Chapter 8: The DNA Test That Exposed Us All
I couldn't move.
Catherine stood beside me holding the two laboratory reports, her face drained of color.
“What did you mean?”” I asked.
She looked at the courthouse doors.
“Not here.””
“I'm not going anywhere until you explain.””
Catherine sat on the bench beside the entrance and pressed the papers against her chest.
“When I gave birth, I was told my daughter had died. I saw her for less than an hour. Then a nurse came into my room and told me there had been complications.””
She stared mean?”” I asked.
She looked at the courthouse doors.
“Not here.””
“I'm not going anywhere until you explain.””
Catherine sat on the bench beside the entrance and pressed the papers against her chest.
“When I gave birth, I was told my daughter had died. I saw her for less than an hour. Then a nurse came into my room and told me there had been complications.””
She stared at the pavement.
“I was young. I was exhausted. I believed them.””
“What happened next?””
“They let me hold a baby in the nursery the following morning. They told me it was a comfort exercise, something to help me grieve. I remember the baby's face, but I didn't know whether it was my child.””
My stomach twisted.
“They showed you another baby at the pavement.
“I was young. I was exhausted. I believed them.””
“What happened next?””
“They let me hold a baby in the nursery the following morning. They told me it was a comfort exercise, something to help me grieve. I remember the baby's face, but I didn't know whether it was my child.””
My stomach twisted.
“They showed you another baby?””
“I don't know. I was given medication, and I was barely conscious. When I asked questions, the staff said I was confused.””
She opened her bag and removed another photograph.
“This was taken two days later.””
The picture showed Catherine sitting in a hospital bed, holding a newborn.
A nurse stood beside her.
The baby had a tiny crescent-shaped mark on her shoulder.
I touched the mark beneath my ear.
“Is that me?””
“I?””
“I don't know. I was given medication, and I was barely conscious. When I asked questions, the staff said I was confused.””
She opened her bag and removed another photograph.
“This was taken two days later.””
The picture showed Catherine sitting in a hospital bed, holding a newborn.
A nurse stood beside her.
The baby had a tiny crescent-shaped mark on her shoulder.
I touched the mark beneath my ear.
“Is that me?””
“I don't know.””
The answer frightened me more than any accusation could have.
Catherine continued.
“After I left the hospital, I became convinced that something was wrong. The records didn't match what I remembered. I requested copies, but the hospital told me the files had been sealed. I hired a lawyer, but he withdrew from the case after receiving threats.””
“From Richard Cole?””
“I suspect so. But I never had don't know.””
The answer frightened me more than any accusation could have.
Catherine continued.
“After I left the hospital, I became convinced that something was wrong. The records didn't match what I remembered. I requested copies, but the hospital told me the files had been sealed. I hired a lawyer, but he withdrew from the case after receiving threats.””
“From Richard Cole?””
“I suspect so. But I never had proof.””
I sat beside her.
“Why did you say Eleanor helped you?””
“Because she found me three weeks ago. She had spent years investigating Daniel's death and had recently obtained access to some of the sealed records.””
“What did she discover?””
“That two newborn girls had been transferred under false identities. One was recorded as deceased. The other was registered under a name that didn't belong proof.””
I sat beside her.
“Why did you say Eleanor helped you?””
“Because she found me three weeks ago. She had spent years investigating Daniel's death and had recently obtained access to some of the sealed records.””
“What did she discover?””
“That two newborn girls had been transferred under false identities. One was recorded as deceased. The other was registered under a name that didn't belong to her.””
I stared at the reports.
“And the DNA test?””
Catherine's eyes filled.
“The woman identified as Eleanor Reed was tested against me because she believed she might be my daughter. The result was positive.””
“Then Eleanor is your daughter.””
“Yes.””
“But why did you say my mother was looking for her?””
“Because Elaine knew about the second baby.””
I felt sick.
to her.””
I stared at the reports.
“And the DNA test?””
Catherine's eyes filled.
“The woman identified as Eleanor Reed was tested against me because she believed she might be my daughter. The result was positive.””
“Then Eleanor is your daughter.””
