Chapter 9: The Sister Who Knew My Name
Dad called Margaret immediately.
He explained everything.
The photograph.
The messages.
Vanessa's accusation.
Patricia's involvement.
Margaret listened without interrupting.
When he finished, she said:
“Marcus, don't contact anyone involved until we establish whether Olivia is actually alive.””
Dad looked at me.
“She's alive. We have a photograph.””
“A photograph can be manipulated.””
“Then how do we verify it?””
“I'll contact the relevant authorities.””
Daniel paced across the study.
“We can't wait.””
Margaret's voice became firmer.
“You can if the alternative is walking into a dangerous situation without knowing who's controlling it.””
Dad rubbed his forehead.
“Fine. But I want answers today.””
The call ended.
I sat on the sofa, staring at the photograph.
The girl beside Patricia looked about my age.
She had dark brown eyes and a small scar near her chin.
Something about her face felt familiar.
Not because she looked like me.
Because she looked like Mom.
The same eyes.
The same slight tilt of the head.
The same expression Mom used when she was trying not to smile.
I zoomed in.
The photograph was taken outside a small detached house with a red front door.
I noticed a number beside the entrance.
*42.*
I searched my messages.
There was no address.
Just the photograph and the deadline.
Dad came over.
“Put the phone down.””
“I can't.””
“I know.””
“She could be my sister.””
He sat beside me.
“I know, son.””
I looked at him.
“Did Mom ever talk about wanting a daughter?””
He nodded.
“She used to say she'd love a house full of children.””
I swallowed.
“Then she had two more, and someone took them.””
Dad looked away.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then he placed his hand over mine.
“I should have known.””
“You couldn't have known.””
“I was her husband.””
“And you trusted her.””
He looked at me.
I continued.
“Mom didn't tell you because she was trying to protect us. You can't blame yourself for what other people did.””
His eyes filled.
He pulled me into a hug.
I hadn't been held like that in a long time.
For a few seconds, I was a little boy again.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“Where?””
He listened.
Then he looked at Dad.
“She's been found.””
Dad stood.
“Who?””
“Patricia.””
Daniel ended the call.
“The police located her address. She's been taken in for questioning.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What about Olivia?””
“They haven't found her.””
I grabbed my jacket.
“I'm going.””
Dad shook his head.
“No.””
“Dad—”
“No. Not until we know what's happening.””
I stepped toward him.
“She could disappear.””
He caught my shoulders.
“And if someone is waiting for you, you'll disappear too.””
I looked away.
He softened his voice.
“Please trust me.””
I nodded reluctantly.
An hour later, Margaret called again.
She had obtained an emergency legal order preserving the relevant hospital records.
She also told us something else.
Patricia had admitted that she had helped arrange a temporary placement for one of the twins.
But she insisted that she had never intended to keep either child from Rebecca.
“She says Adrian handled the transfers,” Margaret explained.
Dad asked:
“Where is Olivia?””
Patricia had refused to answer.
“Why?””
“Because she says she's afraid.””
“Of Adrian?””
Margaret paused.
“Of Vanessa.””
Dad looked at Daniel.
“Where is Vanessa now?””
“We don't know.””
Margaret continued.
“There's another development. Patricia says she has evidence that Olivia was placed with a family in Manchester. That family later moved abroad.””
“Where?””
“That's what the police are trying to establish.””
I sat forward.
“Does Olivia know she's adopted?””
Margaret answered.
“Apparently, yes.””
“Does she know about Mom?””
Another pause.
“No.””
I felt my throat tighten.
“Then how does she know my name?””
Margaret was silent for several seconds.
Then she said:
“Because Patricia claims Olivia has been receiving letters from someone for years.””
“Who?””
“Your mother.””
Dad looked stunned.
“Rebecca wrote to her?””
“Yes. But Patricia says the letters were intercepted.””
I stared at the phone.
“Who intercepted them?””
Margaret's answer was quiet.
“Vanessa.””
Dad stood.
“Where is she?””
“We don't know.””
The call ended.
I looked at the photograph again.
Then I noticed something in the background.
A white van parked across the street.
The number plate was partially visible.
I zoomed in.
It looked familiar.
I opened the photograph Vanessa had sent earlier.
The same van appeared outside the storage facility.
My stomach dropped.
“Dad.””
He looked over.
“What?””
“Someone's following us.””
I showed him.
Daniel came closer.
He examined both photographs.
Then his face hardened.
“That van belongs to Adrian's company.””
Dad grabbed his keys.
“We're going to the police.””
Before we could leave, the doorbell rang.
We froze.
Daniel moved toward the hallway.
Dad followed.
I stayed behind them.
Through the front window, I saw a young woman standing on the doorstep.
She wore a dark green coat and held a small backpack.
Her hair was tied loosely behind her head.
She looked nervous.
Then she raised her eyes.
And I saw them.
The same dark brown eyes from the photograph.
Daniel opened the door.
