Chapter 9: The Woman Who Stole Her Own Identity
"Don't move," David said.
He took my phone and switched it to speaker.
"Sir, this is David Mercer. Please tell me exactly what happened.""
The hospital administrator sounded frightened.
"Someone entered the archive facility using identification belonging to Evelyn Cross. She requested the original maternity records for two patients.""
"Which patients?""
"Margaret Bennett and Evelyn Cross.""
I looked at my mother.
She was gripping the edge of the table.
"Did you see her?"" I asked.
"Yes, Ms. Bennett.""
"What did she look like?""
"Approximately sixty years old. Dark hair. Wearing a beige coat.""
My mother shook her head.
"That wasn't Evelyn.""
The administrator continued.
"She showed us an authorization letter and a copy of the hospital's original registration records.""
David interrupted.
"Was the signature verified?""
"No. The archive manager allowed her to inspect the files because she claimed to be a family representative.""
"Where is she now?""
"She left through the east entrance.""
David ended the call.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"Do you know anything about this?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"No.""
I stared at her.
"Who has access to Evelyn's identification?""
"Richard.""
"Anyone else?""
She hesitated.
"Rebecca Cross.""
I remembered the photograph.
The woman standing beside Evelyn.
"Her niece?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Richard has been communicating with her for months.""
I looked at David.
"Why?""
He answered carefully.
"Perhaps because she has access to the Cross family records.""
Vanessa leaned forward.
"There's something else you need to know about Rebecca.""
I folded my arms.
"Go on.""
"She was working with Richard long before Daniel and I became involved.""
"What was her role?""
"She was supposed to identify the missing beneficiary.""
I frowned.
"But Evelyn already knows who she is.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Not exactly. Rebecca told Richard that the baby who died at six weeks was not the child Evelyn gave birth to.""
I stared.
"Then who died?""
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"She said the hospital records had been altered twice. Once during the original switch, and again after the child died.""
My mother whispered, "Oh, God.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She looked at me with an expression I couldn't understand.
"Claire, I think I know who that other baby was.""
Before she could continue, David's phone rang.
He answered.
"Mercer.""
A woman's voice came through.
"David, it's Evelyn Cross. I'm outside the building.""
He looked at me.
"Mrs. Cross, are you alone?""
"Yes. Why?""
"Please remain where you are. We're coming down.""
He ended the call.
I stood.
"Let's go.""
Vanessa grabbed my arm.
"Claire, you shouldn't trust her.""
I turned.
"Why?""
"Because I saw her with Richard last week.""
My heart sank.
"Where?""
"At a private club in Manhattan.""
David looked at her.
"Are you certain?""
"Yes. They were arguing.""
"What about?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"About the inheritance.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?""
"Because I didn't know which side she was on.""
I pulled away.
"Apparently, you don't know which side anyone is on.""
We left the conference room.
Evelyn stood in the hotel lobby beside the revolving doors.
She wore a navy coat and held a small leather handbag.
Her hair was silver at the temples.
Her face was pale.
When she saw me, she took one step forward.
"Claire?""
I nodded.
She stared at me.
Then she began crying.
"Oh, my darling.""
She reached for my hands.
I didn't pull away.
But I didn't embrace her either.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"I'm so sorry.""
I studied her face.
There was something familiar about her eyes.
Something I couldn't explain.
"Did you go to the hospital archive today?"" I asked.
She frowned.
"No.""
"Someone used your identity.""
Her expression changed.
"Rebecca.""
David stepped forward.
"Mrs. Cross, who is Rebecca?""
"My niece. My sister's daughter.""
"Does she have access to your personal documents?""
Evelyn nodded.
"She used to handle my correspondence and medical appointments.""
"Does she know about the inheritance?""
Evelyn gave a sad smile.
"She knows more than she should.""
We moved to a private sitting room.
Evelyn placed her handbag on the table and removed a thick envelope.
Inside were photographs, DNA reports, and a copy of an old family trust.
"I brought everything I could find," she said.
David examined the laboratory report.
"Who conducted this test?""
"Northbridge Genetics.""
"Was the sample collected under supervised conditions?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Yes. A nurse collected my sample and sent it directly to the laboratory.""
David examined the document.
Then he looked at me.
"Claire, this is preliminary evidence. We should arrange an independent test.""
I nodded.
Evelyn took out another photograph.
This one showed a baby wrapped in a white blanket.
On the blanket was a small embroidered name.
*C. BENNETT.*
My breath caught.
"Where did you get that?""
"From Thomas.""
I looked at her.
"Thomas gave you this?""
"Yes. He came to see me shortly before he disappeared.""
She touched the photograph.
"He said he wanted to make things right. He told me he had found out about the hospital switch.""
I stared.
"Did he know I was the baby?""
"He believed you were.""
"Why?""
"Because he'd received a copy of the original hospital registration.""
David examined the photograph.
"Is there a date?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Three weeks before Thomas disappeared.""
I looked at my mother.
She was crying silently.
Evelyn continued.
"Thomas wanted to take you away from Richard's influence. He believed James would protect you. He asked me to wait until he could arrange everything.""
"What happened?""
"He never came back.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The tiny embroidered initials.
C. Bennett.
For the first time, I felt a connection to the woman sitting across from me.
Not because she claimed to be my biological mother.
But because she had spent nearly three decades grieving a child she believed was dead.
I reached for her hand.
"I'm sorry.""
Evelyn squeezed mine.
"So am I.""
Then David's phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
"What?"" I asked.
"An investigator has reviewed the hospital security footage.""
"And?""
"Rebecca Cross entered the archive facility.""
Evelyn covered her mouth.
David continued.
"She was accompanied by a man.""
"Who?""
He turned the phone toward me.
