna grabbed my wrist.
“Wait.”
She pulled out a page.
At the top:
DELIVERY RECORD.
Patient: Anna Hayes.
Date of delivery.
Time: 3:14 AM.
Infant: Male.
Weight: 7 lbs 2 oz.
Michael.
Nothing unusual.
Then I noticed something.
At the bottom of the page was a handwritten notation.
TWIN B — 3:21 AM.
I stared at it.
“Anna.”
She took the paper.
Her knees buckled.
Detective Miller caught her before she fell.
“No.”
Anna shook her head violently.
“No, no, no.”
“That’s your medical record.”
“They told me there was one baby.”
“But this says—”
“I KNOW WHAT IT SAYS!”
Her scream echoed down the hallway.
Then she started crying.
Not softly.
Not politely.
She cried like a mother realizing that someone might have stolen an entire human life from her.
“I had twins?”
I didn’t know what to say.
Because if that record was real…
I had two sons.
One I had missed for thirty-seven years.
And another whose name I didn’t even know.
Detective Miller took the document.
“Nobody leaves.”
He called someone.
Within minutes, the storage facility became a crime scene.
Photographs were taken.
Documents were bagged.
Every box was cataloged.
Then Detective Shaw returned.
“We found something.”
Everyone looked at her.
“St. Matthew’s records were transferred when the hospital closed.”
“Where?”
“County archives.”
“Can we access them?”
“Some.”
“What does some mean?”
“The hospital had a fire six months before it closed. A lot of records were destroyed.”
Of course.
Another dead end.
“But birth records were also filed with the state,” she continued.
“We’re checking those now.”
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I stared at it.
“Answer it,” Detective Miller said.
I put it on speaker.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
Then breathing.
“Hello?”
A man’s voice said:
“Daniel?”
My heart stopped.
“Who is this?”
Silence.
Then:
“It’s Michael.”
Anna collapsed into a chair.
I couldn’t speak.
My son.
For the first time in my life, I was hearing my son’s voice knowing who he was.
“Michael.”
My voice broke saying his name.
He exhaled shakily.
“You know.”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
Another silence.
“Is my mother with you?”
Anna leaned toward the phone.
“Michael?”
“Mom.”
She covered her mouth.
“Where are you?”
“I’m safe.”
“Where?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard is listening.”
Detective Miller immediately signaled everyone to remain quiet.
Michael continued.
“Daniel, I need you to listen carefully.”
“I’m listening.”
“Carol wasn’t the only person hiding things.”
“I know.”
“Richard?”
“Yes.”
“And the second baby?”
Michael went silent.
“You know about him?”
I asked.
“Yes.”
My legs weakened.
“Who is he?”
“I don’t know his name.”
“Then what do you know?”
“I know he survived.”
Anna started sobbing again.
“How?”
“I found the hospital ledger.”
Detective Miller stepped closer.
“Michael, this is Detective Miller. Where is that ledger?”
Michael paused.
“With me.”
“We need you to come in.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because someone inside your department has been giving Richard information.”
Miller’s expression changed.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“But you have proof?”
“I have enough.”
Miller looked furious.
“Michael, tell me where you are.”
“No.”
“You’re in danger.”
“I’ve been in danger since I started looking into this.”
I leaned toward the phone.
“Michael.”
He went quiet.
“I know you don’t know me.”
My throat tightened.
“And I know you probably spent most of your life believing I didn’t want you.”
Silence.
“But I swear to you, I didn’t know.”
I heard him breathing.
“I know that now.”
Those five words almost broke me.
“You do?”
“Carol told me.”
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
“Because she asked me to wait until she could tell you herself.”
“She never did.”
“I know.”
“She died.”
“I know.”
My voice cracked.
“Michael, I lost thirty-seven years with you. I’m not losing another day because of Richard.”
He didn’t answer.
“Please.”
Then Michael said something quietly.
“I’m sorry I walked out of your office fourteen years ago.”
I closed my eyes.
“I wish you’d told me.”
“I almost did.”
“You asked me if I’d want my son to find me.”
“I remember.”
“And I said yes.”
“I remember that too.”
“Then why did you believe Carol afterward?”
His answer hurt.
“Because believing you rejected me was easier than risking hearing it directly from you.”