“Can I help you?””
The girl looked past him.
“Is Marcus Walker here?””
Dad stepped forward.
“Yes.””
She swallowed.
“My name is Olivia.””
Nobody moved.
She looked at me.
Then she smiled weakly.
“Hi, Ethan.””
My throat tightened.
“How do you know my name?””
She reached into her backpack and removed a small envelope.
“Because I've been trying to find you for three years.””
Dad stepped forward.
“Where have you been?””
Olivia looked at him.
“Living with the people who adopted me.””
“Who are they?””
She shook her head.
“They're not my parents.””
Her voice trembled.
“They're just the people who were told to raise me.””
I stared at her.
“You know about Mom?””
She nodded.
“Not much.””
Then she handed me the envelope.
It was old.
The edges were worn.
My name was written across the front in Mom's handwriting.
I recognized it immediately.
Olivia watched my face.
“Patricia gave it to me.””
I looked at her.
“When?””
“Three years ago.””
Dad frowned.
“Why didn't she tell us?””
Olivia shook her head.
“Because she said the people who took me were still watching.””
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph of Mom holding a baby.
On the back, she had written:
*For Ethan and Olivia. One day, you'll find each other. Until then, remember that neither of you was ever unwanted.*
I couldn't breathe.
Olivia began crying.
“She wrote that for us?””
I nodded.
She covered her mouth.
For a moment, we simply stood there.
Two strangers connected by a mother neither of us had been allowed to know properly.
Then she reached into her coat pocket.
She removed another photograph.
This one showed a younger Vanessa standing beside Adrian.
Between them was a little boy.
About five years old.
I looked at the child.
Then at Olivia.
“Who is that?””
She swallowed.
“Oliver.””
My heart began pounding.
“Your brother?””
She nodded.
“He lived with us for a while.””
Dad stepped closer.
“What do you mean?””
“Before I was moved to another family, Vanessa used to bring him to the house.””
“Why?””
“She said he was my brother.””
I looked at the photograph again.
Oliver was smiling.
Vanessa had one hand resting on his shoulder.
Adrian stood beside them.
I felt sick.
“Where is he now?””
Olivia shook her head.
“I don't know. But I found something in Patricia's files.””
She reached into her backpack.
This time, she removed a folded document.
It was a copy of a guardianship agreement.
The child's name was Oliver Hale.
His date of birth matched the hospital record.
The guardian's name was Adrian Cole.
But there was another name beneath it.
A woman.
*Rebecca Walker.*
Dad took the paper.
His eyes widened.
“Your mother was listed as a guardian?””
Olivia nodded.
“Patricia told me Rebecca tried to get custody of him.””
“When?””
“Before she died.””
Dad looked confused.
“Why would she need custody of her own child?””
Olivia's eyes filled.
“Because Adrian had convinced the authorities that Rebecca had abandoned him.””
I looked at the document.
The signature at the bottom was dated twelve years earlier.
Mom had apparently been fighting to bring Oliver home while everyone around her believed she had given him away.
Then Olivia spoke again.
“There's something else.””
She took out a second sheet.
It was a handwritten note.
The words were short.
*The boy called Ethan isn't the boy Rebecca gave birth to.*
I stared.
Dad went completely still.
Olivia continued.
“Patricia said Vanessa changed the hospital records after the twins were born.””
I shook my head.
“Then who am I?””
Olivia looked at me.
“I think you were the baby they gave to Rebecca after the original transfer.””
My stomach dropped.
Dad stepped backward.
“That doesn't make sense.””
Olivia lowered her voice.
“Patricia said there was another child.””
I looked at her.
“Another child?””
She nodded.
“A third baby.””
Silence.
Dad took the note.
“Three?””
Olivia nodded.
“Rebecca gave birth to three children.””
I felt the room spin.
“Then where is the third one?””
Olivia looked toward the street.
A black car had stopped outside Daniel's house.
The driver's door opened.
Vanessa stepped out.
She wasn't alone.
A young man climbed out of the passenger seat.
The same young man from the photograph.
Oliver.
He looked directly at me.
Then he raised his hand.
In his other hand was a document.
And even from across the street, I could read the name printed at the top.
*DNA PATERNITY TEST — MARCUS WALKER.*
Dad moved toward the window.
“Who ordered that?””
Olivia began crying.
“Vanessa.””
Then Oliver started walking toward the house.
But before he reached the gate, Vanessa grabbed his arm.
She leaned close and whispered something.
He stopped.
Looked at me.
Then turned around.
And walked back to the car.
I rushed toward the door.
“Oliver!””
He didn't turn.
The car pulled away.
Olivia grabbed my wrist.
“Don't follow them.””
“That's my brother!””
She shook her head.
“No, Ethan.””
Her voice broke.
“That's the boy Vanessa has spent fifteen years trying to keep away from you.””
May you like
She looked toward Dad.
“And I think she's finally ready to tell you why.””