“Yes.””
“But why did you say my mother was looking for her?””
“Because Elaine knew about the second baby.””
I felt sick.
“How?””
Catherine shook her head.
“I don't know. But Eleanor told me she had spoken to Elaine shortly before she contacted me. Your mother said she had been carrying a secret for eighteen years, and she wanted to make things right.””
I stared at her.
“My mother disappeared this morning.””
Catherine's expression changed.
“Then we need to find her.””
I called Marcus again.
This time he answered immediately.
“Where is Mom“How?””
Catherine shook her head.
“I don't know. But Eleanor told me she had spoken to Elaine shortly before she contacted me. Your mother said she had been carrying a secret for eighteen years, and she wanted to make things right.””
I stared at her.
“My mother disappeared this morning.””
Catherine's expression changed.
“Then we need to find her.””
I called Marcus again.
This time he answered immediately.
“Where is Mom?”” I demanded.
“I don't know.””
“Dad, stop lying.””
“I swear to you, Maya, I don't know where she is.””
“Did you know Catherine's baby had been transferred?””
He went silent.
“Dad?””
“Yes,” he whispered.
I closed my eyes.
“Did you know that the child might have been Eleanor?””
“No. I?”” I demanded.
“I don't know.””
“Dad, stop lying.””
“I swear to you, Maya, I don't know where she is.””
“Did you know Catherine's baby had been transferred?””
He went silent.
“Dad?””
“Yes,” he whispered.
I closed my eyes.
“Did you know that the child might have been Eleanor?””
“No. I never knew her name.””
“But you knew there were two babies.””
Marcus began to cry.
“I was told one baby had died and the other needed a temporary home. Your mother had just given birth, and she was told the second baby had no surviving family.””
“That doesn't make sense. You couldn't have brought two babies home.””
“We didn't.””
I froze.
“What?””
Marcus's voice shook.
“We brought you home. Only you never knew her name.””
“But you knew there were two babies.””
Marcus began to cry.
“I was told one baby had died and the other needed a temporary home. Your mother had just given birth, and she was told the second baby had no surviving family.””
“That doesn't make sense. You couldn't have brought two babies home.””
“We didn't.””
I froze.
“What?””
Marcus's voice shook.
“We brought you home. Only you.””
“Then where was Catherine's daughter?””
“I don't know.””
I stared at Catherine.
She was watching me with desperate hope.
“Who arranged the transfer?”” I asked.
“Richard Cole. He said he was helping the hospital resolve an administrative error. He told us the baby had been placed with another family.””
“And you believed him?””
“I wanted to believe him.””
I almost laughed.
.””
“Then where was Catherine's daughter?””
“I don't know.””
I stared at Catherine.
She was watching me with desperate hope.
“Who arranged the transfer?”” I asked.
“Richard Cole. He said he was helping the hospital resolve an administrative error. He told us the baby had been placed with another family.””
“And you believed him?””
“I wanted to believe him.””
I almost laughed.
It was the same excuse everyone used.
“I wanted to believe him.””
“I was wrong,” Marcus whispered.
“I know that now.””
I ended the call.
Catherine was crying silently.
“Do you think Eleanor is really my daughter?”” she asked.
I looked at the positive DNA report.
“Yes.””
She covered her face.
For eighteen years, she had beenIt was the same excuse everyone used.
“I wanted to believe him.””
“I was wrong,” Marcus whispered.
“I know that now.””
I ended the call.
Catherine was crying silently.
“Do you think Eleanor is really my daughter?”” she asked.
I looked at the positive DNA report.
“Yes.””
She covered her face.
For eighteen years, she had been searching for a child she believed was dead.
Now she had evidence that her daughter was alive.
But the discovery raised another question.
If Eleanor was Catherine's daughter, and I was Daniel's daughter, why had both of our identities become entangled in the same hospital records?
I called Eleanor.
She answered from an unfamiliar number.
“Maya?””
“I met Catherine.””
A long silence followed.
“Is she all right?””
“She knows about the DNA test. She searching for a child she believed was dead.
Now she had evidence that her daughter was alive.
