Chapter 8: The Name on the Birth Certificate
David moved in front of Emily.
“Who are you?””
The man slowly lowered the flashlight.
His face emerged from the darkness.
He was in his late fifties, with silver hair and a dark raincoat.
Daniel stared at him.
“No.””
The man smiled faintly.
“Hello, Daniel.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“Victor?””
The man shook his head.
“Victor is dead.””
“Then who are you?””
“My name is Richard Hale.””
Margaret made a strangled sound.
David turned toward her.
“Mom?””
Margaret whispered, “Victor's brother.””
Richard lifted the folder.
“And I believe you have something that belongs to me.””
Emily stared at him.
“The records?””
Richard nodded.
“The records.””
David stepped forward.
“You're not taking anything.””
Richard laughed softly.
“You still think this is about paperwork.””
“What do you want?””
Richard looked at Emily.
“I want the girl.””
David's entire body stiffened.
“You're not touching her.””
Richard sighed.
“David, you have spent seventeen years pretending to be a father.””
“I am her father.””
“Biologically?””
David didn't answer.
Richard smiled.
“That's what I thought.””
Daniel moved closer.
“What do you know about Thomas?””
Richard's expression changed.
“More than you.””
“Where is he?””
“Alive.””
Daniel's breath caught.
Emily stared at Richard.
“You know where Thomas is?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Richard looked at her.
“You're asking the wrong question.””
“What question should I ask?””
“Why were you given his identity?””
Emily froze.
David turned toward him.
“What did you say?””
Richard opened the folder.
“Emily Carter was never the name assigned to that baby.””
He pulled out a document.
“Her original identification was Baby 417.””
Emily's hands went cold.
Richard continued.
“Baby 417 was registered as Thomas Hayes.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“No.””
Richard held up another paper.
“Thomas Hayes, male, six years old.””
Then another.
“Transferred under medical authority.””
Another.
“New identity created.””
Emily whispered, “For who?””
Richard looked directly at her.
“For you.””
Silence.
Daniel stared at the documents.
“You're saying my son became Emily?””
“No.””
Richard shook his head.
“I'm saying Emily was given Thomas's identity.””
Daniel's face collapsed.
“Then where is my son?””
Richard smiled.
“That's the question your mother spent seventeen years trying to answer.””
Emily turned toward Claire.
“Mom?””
Claire looked devastated.
“I never knew where they took him.””
Richard interrupted.
“But I did.””
Daniel lunged forward.
David grabbed him.
“Daniel!””
“Tell me!””
Richard took one step backward.
“Thomas was moved to another facility.””
“Which one?””
“A private institution in Pennsylvania.””
Daniel stared.
“Pennsylvania?””
Richard nodded.
“Under another name.””
Emily whispered, “What name?””
Richard looked at her.
“Evan Carter.””
David went completely still.
Emily noticed.
“Dad?””
David didn't respond.
“Dad?””
His face was white.
Richard smiled.
“Ask him.””
Emily turned.
“What?””
Richard pointed at David.
“Ask your father about Evan.””
David shook his head.
“Don't.””
“Who is Evan Carter?””
“Emily…”
“Who?””
Richard answered.
“Your older brother.””
Emily's mouth fell open.
Daniel looked at David.
“You knew?””
David's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know he was Thomas.””
Richard laughed.
“But you knew about Evan.””
Emily stepped backward.
“Dad, do I have a brother?””
David closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
“Where is he?””
“He died.””
Richard's smile disappeared.
“No.””
Emily stared.
“What?””
Richard pulled out another document.
“He didn't die.””
David whispered, “I was told he did.””
“By whom?””
David couldn't answer.
Emily's voice cracked.
“Dad, by whom?””
He looked at Margaret.
She was crying.
Emily understood.
“Grandma?””
Margaret shook her head.
“I was told the boy died.””
Richard said, “You were told because you were never supposed to ask.””
Daniel turned toward Margaret.
“You knew about Evan?””
“No.””
“You knew about Thomas.””
“I knew about a boy.””
“Thomas?””
Margaret nodded.
“But I never knew where he went.””
Richard placed the folder on the table.
“Enough.””
Everyone looked at him.
“I didn't come here to debate history.””
“What do you want?”” David asked.
Richard pointed toward the basement.
“The original ledger.””
Margaret went pale.
“You know where it is?””
“I know where Victor hid it.””
David frowned.
“Why would Victor hide it here?””
“Because he trusted your family.””
Richard looked at Emily.
“And because the final page contains something that could destroy all of us.””
Emily stepped forward.
“What?””
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“Your mother's name.””
Claire whispered, “No.””
“And mine.””
Daniel stared.
“And Daniel's.””
Richard nodded.
“But that's not the dangerous part.””
Emily's voice was barely audible.
“What is?””
Richard looked toward the window.
Outside, lightning flashed.
“The ledger proves that one of the children wasn't switched.””
Emily frowned.
“What?””
Richard looked directly at her.
“You were born exactly where your mother said you were born.””
Claire's face changed.
“Then…”
Richard nodded.
“The baby in the hospital wasn't you.””
Emily's breath caught.
David stepped forward.
“Richard, stop.””
“No.””
Richard opened the folder to the final page.
“Because if Emily was born at the farmhouse…”
He looked at Claire.
“…then whose baby was left in the hospital?””
Claire covered her mouth.
Daniel whispered, “Elena's.””
Richard nodded.
“Exactly.””
Emily looked at her mother.
“So I really am your daughter.””
“Yes.””
“And Daniel isn't my biological father.””
“No.””
Emily looked confused.
“Then why did you tell me Daniel was connected to me?””
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
“Because your biological father…”
She stopped.
David suddenly grabbed the folder.
“Don't.””
Claire looked at him.
“She deserves to know.””
David shook his head.
“Not from him.””
Richard smiled.
“Then tell her yourself.””
Emily looked at her father.
“Tell me what?””
David's eyes filled with tears.
He whispered:
“Your biological father wasn't Daniel.””
Emily stared.
“Then who?””
David looked at Margaret.
And Margaret slowly whispered a name Emily had never heard before.
May you like
“Michael Carter.””
Emily's grandfather.
