Chapter 7: The Baby That Changed Everything
I read the message three times.
The baby Vanessa was carrying might not be Marcus's.
For a moment, I couldn't understand why that mattered.
Then I remembered the recording.
Your daughter is the problem.
Once Nia is out of the picture, we can deal with the guardianship arrangement.
Marcus had been planning to marry Vanessa.
But if the baby wasn't his, why had he agreed to help her?
I called Detective Harris.
He answered immediately.
“Mrs. Bennett, where are you?””
“At my father's house. I found something in Lily's room.””
“What?””
“A photograph. It shows my mother in a hospital with a newborn. There's a note on the back.””
He paused.
“Can you send me a picture?””
I photographed both sides and sent them.
A minute later, he called again.
“Do you recognize the hospital?””
I examined the photograph.
There was a small logo in the corner.
“Peachtree Women's Medical Center.””
“Thank you. We're looking into that facility now.””
“Detective, why would my mother be there with a newborn?””
“We don't know yet.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Is Vanessa's baby Marcus's?””
“We're investigating a possible paternity issue. I don't want to speculate before we have verified information.””
I understood.
But I couldn't stop thinking about the words.
He knows the baby isn't his.
“Detective, does Marcus know?””
There was a pause.
“Yes. According to the information we've recovered, he has questioned the paternity.””
I closed my eyes.
“Then why did he stay with her?””
“That's one of the questions we're trying to answer.””
After the call, I went downstairs.
My father was standing near the window, looking out toward the swimming pool.
The water had been drained.
The pool was empty except for a few leaves scattered across the bottom.
He turned when he saw me.
“What's wrong?””
I handed him the photograph.
He studied it.
Then his expression changed.
“Eleanor.””
“What?””
“This is your mother.””
“I know.””
He examined the date.
“Three months before Lily's birthday.””
I nodded.
“Do you know whose baby that is?””
He looked at me.
“No.””
I sat down.
“Detective Harris thinks Vanessa's baby may not belong to Marcus.””
My father lowered the photograph.
“Does Marcus know?””
“Apparently.””
He walked toward the desk.
“This family has become something I don't recognize.””
I didn't know what to say.
Then Mrs. Brooks entered carrying a small envelope.
“Mr. Bennett, this was delivered for Nia.””
I looked at the front.
My name was written in familiar handwriting.
My mother's.
I opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
My darling Nia,
I know you don't want to hear from me. I know I have no right to ask for your forgiveness. But there is something I need you to understand.
The photograph you found was taken at a hospital after Vanessa gave birth to a baby girl three years ago.
I stopped reading.
Three years ago?
Vanessa had never told us she'd had a baby.
I looked at my father.
He was staring at the letter.
I continued.
The child was placed for adoption after Vanessa told me she couldn't care for her. Marcus was the one who arranged everything. He said the baby would complicate their future.
My hands began shaking.
I helped because Vanessa was terrified. I believed the child would have a better life. I never imagined what would happen afterward.
I stopped.
Then I read the final paragraph.
The baby was not Marcus's. Vanessa was already pregnant with another man's child when she began her relationship with him.
I lowered the letter.
My father looked devastated.
“Eleanor knew about this?””
I nodded.
“She says she helped arrange the adoption.””
He took the letter from me.
“Who was the father?””
I looked down.
The letter didn't say.
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered cautiously.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through.
“Is this Nia Bennett?””
“Yes.””
“My name is Olivia Grant. I'm a social worker with Peachtree Women's Medical Center. Detective Harris gave me your number.””
I sat upright.
“What is this about?””
“I understand you've found a photograph from an adoption case.””
My throat tightened.
“Yes.””
“I'm afraid the circumstances surrounding that case were not handled properly.””
“What do you mean?””
She took a breath.
“Three years ago, a newborn girl was placed through a private adoption arrangement. The paperwork identified the biological mother as Vanessa Bennett.””
I closed my eyes.
“Was Marcus Bennett listed as the father?””
“Yes.””
“But he wasn't?””
“We have reason to believe the paternity information was falsified.””
I looked at my father.
He was listening now.
“Who was the biological father?””
Olivia hesitated.
“I'm not authorized to disclose private information without the appropriate legal process. However, there was a second man involved in the case.””
“Who?””
“I believe you may know him.””
My stomach tightened.
“Tell me.””
She lowered her voice.
“His name is Daniel Brooks.””
I froze.
Daniel.
The security manager.
My father's longtime employee.
I stared at the phone.
“Are you sure?””
“We have records that indicate he was present during the original hospital admission. The adoption file also contains correspondence between him and Vanessa.””
I couldn't speak.
Daniel Brooks had worked for my father for nine years.
He had attended every family birthday.
He had helped Lily learn to ride her little bicycle.
He had been the person who called for an ambulance when she fell into the pool.
And according to this woman, he might be Vanessa's first child's biological father.
I ended the call.
My father looked at me.
“What did she say?””
I explained.
He slowly sat down.
“Daniel?””
I nodded.
He rubbed his face.
“I trusted that man.””
I looked toward the hallway.
“Where is he?””
Mrs. Brooks appeared at the doorway.
“Mr. Bennett?””
“Yes?””
“Daniel left the estate about twenty minutes ago.””
I looked at her.
“Did he say where he was going?””
She shook her head.
“He said he had some personal matters to attend to.””
My father immediately called him.
The phone rang several times.
Then went to voicemail.
He called again.
Nothing.
I opened the security app on my phone.
The last recorded image showed Daniel walking through the side gate carrying a small black backpack.
He looked directly at the camera.
Then he stopped.
For several seconds, he simply stared into the lens.
And then he raised his hand.
Not to wave.
To cover it.
My father stood.
“Get Detective Harris on the phone.””
I called immediately.
When I explained what Olivia had told me, the detective became silent.
Then he asked:
“Mrs. Bennett, are you certain the name was Daniel Brooks?””
“Yes.””
“Stay inside the house. Don't approach him if he returns.””
I looked at my father.
“Why?””
The detective hesitated.
“Because we have just discovered something else.””
“What?””
“Daniel Brooks was not merely involved in Vanessa's old adoption case.””
I gripped the phone.
“What else?””
“He was the person who submitted the forged trust amendment six weeks ago.””
My father went pale.
I looked toward the security monitor.
Daniel had been the person responsible for preserving the estate's footage.
He had access to the cameras.
The files.
The documents.
Everything.
May you like
Then Detective Harris said something that made my heart pound.
“We believe he has been working with Marcus and Vanessa from the beginning.””