I couldn’t blame him.
Not after everything he’d been told.
“Michael, whatever happens next, I need you to understand something.”
“What?”
“If I had known, I would have come.”
Anna began crying harder.
“I would have come to every birthday. Every baseball game. Every graduation.”
My voice shook.
“I would’ve been your father.”
Michael didn’t speak for several seconds.
Then I heard him sniff.
“You still can be.”
I covered my eyes.
Before I could answer, a noise came through the phone.
A door.
Michael whispered:
“Someone’s here.”
Detective Miller stepped forward.
“Michael, where are you?”
No response.
“Michael?”
Then another voice came through the phone.
Richard.
“End the call.”
Michael said:
“No.”
“Michael.”
“Stay away from me.”
A struggle.
The phone hit something.
Anna screamed:
“MICHAEL!”
Then the call disconnected.
Detective Miller immediately started shouting orders.
“Trace that number!”
Officers moved.
I stood frozen.
Twenty minutes later, they had a location.
An abandoned motel near the interstate.
We weren’t allowed to go.
Anna and I waited at the police station.
Forty-seven minutes.
The longest forty-seven minutes of my life.
Finally, Detective Shaw entered.
Anna jumped up.
“Michael?”
“He’s alive.”
Anna nearly collapsed with relief.
“And Richard?”
“Gone.”
My relief disappeared.
“What happened?”
“They found Michael alone in one of the rooms.”
“Is he hurt?”
“Minor injuries.”
“Where is he?”
“Hospital.”
I was already moving toward the door.
Then Detective Shaw said:
“Mr. Bennett.”
I stopped.
“Michael asked for you.”
The hospital was thirty minutes away.
I don’t remember the drive.
I remember the elevator.
The hallway.
Room 418.
Anna reached the door first.
Then stopped.
She looked at me.
“You go.”
“What?”
“He needs you.”
“You’re his mother.”
“And you’re his father.”
We entered together.
Michael was sitting upright in bed.
Bruise near his temple.
Bandage around his wrist.
He looked toward Anna first.
“Mom.”
She ran to him.
I stayed near the door.
They held each other for nearly a minute.
Then Michael looked over her shoulder.
At me.
Neither of us spoke.
Thirty-seven years stood between us.
Finally, he said:
“You’re older than I imagined.”
I laughed.
I couldn’t help it.
A broken, tearful laugh.
“So are you.”
He smiled.
And there it was.
My smile.
I walked toward him.
Stopped.
I didn’t know whether to shake his hand.
Hug him.
Say hello.
Say sorry.
Michael solved it.
He opened his arms.
I hugged my son for the first time.
And everything inside me collapsed.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“You didn’t know.”
“I’m still sorry.”
“I know.”
We held each other until neither of us cared who was watching.
Then Michael pulled back.
“I need to show you something.”
He reached toward a backpack beside the bed.
“The ledger?”
He nodded.
Inside was an old hospital book.
Michael opened it carefully.
He found the date of his birth.
Anna moved closer.
Two entries.
Twin A.
Male.
3:14 AM.
Anna Hayes.
Twin B.
Male.
3:21 AM.
Anna Hayes.
Father:
Daniel Bennett.
I touched my own name.
“How did they know?”
Anna whispered.
“I put Daniel’s name on the original paperwork.”
Then Michael turned the page.
Twin A — discharged with mother.
Twin B —
The line had been altered.
Someone had scratched through the original writing.
But underneath, one word remained readable.
TRANSFERRED.
“Transferred where?”
I asked.
Michael opened his backpack again.
“I spent weeks figuring that out.”
He pulled out another document.
“A private adoption agency.”
Anna stared at him.
“I never agreed to an adoption.”
“I know.”
“What agency?”
“It closed in 1996.”
“Who took my baby?”
Michael looked at me.
“That’s where Richard comes in.”
He handed me another page.
A payment record.
Twenty-five thousand dollars.
Paid to Richard Cole.
Two days after the twins were born.
“For what?”
Michael shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Then Anna whispered:
“He sold my baby.”
Nobody spoke.
Michael reached for her hand.
“We don’t know that yet.”
But we all knew what it looked like.
“Did you find the adoptive family?”
I asked.
