Chapter 8: The Baby Bracelet Hidden for Twenty-Nine Years
Robert was rushed to the hospital under police guard. Sophie and Claire followed in separate ambulances, both alive but badly injured.
Daniel remained in the dining room, staring at the blood on the floor.
“What did he mean?” he asked.
Margaret sat in a chair with a blanket around her shoulders. “He was trying to hurt you.”
“He said I don’t know which baby you brought home.”
“He was losing blood.”
“Answer me.”
Elena stood beside Daniel. “Margaret, this is the last chance to tell him the truth before someone else does.”
Margaret looked at her sharply. “You know?”
“I found two hospital bracelets in Robert’s safe deposit inventory.”
Daniel turned. “What bracelets?”
Margaret’s lips parted, but no sound came.
Adrian entered from the hall after speaking with an officer. “Sophie is stable. The bullet missed the artery.”
Daniel nodded, then looked back at his mother. “Two bracelets.”
Margaret pressed her hands together. “You were born during a storm. The hospital lost power for almost an hour.”
“So?”
“There were two boys in the nursery. You and another baby.”
Daniel’s face hardened. “What happened to the other baby?”
“He was born to a young woman named Laura Reed.”
Adrian suddenly went still. “Reed?”
Margaret looked at him.
“My mother’s maiden name was Reed,” Adrian said.
Elena’s eyes widened. “Thomas later married Laura?”
“Yes. She was Sophie’s mother.”
Daniel stepped back. “That’s impossible.”
Adrian shook his head slowly. “My father met Laura years after Daniel was born. At least that’s what they told us.”
Margaret began crying again. “Robert found me in the hospital hallway. He had already learned Thomas might be the father. He was furious. Then the lights went out.”
Daniel’s voice sharpened. “What did he do?”
“I don’t know. I swear I don’t know. A nurse handed me a baby and said he was mine. Robert took the bracelet from the blanket before we left.”
“Why?”
“He said it was loose and dangerous.”
Elena removed a photograph from her phone. “The inventory describes one bracelet marked ‘Baby Boy Hayes’ and another marked ‘Baby Boy Reed.’ Robert kept both.”
Adrian stared at Daniel. “Then one of us may not be who we think we are.”
Daniel looked at him. “You’re six years younger than me.”
“Not me. My older brother.”
“You have another brother?”
Adrian hesitated. “Had. His name was Lucas. He died when he was twelve.”
Margaret covered her mouth. “What did he look like?”
Adrian unlocked his phone and displayed a family picture.
Margaret took one glance and began to scream.
Daniel seized the phone.
The boy in the photograph had Robert’s pale eyes, Robert’s narrow chin, and the same small mark beside his left ear.
Daniel touched the identical mark beside his own ear.
Elena whispered, “That could be a family trait.”
Daniel looked at Margaret. “Which family?”
Adrian enlarged the photograph. Around Lucas’s wrist was a silver identification bracelet.
The engraved name was visible.
Daniel read it aloud.
“Daniel Hayes.”
Adrian shook his head. “That bracelet was found with him when he died.”
Margaret rose unsteadily. “No. Robert told me he destroyed it.”
Daniel stared at her. “So you did know there was a switch.”
Before she could answer, an officer rushed into the room.
“Mr. Hayes, Robert escaped from the ambulance.”
May you like
Elena checked the baby carrier.
Noah was gone.