The photograph showed Rebecca leaving the building.
Beside her was a familiar figure.
Daniel Whitmore.
I stared.
"Daniel?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"Why would he be working with Rebecca?""
Vanessa spoke quietly.
"Because Richard promised them both a share of the Cross estate.""
I turned toward her.
"Daniel told me he wanted to save me.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Daniel tells everyone what they want to hear.""
Evelyn looked confused.
"Who is this woman?""
"Vanessa Reed. My former maid of honour.""
Evelyn studied her.
Then her expression changed.
"Wait.""
She reached into her handbag again.
She removed a small photograph.
It showed a much younger Rebecca standing beside Richard Whitmore.
On the back was a date.
Twenty years earlier.
Evelyn looked at Vanessa.
"Do you know what happened to Rebecca's mother?""
Vanessa shook her head.
Evelyn turned toward me.
"Rebecca isn't my sister's biological daughter.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"She was adopted. Her mother died when she was very young.""
"Who was her biological mother?""
Evelyn looked down at the photograph.
Then she whispered a name.
"Margaret Bennett.""
I turned toward my mother.
She stopped crying.
Her face became completely still.
"No," she whispered.
Evelyn nodded.
"Rebecca is your mother's biological daughter.""
The room went silent.
I looked from Evelyn to Margaret.
Then toward the photograph of Rebecca.
My mother slowly sat down.
"That's impossible.""
Evelyn removed another document.
"Your mother gave birth to twins.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Twins?""
She nodded.
"One baby was registered as Claire Bennett. The other was registered under a different name.""
My mother covered her mouth.
I stared at her.
"Mom?""
She looked at me.
Tears streamed down her face.
"I was told one of the babies had died.""
Evelyn shook her head.
"She didn't.""
My stomach turned.
"Where was she?""
Evelyn looked at the photograph of Rebecca.
"Richard arranged for the second baby to be taken away and adopted by his sister.""
I could barely breathe.
Rebecca.
The woman who had helped Richard steal the hospital records.
The woman who had been standing beside Evelyn in the photograph.
My sister.
I stared at my mother.
"Did you know?""
She shook her head.
"No. I swear to you, Claire. I never knew.""
Evelyn reached across the table.
"Margaret, I believe you.""
My mother began sobbing.
I couldn't move.
Twenty-nine years.
Two babies.
One family torn apart before either child could speak.
And Richard Whitmore had apparently controlled every part of the story.
David stood.
"This changes everything.""
He looked at the documents.
"We need to locate Rebecca immediately.""
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
"What do you want?""
His voice sounded exhausted.
"Claire, listen carefully. Rebecca has the original birth certificate.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard gave it to her.""
"Where is she?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"I'm trying to help you.""
"Then tell me the truth.""
He took a breath.
"Rebecca isn't just involved in the inheritance. She's been preparing to challenge your identity.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"She intends to claim that you're the child who died.""
My stomach dropped.
"How?""
"She's got a doctor willing to sign a report stating that your medical records don't match the original birth records.""
I looked at David.
He immediately began writing.
Daniel continued.
"She plans to have your inheritance frozen before the court can establish your identity.""
I swallowed.
"Why would she do that?""
"Because she believes the money should belong to her.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where is Richard?""
Daniel hesitated.
"At the airport.""
"Which airport?""
"JFK. Private terminal.""
I looked at David.
He was already making a call.
Then Daniel said something that made my blood run cold.
"Claire, there's one more thing.""
"What?""
"Richard has a document proving that James Bennett wasn't your legal father.""
I stared at the wall.
"That doesn't change what he was to me.""
"I know. But the document also contains a confession.""
"Whose confession?""
Daniel's voice dropped.
"James's.""
I stopped breathing.
"What did he confess?""
"That he knew about the hospital switch before you were born.""
The call ended.
I looked at my mother.
She was staring at the floor.
"Mom?""
She slowly raised her eyes.
Then she said the words I had been dreading.
"Your father did know, Claire.""
I felt the room tilt.
"He knew before I was born?""
She nodded.
"And he made a decision that changed all our lives.""
"What decision?""
She wiped her tears.
"He chose to raise you as his daughter, even if the law said you belonged to someone else.""
I looked at the photograph of James Bennett.
For the first time, I understood that his love might have been built on a secret.
But it had still been love.
And I wasn't going to let Richard Whitmore turn that into a weapon.
David approached me.
"The authorities are locating Rebecca and Richard now. We also have enough evidence to request an immediate freeze on the disputed assets.""
I nodded.
"Do it.""
Then I turned toward Evelyn.
"Can I ask you something?""
"Anything.""
"If the DNA test proves you're my biological mother, will you still want me after everything that's happened?""
Her eyes filled.
She stood and embraced me.
"Claire, I have wanted you every single day for twenty-nine years. Nothing about this changes that.""
I held her tightly.
For a moment, the room felt less frightening.
Then David's phone rang again.
He answered.
Listened.
And slowly lowered the device.
"What happened?"" I asked.
His expression was grim.
"Rebecca has been located.""
"Where?""
"At the Bennett office building.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
David looked directly at me.
"Because she has entered the executive office.""
I turned toward the corridor.
"What's she looking for?""
He hesitated.
Then answered.
"The third safe.""
I looked at the sealed folder my father had left behind.
There had been three folders in the first safe.
But the documents had mentioned another hidden compartment.
Something James Bennett had deliberately kept separate.
David continued.
"Security says she has already opened it.""
My phone vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
*Claire, if you want to know who really ordered your father's death, come alone.*
Below it was a photograph.
Rebecca was standing beside the open safe.
And in her hand was a document bearing my father's signature.
May you like
At the bottom were four words.
*I KNEW WHO KILLED ME.*
