Chapter 7 - The Man at the FuneralThe next morning, I received another call.
This time, the caller identified himself.
"My name is Daniel Mercer."
My stomach tightened.
"Are you related to Elias?"
A pause.
"He was my father."
"He's dead."
"Yes."
"Then what do you want?"
"I want the truth."
"So do I."
"Then meet me."
He gave me an address.
A church outside the city.
We arrived at noon.
Daniel was waiting alone.
He was in his early forties.
Clean suit.
Calm voice.
He looked nothing like his father.
But there was something in his eyes that made me uneasy.
He handed me a file.
"You've been asking about the hospital."
"Yes."
"You shouldn't."
"Too late."
He nodded.
"I knew your brother."
My heart jumped.
"When?"
"Years ago."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"Then tell me what happened."
Daniel looked toward the girls.
"Your mother discovered that my father was falsifying neonatal records."
June stepped forward.
"Why?"
"Money."
"Adoption?"
"Not exactly."
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Some babies were being placed with families who paid for specific genetic traits."
Claire stared at him.
"What traits?"
"Intelligence. Athletic ability. Certain medical profiles."
Ava looked sick.
"You're saying babies were sold?"
"Yes."
I felt rage rising.
"And my nieces?"
Daniel swallowed.
"Your nieces were valuable."
"Because they're triplets?"
"No."
"Then why?"
He looked directly at June.
"Because their mother wasn't supposed to have triplets."
I stared.
"What?"
"She was part of a medical trial."
Silence.
Daniel opened another document.
A consent form.
Their mother's name.
A strange research project.
And a signature.
Not hers.
Mine.
My blood froze.
"I never signed this."
"I know."
Someone had forged my name.
Daniel nodded.
"Your brother discovered the records."
"Then why did he leave the girls?"
"Because he found out someone had ordered them removed."
"Who?"
Daniel didn't answer.
"Who?"
He looked at me.
"My father."
My hands clenched.
"Then why are you helping us?"
"Because my father is dead."
"That's not an answer."
Daniel looked down.
"Because the person who took over his work isn't."
The church seemed suddenly colder.
"Who?"
Daniel stared at the girls.
"The person controlling the network now is someone you know."
I laughed bitterly.
"No one I know is involved in this."
Daniel shook his head.
"You've spent twenty-two years thinking you sacrificed your life for those girls."
He paused.
"You don't understand."
"Understand what?"
"They may have saved yours."
Before I could respond, a car screeched outside.
Daniel looked toward the window.
His face changed.
"Leave."
"Why?"
"Now."
The girls and I ran outside.
A black SUV was speeding toward us.
It stopped.
The rear door opened.
A man stepped out.
Old.
Gray hair.
Sharp eyes.
I recognized him.
He was the man who had broken into the girls' apartment.
He looked directly at me.
Then smiled.
"Hello, Noah."
My heart stopped.
Because I knew that face.
It wasn't Dr. Mercer.
It wasn't a stranger.
May you like
It was my brother.
Martin.