Michael hesitated.
“Yes.”
My heart started racing.
“Who?”
“I found the original placement paperwork.”
“Name?”
Michael looked at Anna.
Then me.
“The baby was placed with a couple named Thomas and Evelyn Mercer.”
I didn’t recognize the names.
“Where?”
“Ohio.”
“Is he still there?”
“No.”
“Where is he now?”
Michael swallowed.
“Daniel, there’s something strange.”
“What?”
“His adoptive parents renamed him.”
“To what?”
Michael opened another document.
Before he could answer, Detective Miller entered.
“We found Richard.”
Everyone turned.
“Where?”
“He abandoned the SUV near the state line.”
“Did you arrest him?”
“No.”
“He left another vehicle waiting.”
“Where is he going?”
“We don’t know.”
Then Miller noticed the ledger.
Michael immediately closed it.
Detective Miller’s expression tightened.
“Michael, I need that.”
“You’ll get a copy.”
“The original is evidence.”
“And someone in your department is feeding Richard information.”
Miller stared at him.
“Fair enough.”
Then Miller’s phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?”
I asked.
“We identified the officer who accessed the case file without authorization.”
“Who?”
“Detective Shaw.”
My stomach dropped.
The woman who had been standing beside us all afternoon.
“Where is she?”
Miller turned toward the hallway.
“Gone.”
Suddenly Michael sat upright.
“My backpack.”
“What?”
He opened it.
Frantically searched.
“The placement document.”
“It’s gone.”
“The one with the second baby’s identity?”
“Yes.”
Detective Miller ran into the hallway.
Michael looked at me.
“I memorized it.”
“Tell me.”
He hesitated.
“Daniel…”
“Tell me my son’s name.”
Michael stared directly at me.
“His name is Jonathan Mercer.”
I repeated it.
“Jonathan Mercer.”
Michael nodded.
“And I found him.”
My heart nearly stopped.
“Where?”
“He lives about ninety miles from you.”
“Does he know?”
“No.”
“Is he married?”
“Yes.”
“Children?”
“Two daughters.”
Two more grandchildren.
My eyes filled with tears.
“Can we go to him?”
Michael hesitated.
“There’s something you need to see first.”
He pulled out his phone.
A photograph appeared.
Jonathan.
I felt dizzy.
He looked like Michael.
But even more than that…
He looked exactly like my father.
Same nose.
Same deep-set eyes.
Same chin.
There was no doubt in my mind.
“That’s my son.”
Michael nodded.
Then he swiped to another photograph.
Jonathan standing outside his home.
Beside him was his wife.
Two teenage daughters.
And standing behind them…
Richard.
I grabbed the phone.
“What the hell?”
Michael nodded grimly.
“Richard has been part of Jonathan’s life for years.”
“Does Jonathan know who Richard really is?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why would Richard stay close to him?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to understand.”
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
I answered.
“Hello?”
Richard’s voice.
“Daniel.”
My blood went cold.
“Stay away from my family.”
Richard laughed softly.
“Which family?”
My jaw tightened.
“What do you want?”
“Nothing anymore.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
“Because Michael started digging where he shouldn’t.”
“You stole thirty-seven years from me.”
“No, Daniel.”
His voice became cold.
“Carol did that.”
“You started it.”
Silence.
Then:
“You found the trust documents.”
“Yes.”
“So you think this was about money.”
“Wasn’t it?”
Richard laughed again.
“You still don’t understand.”
“Then explain it.”
“I didn’t separate you from your sons because I wanted the trust.”
“Then why?”
“Because your father asked me to.”
The room went silent.
My blood turned to ice.
“My father died before Michael was born.”
“I know.”
“Then how could he—”
“He knew Anna was pregnant before you did.”
I looked at Anna.
She shook her head.
“That’s impossible.”
“Is it?”
Richard continued.
“Your father didn’t want Anna in your life.”
“Why?”
“Ask her.”
I looked at Anna.
She appeared genuinely terrified.
Richard said:
“Ask Anna who her father was.”
I covered the phone.
“Anna?”
She shook her head.
“My father was Samuel Hayes.”
Richard heard her.
“No.”
Anna froze.
Richard continued:
“Samuel Hayes raised you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your biological father had another name.”
