Chapter 6: The Name on the DNA Report
I read the name on the laboratory report again.
Then a third time.
My hands had gone cold.
*BIOLOGICAL FATHER: DANIEL PARKER.*
My brother.
My older brother, who had died in a car accident eleven months before Noah was born.
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the pounding of my own heart.
Daniel had been thirty-two when he died. He was the kind of man people naturally trusted. He remembered birthdays, helped strangers change flat tires, and never walked into a room without making somebody laugh.
He had been my best friend.
And according to the document in my hands, he was Noah's biological father.
I looked at my mother.
“Tell me this is fake.””
Margaret covered her mouth.
“Ethan...””
“Tell me!””
She began shaking her head.
Richard, still restrained by Sergeant Collins, suddenly laughed.
“Now you understand.””
I turned toward him.
“Shut up.””
“Your grandfather knew everything. That's why he changed the trust.””
“What did Daniel have to do with this?””
Richard smiled.
“Ask your mother.””
I walked toward her.
“Mom?””
She sank onto the sofa.
For the first time in my life, my mother looked old.
Not simply tired or upset.
Defeated.
“Daniel and Emily had an affair,” she whispered.
The words hit me harder than I expected.
I shook my head.
“No.””
“I'm sorry.””
“No. Daniel would never have done that to me.””
Margaret looked down at her trembling hands.
“It happened before you married Emily.””
I remembered Daniel helping us move into our first house.
I remembered him holding Emily's hand at our wedding reception and telling me I was the luckiest man alive.
I remembered the way he had cried when Noah was born.
Was that guilt?
Was that why he had insisted on being Noah's godfather?
“Did you know before Daniel died?””
My mother nodded.
“Your grandfather told me.””
“When?””
“After the accident.””
I stared at her.
“You knew Daniel was Noah's father, and you let me raise him believing he was mine?””
Margaret began crying.
“Because you loved him.””
“That isn't an answer!””
“Daniel was dead. Emily was terrified you'd leave her. She begged your grandfather not to tell you.””
I looked at the report again.
“Then why did you and Richard want Noah's inheritance?””
My mother hesitated.
Richard answered for her.
“Because Daniel had a different inheritance.””
Sergeant Collins tightened his grip on Richard.
“Careful, Mr. Hale.””
Richard ignored him.
“Daniel was the original beneficiary of your grandfather's business holdings. When he died, those shares were transferred into a trust for his biological child.””
I looked at the document.
Noah.
My son was Daniel's biological heir.
“Your grandfather knew?”” I asked.
Margaret nodded.
“He discovered the affair shortly before he died. He wanted Noah to inherit everything Daniel had been entitled to receive.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Richard had already moved the money.””
Richard's smile disappeared.
My mother continued.
“He used forged documents to transfer the shares into a company controlled by him. When your grandfather discovered it, he threatened to report him.””
“And you helped Richard?””
“I was afraid he'd expose my involvement.””
I stared at her.
“So you helped imprison Emily because she knew the truth?””
Margaret covered her face.
“I thought if Emily disappeared, the documents would disappear with her.””
The front door opened.
Two additional officers entered.
Sergeant Collins handed Richard over to them.
“Mr. Hale, you're being detained while we investigate suspected unlawful confinement, fraud, forgery, and related offenses.””
Richard didn't resist.
Instead, he looked directly at me.
“You still don't understand the biggest problem, Ethan.””
I said nothing.
“Daniel didn't die in an accident.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
Richard leaned closer.
“Your brother was going to expose the entire scheme. He had discovered the missing money and the paternity report. He was planning to meet your grandfather the night he died.””
My hands curled into fists.
“What are you saying?””
Richard glanced at my mother.
“Ask Margaret who called him that night.””
My mother let out a strangled cry.
“Richard, stop!””
He smiled.
“Tell him.””
I turned toward her.
“Mom?””
She shook her head violently.
“I didn't know he'd crash!””
“Who called Daniel?””
She couldn't look at me.
“I did.””
The room went silent.
I stepped backward.
“You called him?””
“I wanted him to come home. I wanted to talk.””
“About what?””
“About Emily. About Noah. About the inheritance.””
“Where was he going?””
She began sobbing.
“He said he was going to your grandfather's house.””
I looked at Richard.
He was watching her carefully.
“Did you know he was driving that night?””
Richard didn't answer.
Sergeant Collins stepped closer.
“Mr. Hale, did you have any involvement in Daniel Parker's death?””
Richard looked at the officer.
“I'd like a lawyer.””
The officers led him outside.
Claire was sitting on the floor near the fireplace.
She hadn't moved.
I looked at her.
“You knew about Daniel?””
She nodded.
“Richard told me.””
“And you still married me?””
“I thought the report was fabricated.””
“Did you ever tell Noah?””
“No.””
I looked at the rabbit lying beside me.
Then I remembered the housekeeper's warning.
“Where is Noah?””
Claire looked up.
“I don't know.””
“What do you mean?””
“He was here when I arrived. Then someone took him.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
She looked toward the front window.
“Your mother.””
I turned.
Margaret's handbag was missing.
The back door stood open.
And my mother was gone.
Sergeant Collins immediately called for a search.
I ran outside.
There were fresh tire marks on the driveway.
My mother's car was gone.
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A familiar little voice whispered:
“Daddy?””
“Noah!””
“Daddy, Grandma says we're going to see Mommy.””
My chest tightened.
“Where are you, buddy?””
“I don't know.””
A woman's voice came from the background.
Then Noah whispered something else.
“Daddy, Grandma says I have to call Daniel my real daddy.””
The call ended.
I stood in the driveway, unable to move.
May you like
My mother had taken my son.
And she was taking him somewhere connected to a dead man whose secrets had nearly destroyed our family.
