Chapter 4: The Brother We Never Knew
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
The photograph on Caleb's laptop showed a birth certificate dated twenty-eight years earlier. Margaret Vale's name appeared beneath the mother's section. Robert Mercer's name appeared beneath the father's.
My father's name.
I read it again.
Then a third time.
It didn't change.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Caleb watched my face.
His hands moved slowly.
*“I wish it were.””*
I stepped away from the desk.
"You're telling me your mother had a child with my father?""
Caleb nodded.
"And that child was Ethan?""
He shook his head.
*“No. Ethan was your father's son with your mother. I'm telling you there was another child.””*
I stared at him.
"Who?""
Caleb hesitated before pointing to himself.
My knees weakened.
"No.""
He nodded.
*“My birth certificate was changed. Dominic raised me as his son, but Robert Mercer was my biological father.””*
I looked at the document again.
The dates suddenly made sense.
Caleb was twenty-seven. I was twenty-eight. Our fathers had known each other long before either of us understood what their names meant.
But something still bothered me.
"Why would my father give you away?""
Caleb opened another folder.
Inside were photographs of Robert Mercer standing outside an old hospital. Beside him was a younger Margaret Vale, holding a newborn baby.
On the back of one photograph, someone had written:
For the life we couldn't give him.
My throat tightened.
"Did my father know you existed?""
Caleb nodded.
*“He visited me twice when I was little. Dominic found out. After that, I never saw him again.””*
"Why did Dominic raise you?""
Caleb typed on his phone.
Because he couldn't have children of his own, and because he wanted Robert to owe him something.
I stared at the screen.
"So your father knew?""
Caleb's expression hardened.
*“Dominic knew I wasn't his biological son. He never knew the complete truth about Robert and Margaret's relationship until years later.””*
Marcus approached the desk.
"We don't have time for family history.""
Caleb looked at him.
Marcus pointed toward the security monitors.
"Two vehicles just entered the block. One is parked near the service entrance.""
I looked at the screen.
A man stepped out of the first vehicle.
Even through the grainy footage, I recognized him.
Dominic.
He was holding a photograph.
Mine.
Marcus swore under his breath.
"How did he find this place?""
Caleb typed something.
Someone gave him the location.
Marcus turned toward him.
"You think it's me?""
Caleb didn't respond.
Marcus shook his head.
"After everything I've done for you?""
Caleb raised his hands.
*“I haven't accused you.””*
"Then stop looking at me like that.""
I stepped between them.
"Can we focus on getting out alive?""
Marcus looked at me.
"There's a tunnel behind the storage room. It connects to the old loading dock.""
Caleb grabbed the folder and placed it inside a leather bag.
Before leaving, he opened another document.
It was a handwritten letter from Margaret.
The first sentence made my chest tighten.
If Hannah Mercer ever learns the truth, tell her that her father loved both his children, even when he was too afraid to protect them.
I read it twice.
Then I turned to Caleb.
"Did my father know Ethan was going to die?""
Caleb's hands stopped.
For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer.
Then he signed.
*“I believe he knew someone was planning to hurt him. I don't know whether he knew it would happen that night.””*
"That's not good enough.""
*“I know.””*
I grabbed the letter.
"Then we're finding out.""
We entered the tunnel.
The air smelled of damp concrete and rust. Marcus walked ahead with a flashlight while Caleb stayed beside me.
Halfway through, Caleb touched my shoulder.
I turned.
He signed something I didn't understand.
He repeated it more slowly.
*“Ethan used to talk about you.””*
I swallowed.
"What did he say?""
Caleb smiled sadly.
*“He said you were stubborn. That you argued with vending machines when they stole your money.””*
A laugh escaped me despite everything.
"That sounds like Ethan.""
*“He said you wanted to become a nurse.””*
I nodded.
"I did. Until the accident.""
Caleb's expression changed.
*“He didn't want you to stop living because of him.””*
I looked away.
At the end of the tunnel, Marcus unlocked a metal door.
A loading dock opened onto a quiet industrial street.
A gray sedan waited outside.
We climbed in.
Marcus started the engine.
"Where to?""
I looked at Caleb.
He raised his hands.
*“Evidence Locker 417.””*
I shook my head.
"Not yet. We need someone we can trust.""
Caleb studied me.
I took out the photograph of Detective Robert Mercer.
"Your father has connections everywhere. Mine did, too. But this officer signed the evidence transfer. If he's still alive, he might know where the original drive went.""
Marcus checked his phone.
"Robert Mercer retired four years ago.""
"Where is he now?""
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
Then he answered.
"Private residence in Lake Forest.""
My stomach twisted.
"My father never told me he moved.""
Caleb typed something.
He's not alone.
I looked at him.
"What does that mean?""
Caleb turned the laptop around.
A recent photograph showed Robert standing outside a house.
Beside him was Dominic Vale.
And between them stood a woman I recognized from my father's funeral.
My mother.
Marcus looked at the photograph.
Then he whispered something that made Caleb's face go pale.
"That's not possible.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
Marcus swallowed.
"Margaret Vale.""
I looked again.
The woman standing beside my mother wasn't a stranger.
May you like
She was the woman Caleb had been told was dead.
And she was holding a newspaper dated three days earlier.