But the discovery raised another question.
If Eleanor was Catherine's daughter, and I was Daniel's daughter, why had both of our identities become entangled in the same hospital records?
I called Eleanor.
She answered from an unfamiliar number.
“Maya?””
“I met Catherine.””
A long silence followed.
“Is she all right?””
“She knows about the DNA test. She wants to meet you.””
Eleanor began to cry.
“I don't know if I can do that.””
“Why not?””
“Because I spent eighteen years believing my mother was dead. When I found out she might be alive, I was afraid the test would prove I had built my life around another lie.””
“But it didn't.””
“No. It didn't.””
“Then meet her.””
Eleanor took a shaky breath.
“I will.””
“There's wants to meet you.””
Eleanor began to cry.
“I don't know if I can do that.””
“Why not?””
“Because I spent eighteen years believing my mother was dead. When I found out she might be alive, I was afraid the test would prove I had built my life around another lie.””
“But it didn't.””
“No. It didn't.””
“Then meet her.””
Eleanor took a shaky breath.
“I will.””
“There's something else. My father admitted he knew two babies had been transferred.””
Silence.
Then Eleanor whispered, “Maya, there's something I need to tell you.””
“What?””
“The DNA report I sent Catherine wasn't the first one.””
My something else. My father admitted he knew two babies had been transferred.””
Silence.
Then Eleanor whispered, “Maya, there's something I need to tell you.””
“What?””
“The DNA report I sent Catherine wasn't the first one.””
My stomach tightened.
“What do you mean?””
“I had another test done last year. It compared my DNA with a sample from Daniel's old medical records.””
I stared at the phone.
“What did it say?””
“It showed that Daniel wasn't my biological father.””
The world seemed to stop.
“Eleanor, what are you saying?””
“I was raised as his daughter. He loved me. He treated me as his child. But the stomach tightened.
“What do you mean?””
“I had another test done last year. It compared my DNA with a sample from Daniel's old medical records.””
I stared at the phone.
“What did it say?””
“It showed that Daniel wasn't my biological father.””
The world seemed to stop.
“Eleanor, what are you saying?””
“I was raised as his daughter. He loved me. He treated me as his child. But the genetic test excluded him.””
I thought of Daniel's photograph, the man I had been told was my biological father.
If Eleanor wasn't his biological daughter, then why had he spent years investigating a missing child?
“Who was your biological father?”” I asked.
“I don't know.””
“Did Daniel know?””
“I think he suspected it. That's why he was investigating the hospital. He believed there was a connection genetic test excluded him.””
I thought of Daniel's photograph, the man I had been told was my biological father.
If Eleanor wasn't his biological daughter, then why had he spent years investigating a missing child?
“Who was your biological father?”” I asked.
“I don't know.””
“Did Daniel know?””
“I think he suspected it. That's why he was investigating the hospital. He believed there was a connection between my birth and the missing baby.””
I sat back.
“So Daniel wasn't looking for Catherine's daughter because he was trying to help a stranger.””
“No,” Eleanor whispered.
“He thought the missing child might be his biological daughter.””
I looked at Catherine.
She was staring at me.
“Eleanor,” I said, “what was the date of your birth?””
“July 13, 2008.””
Catherine's face went white.
“That was the day between my birth and the missing baby.””
I sat back.
“So Daniel wasn't looking for Catherine's daughter because he was trying to help a stranger.””
“No,” Eleanor whispered.
“He thought the missing child might be his biological daughter.””
I looked at Catherine.
She was staring at me.
“Eleanor,” I said, “what was the date of your birth?””
“July 13, 2008.””
Catherine's face went white.
“That was the day my daughter was born,” she whispered.
I put the phone on speaker.
Catherine leaned toward it.
“Eleanor, sweetheart, can you hear me?””
A sob came through the speaker.
“Yes.””
“My name is Catherine Wells.””
“I know.””
“I think I may be your mother.””
Silence.
Then Eleanor said something so quietly I almost missed it.
“I think you are my daughter was born,” she whispered.
I put the phone on speaker.
Catherine leaned toward it.