Anna whispered:
“You’re lying.”
“Then ask yourself why your mother never let you see your original birth certificate.”
Anna’s face went white.
Richard said:
“Daniel, there was a reason your father was desperate to keep you and Anna apart.”
My heart hammered.
“What reason?”
Richard paused.
Then he said:
“Because he believed Anna was his daughter.”
Nobody moved.
Anna’s mouth fell open.
Michael stared between us.
My stomach turned.
“No.”
Richard continued:
“If your father was right, you and Anna were half-siblings.”
Anna stumbled backward.
“No.”
“And your sons…”
“STOP.”
My voice exploded through the hospital room.
Richard went silent.
“Where are you?”
“You’ll know soon.”
Then he added:
“But before you condemn your father, find the DNA report Carol hid.”
“What DNA report?”
“The one proving your father was wrong.”
My heart stopped.
Richard whispered:
“Anna wasn’t his daughter.”
I gripped the phone.
“Then why hide our sons?”
“Because by the time your father learned the truth, it was already too late.”
“Too late for what?”
Richard didn’t answer.
“RICHARD!”
The line disconnected.
Nobody spoke.
Finally Michael whispered:
“There’s a DNA report?”
I looked toward the backpack.
Carol’s storage unit.
The boxes.
The documents.
“There has to be.”
Detective Miller’s phone rang again.
He answered.
Listened.
Then his face hardened.
“What happened?”
“They found Detective Shaw’s car.”
“Where?”
“Outside Jonathan Mercer’s house.”
Michael ripped the IV sensor from his finger.
“I’m coming.”
“No, you’re not,” Anna said.
“Mom—”
“You just escaped Richard.”
“And my brother doesn’t even know he’s my brother.”
That word changed the room.
Brother.
Michael looked at me.
“If Richard is going after Jonathan, we don’t have time.”
Detective Miller raised a hand.
“Patrol units are already heading there.”
Then his radio crackled.
A voice came through.
“Unit Twelve to Miller. We’re at the Mercer residence.”
Miller grabbed the radio.
“Status?”
Static.
Then:
“Front door is open.”
My heart began pounding.
“Any occupants?”
“Searching.”
Seconds passed.
Then:
“House is clear.”
“What about Mercer?”
“Nobody here.”
Another pause.
“Detective…”
“What?”
“We found blood.”
Anna grabbed Michael.
My chest tightened.
“Whose?”
“Unknown.”
Then the officer said:
“And there’s writing on the kitchen wall.”
“What does it say?”
Static crackled.
Then the words came through.
TELL DANIEL TO FINISH WHAT HIS FATHER STARTED.
I felt sick.
“What does that mean?” Michael asked.
I didn’t know.
Then Anna suddenly whispered:
“I do.”
Everyone turned toward her.
Her hands were shaking.
“Your father gave me something before he died.”
I stared at her.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“You told me you never saw him.”
“I didn’t tell you because I promised him.”
“Promised him what?”
Anna began crying.
“That if you ever came looking for me, I would never tell you about the cabin.”
“What cabin?”
She looked at me.
“The one where your father kept the proof.”
“What proof?”
Anna swallowed.
“Proof of what Richard really did.”
Detective Miller stepped closer.
“Where is this cabin?”
Anna whispered:
“Blackwood Lake.”
My heart stopped.
I knew Blackwood Lake.
My father had taken me fishing there when I was a boy.
There had been an old cabin in the woods.
I hadn’t thought about it in fifty years.
Then Michael’s phone buzzed.
A text.
Unknown number.
He opened it.
One photograph.
Jonathan was sitting inside a dark room.
Alive.
Terrified.
Behind him stood Richard.
Underneath the photograph were seven words:
BRING DANIEL TO THE CABIN. COME ALONE.
Michael looked at me.
“He’s got my brother.”
I stared at Jonathan’s photograph.
One son beside me.
The other waiting somewhere inside a secret my father had buried forty years earlier.
And suddenly Carol’s final wish made terrible sense.
She hadn’t sent me to Anna so I could rediscover my first love.
She had sent me because she knew the truth was finally coming for all of us.
I looked at Detective Miller.
“Tell me how we get to Blackwood Lake.”
END OF PART 5
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