Chapter 6: The Death Certificate That Lied
Denise Carter was waiting in the living room when we arrived.
She had changed clothes since the previous evening. Her hair was perfectly styled, her makeup flawless, and a white cashmere sweater rested neatly over her shoulders.
She looked like a woman preparing to host a charity luncheon.
Not a woman who might have spent thirty years hiding the truth about three children.
A leather folder sat on the coffee table.
Beside it was a framed photograph of Jordan as a little boy.
Denise stood when we entered.
"Jordan, sweetheart.""
He didn't move toward her.
"Show us the death certificate.""
Her smile disappeared.
"Good afternoon to you, too.""
"Mom.""
She sighed and picked up the folder.
"Aaliyah, I understand that you're upset. But there's no reason for you to drag Jordan into something that happened before either of you could understand the world.""
I stared at her.
"You brought us into it when you told me my mother stole a baby.""
Denise placed a document on the table.
"Here.""
I approached cautiously.
It was an official-looking certificate from the Maryland Department of Health.
My mother's name.
Her date of birth.
Her date of death.
But something caught my attention.
The listed time of death was 11:42 p.m.
I remembered that night.
I had been sitting beside my mother's hospital bed. The nurse had told me to go home and get some sleep. I had refused.
At approximately 11:40, my mother had squeezed my hand.
She had looked directly at me.
And she had whispered, "Don't let them take what belongs to you.""
Two minutes later, the monitor began screaming.
I had always believed those were her final words.
I touched the paper.
"Why do you have this?""
Denise folded her arms.
"Because I requested a copy.""
"Why?""
"Because I wanted to understand what happened.""
Jordan laughed bitterly.
"Since when?""
Denise ignored him.
She pointed to the medical examiner's notation.
"Your mother died from complications related to an undiagnosed cardiac condition. But there's an additional entry here.""
I leaned closer.
*Toxicological examination requested.*
My stomach tightened.
"Was there an investigation?""
"No," Denise replied.
"The examination was canceled.""
"By whom?""
She hesitated.
"By the family.""
I looked at Jordan.
"Your family?""
Denise's face hardened.
"Michael and I were the people who handled the arrangements.""
I stepped backward.
"You had no right.""
"I was trying to protect everyone.""
"From what?""
She looked toward the hallway.
Then she opened the folder again.
A second document lay beneath the death certificate.
It was a hospital incident report.
The date matched the night my mother died.
A nurse had recorded that Renee Williams experienced sudden respiratory distress after receiving medication administered by an unidentified visitor.
The visitor's name had been blacked out.
I felt dizzy.
"Who was it?""
Denise looked at me.
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
Jordan slammed his hand against the table.
"Mom, enough!""
Denise flinched.
He had never raised his voice at her like that.
"Did you visit Renee the night she died?""
She looked away.
"Yes.""
The answer came so quietly that I almost missed it.
I stared at her.
"You were there?""
"She asked to see me.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I knew you'd misunderstand.""
I laughed, but there was no humor in it.
"You visited my dying mother without telling me?""
"She was my friend once.""
"She was my mother!""
Denise's expression changed.
For a moment, something like regret crossed her face.
Then she opened the folder and removed a small photograph.
It showed my mother in her hospital bed.
Beside her stood Denise.
The photograph had been taken at 10:56 p.m.
On the back, someone had written:
She knows about Sophia.
I stared at the words.
"Who is Sophia?""
Denise went completely still.
Jordan noticed.
"Mom?""
She put the photograph down.
"Nobody.""
"Don't," I whispered.
"She was a mistake.""
Jordan's expression darkened.
"Another child?""
Denise walked toward the window.
"Your grandmother made terrible decisions. Sophia was one of them.""
"Who is she?"" I demanded.
Denise closed her eyes.
"Thomas Reed's daughter.""
I felt the same cold sensation I'd experienced in the storage unit.
"Why did my mother write her name in that journal?""
"Because Renee became obsessed with proving that Eleanor had arranged another identity switch.""
"Was it true?""
Denise turned.
"Yes.""
Jordan stared at her.
"How many children did Grandma change?""
Denise didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"Did you know Sophia?""
"Yes.""
"Where is she?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying again.""
Denise's jaw tightened.
"She was raised by Thomas. He was supposed to keep her away from this family.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Why would my mother know her?""
"Because Renee discovered the truth shortly before she died.""
I picked up the death certificate.
"Then tell me what happened that night.""
Denise's eyes filled.
"Renee called me. She said she had the original records and intended to take them to the authorities. I went to the hospital to convince her to stop.""
"And?""
"We argued.""
"Did you give her medication?""
Denise looked at me.
"No.""
"Did you bring anyone?""
She hesitated.
"Michael came later.""
Jordan's face changed.
"My father?""
Denise nodded.
"He wanted to speak to Renee.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Why?""
Denise looked toward the staircase.
"Because he knew something about Sophia that could destroy this family.""
Jordan grabbed the folder.
"What?""
Before Denise could answer, the front door opened.
Michael walked inside.
He stopped when he saw the documents scattered across the table.
Then he looked at me.
"Did she tell you?""
I shook my head.
Michael closed the door.
"Then I'll tell you.""
Denise rushed toward him.
"Michael, don't.""
He removed his coat.
"Thirty years ago, I believed Denise had given birth to Jordan. I raised him as my son. I loved him as my son. But five years ago, I discovered something.""
Jordan stepped forward.
"What?""
Michael looked directly at him.
"Your grandmother left a letter explaining why she had changed the records.""
"Why?""
Michael swallowed.
"Because the child she wanted to inherit the Carter fortune wasn't you.""
He turned toward me.
"It was Aaliyah.""
I felt my breath catch.
Michael reached into his coat and placed a photograph on the table.
It showed three newborn girls.
On the back, Eleanor Carter had written:
The rightful heir must never know which family she came from.
Then Michael looked at Denise.
"And you knew which baby was supposed to inherit everything.""
Denise's face became expressionless.
"Yes.""
"Then tell them why you kept the truth hidden.""
She looked at me.
"Because I was afraid you'd discover that the woman you called your mother wasn't the only person who loved you.""
I stared at her.
"Who else?""
Denise's lips trembled.
"Your biological father.""
Michael slowly closed his eyes.
And when he opened them, he looked directly at me.
"Renee never told you his name, did she?""
I shook my head.
May you like
Michael took a breath.
"Because your biological father was my brother.""