“Eleanor, sweetheart, can you hear me?””
A sob came through the speaker.
“Yes.””
“My name is Catherine Wells.””
“I know.””
“I think I may be your mother.””
Silence.
Then Eleanor said something so quietly I almost missed it.
“I think you are.””
Catherine began to cry.
For a few seconds, the courthouse seemed to disappear around us. There were no false records, no missing signatures, no men hiding behind business titles.
There was only a mother and daughter who had found each other after eighteen years.
Then Eleanor spoke again.
“Maya, there's one more thing. I found the original hospital transfer ledger.””
I gripped the phone.
.””
Catherine began to cry.
For a few seconds, the courthouse seemed to disappear around us. There were no false records, no missing signatures, no men hiding behind business titles.
There was only a mother and daughter who had found each other after eighteen years.
Then Eleanor spoke again.
“Maya, there's one more thing. I found the original hospital transfer ledger.””
I gripped the phone.
“Where?””
“In a box of documents left by Daniel's solicitor. It was sealed with his estate papers.””
“What's in it?””
“The names of the two babies. The original identities. And the person who authorized the transfer.””
Catherine covered her mouth.
“Who signed it?”” I asked.
Eleanor hesitated.
“I haven't told anyone because I was afraid the document might disappear. But I photographed“Where?””
“In a box of documents left by Daniel's solicitor. It was sealed with his estate papers.””
“What's in it?””
“The names of the two babies. The original identities. And the person who authorized the transfer.””
Catherine covered her mouth.
“Who signed it?”” I asked.
Eleanor hesitated.
“I haven't told anyone because I was afraid the document might disappear. But I photographed the page.””
“Send it to me.””
A moment later, the image appeared on my screen.
The handwriting was clear.
The first infant was listed as *Baby Wells*.
The second was listed as *Baby Bennett*.
Beside both names was the same authorization code.
And beneath it was a signature.
Not Richard Cole's.
Not Arthur Bennett the page.””
“Send it to me.””
A moment later, the image appeared on my screen.
The handwriting was clear.
The first infant was listed as *Baby Wells*.
The second was listed as *Baby Bennett*.
Beside both names was the same authorization code.
And beneath it was a signature.
Not Richard Cole's.
Not Arthur Bennett's.
Not Elaine's.
The signature belonged to a doctor.
*Dr. Samuel Whitmore.*
I remembered the hospital records director mentioning that name.
The doctor who had attended my birth.
The man who had left the hospital shortly afterward.
“Eleanor,” I whispered, “do you know where Dr. Whitmore is now?””
“Yes,” she replied.
“I found him last month.””
“Where?””
“He lives in a retirement community outside Portland.””
I looked at Catherine.
's.
Not Elaine's.
The signature belonged to a doctor.
*Dr. Samuel Whitmore.*
I remembered the hospital records director mentioning that name.
The doctor who had attended my birth.
The man who had left the hospital shortly afterward.
“Eleanor,” I whispered, “do you know where Dr. Whitmore is now?””
“Yes,” she replied.
“I found him last month.””
“Where?””
“He lives in a retirement community outside Portland.””
I looked at Catherine.
Then at the photograph of the transfer ledger.
“We need to speak to him.””
Eleanor's voice turned urgent.
“You can't. He refused to see me. He said he would only speak to the person whose name appeared on the original record.””
I stared at the page.
Two babies.
Two identities.
One doctor.
One authorization.
And a family that had spent eighteen years trying to keep the records hidden.
“What nameThen at the photograph of the transfer ledger.
“We need to speak to him.””
Eleanor's voice turned urgent.
“You can't. He refused to see me. He said he would only speak to the person whose name appeared on the original record.””
I stared at the page.
Two babies.
Two identities.
One doctor.
One authorization.
And a family that had spent eighteen years trying to keep the records hidden.
“What name did he ask for?”” I said.
Eleanor took a breath.
“Baby Bennett.””
I looked at Catherine.
Then I understood.
May you like
Dr. Whitmore wasn't waiting to speak to Eleanor.
He was waiting to speak to me.
