Chapter 8: The Truth My Lawyer Never Knew
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Daniel stared at the document as though the letters might rearrange themselves.
"That's impossible.""
Detective Collins remained calm.
"Your wife is listed as the legal guardian of Rebecca Reed's adopted identity. We need to establish whether this is the same person.""
Daniel shook his head.
"My wife was adopted. She knows that. But she has never mentioned the name Reed.""
I looked at him.
"You've never heard of Rebecca?""
"No.""
"Not once?""
"Never.""
His voice cracked slightly.
For the first time since meeting him, Daniel Brooks looked completely lost.
Detective Collins placed the documents on the desk.
"We need to contact your wife.""
Daniel pulled out his phone.
His fingers trembled.
He called.
No answer.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
Then a message arrived.
Daniel read it silently.
"What?"" I asked.
He turned the phone around.
It was from his wife, Rachel.
*Daniel, don't come home tonight. I need to explain something.*
A second message followed.
*Please don't let Michael see the old photographs.*
Daniel stared at the screen.
"She knows.""
Detective Collins nodded.
"Knows what?""
Daniel looked at the birth records.
"That Rebecca is connected to Sarah.""
He called Rachel again.
This time, she answered.
"Daniel?""
"Rachel, where are you?""
A long silence.
"At home.""
"Why did you tell me not to come home?""
She sighed.
"Because I think people are watching the house.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Rachel, I need you to listen carefully. Is your name Rebecca Reed?""
There was no answer.
Then a quiet voice.
"Yes.""
Daniel looked as though someone had struck him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I didn't know how.""
"How long have you known?""
"Since I was eighteen.""
He turned away from us.
"You're Sarah's sister?""
Rachel started crying.
"Yes.""
The room became silent.
Daniel sat down.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because my adoptive parents told me I was never supposed to look for my birth family.""
"Why?""
"Because someone paid them to keep me away.""
I looked at Detective Collins.
She motioned for Daniel to continue.
"Who paid them?""
Rachel hesitated.
"Jonathan.""
Daniel gripped the phone.
"Why?""
"Because he said I would destroy everything if I ever met Sarah.""
I stepped closer.
"Rachel, this is Michael Carter.""
She went quiet.
"Michael?""
"Yes.""
"I'm sorry.""
I stared at the phone.
"For what?""
"For what happened to Emily.""
My stomach tightened.
"You knew about my daughter?""
"I didn't know the details. I knew Jonathan was involved in something. I tried to stop him.""
"How?""
"I found documents. I contacted Sarah. She wouldn't listen.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was pale.
"Rachel," he said, "where are you right now?""
"At home.""
"Stay there. We're coming.""
"No!""
Her voice was suddenly urgent.
"Daniel, don't come here.""
"Why?""
"Because Jonathan knows I have the original file.""
Detective Collins leaned closer.
"What original file?""
Rachel took a breath.
"The hospital records. The original adoption papers. And the DNA reports.""
"Where are they?""
"In a safe deposit box.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Which bank?""
Rachel gave him the name.
Then she whispered:
"There's something else you need to know.""
"What?""
"Jonathan isn't trying to get Emily because he believes she's his daughter.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
"Then why?""
"Because Emily has something he needs.""
"What?""
Rachel began crying.
"The truth about Sarah's birth.""
Daniel frowned.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"It does when you understand what happened.""
She explained that the original hospital records had been altered.
The second twin, Rebecca, had not been abandoned.
She had been deliberately transferred into a private adoption arrangement.
Jonathan had paid an employee to make it appear that the child had died.
But the child survived.
And Linda had been told she had only one living daughter.
"Why would he do that?"" I asked.
Rachel's answer came slowly.
"Because Jonathan wanted Sarah to grow up believing she had no family except him and Linda.""
I stared.
"But he abandoned her.""
"Yes. And later he came back when he needed her.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Needed her for what?""
Rachel hesitated.
"Money. The family estate.""
Linda suddenly stood.
"What estate?""
Rachel's voice trembled through the phone.
"Jonathan's father left a trust. It was supposed to be divided between his biological descendants. Sarah and Rebecca were both entitled to shares.""
Daniel looked at the documents.
"How much?""
"Several million dollars.""
I felt sick.
Everything was becoming clearer.
Jonathan had discovered his daughters.
He had hidden one.
He had manipulated the other.
And he had used my marriage as a way to gain access to our family.
But why Emily?
Rachel answered before I could ask.
"Because Sarah's legal documents named Emily as her only child and future beneficiary. If Sarah disappeared from the trust arrangement, Emily's rights would become important.""
Daniel shook his head.
"That still doesn't explain the kidnapping.""
Rachel's voice dropped.
"Jonathan wanted custody of Emily because he planned to use her as leverage against Sarah.""
I looked at the window.
The little girl I had just rescued was sitting with a police officer in the next room.
She had been treated like a bargaining chip.
A way to control a woman.
A way to control a family.
A way to obtain money.
"Rachel," I said, "where is Jonathan now?""
"I don't know.""
"Where is Sarah?""
"I think they're together.""
"Where?""
She hesitated.
Then she said:
"The lake house.""
Linda looked up.
"What lake house?""
Rachel explained that Jonathan owned a property near Lake Erie.
It had been purchased through a company.
Sarah had visited several times.
Detective Collins immediately requested the address.
Before the call ended, Rachel said one final thing.
"Michael?""
"Yes?""
"I have something that belongs to you.""
"What?""
"A video.""
"What video?""
"The night Sarah made the false report.""
I froze.
Rachel continued.
"I found it on Jonathan's old laptop. He recorded the conversation because he wanted proof that Sarah had followed his instructions.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Can you send it?""
"I can give it to the police.""
"What's on it?""
Rachel's voice broke.
"Sarah admitting that you never touched her or Emily.""
The room went silent.
I gripped the phone.
"Why didn't you come forward sooner?""
"Because Jonathan threatened my adoptive parents. And because I was afraid that if I spoke, he would hurt Daniel.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Rachel...""
"I'm sorry.""
Detective Collins took over.
"Ms. Brooks, do not attempt to retrieve the video yourself. We will arrange a safe way to obtain it.""
Rachel agreed.
The call ended.
Daniel remained seated.
He stared at the floor.
"All this time," he whispered.
I placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She didn't tell you because she was scared.""
He looked at me.
"She knew your daughter was in danger.""
"She says she tried to help.""
"Maybe.""
Detective Collins returned.
"We have the lake house address. Officers are being dispatched.""
I looked toward the next room.
Emily was drawing with colored pencils.
She had drawn three people holding hands.
This time, she had added a fourth.
A woman with dark hair.
I sat beside her.
"Who's that, sweetheart?""
Emily looked up.
"That's the lady who gave me my blanket.""
I frowned.
"What lady?""
"The one who came when Mommy was crying.""
I looked at Detective Collins.
"Did you find anyone else at the property?""
She shook her head.
"Only Emily.""
Emily pointed at the drawing.
"She said she was my aunt.""
My heart stopped.
"Did she tell you her name?""
Emily nodded.
"Rebecca.""
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Then she added:
"She told Mommy that the bad man was coming back.""
