“I was trying to find her!”
Sarah struck his chest with both hands.
“You let me grieve alone!”
Michael lowered his head.
“I know.”
Noah began sobbing.
“Mom, do I have a sister?”
Sarah turned immediately.
She knelt in front of him.
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Sarah couldn't answer.
Noah looked toward Grant.
“Can I see her?”
Grant smiled.
“Of course.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don't listen to him.”
Grant looked at Daniel.
“Why not? You want answers, don't you?”
He reached inside his jacket again.
This time he removed a photograph.
He held it out.
Daniel took it.
The picture showed a teenage girl standing outside a school.
She had dark brown hair and a small scar above her eyebrow.
She was smiling.
On the back was a handwritten message:
FOR NOAH — WHEN HE'S READY.
Sarah stared at the photograph.
Then she collapsed into Michael's arms.
“Oh, my God.”
Michael held her.
“She's alive.”
Noah reached for the picture.
“Is that my sister?”
Daniel looked at him.
“Yes.”
Noah touched the photograph.
“What's her name?”
Michael whispered:
“Lily.”
Noah smiled through his tears.
“Lily.”
Grant watched them.
Then he said something that made Daniel's blood run cold.
“There's just one problem.”
Daniel looked up.
“What?”
Grant glanced toward the staircase.
“Lily doesn't know she's a Bennett.”
Sarah stopped breathing.
Grant continued.
“She believes her parents died in a car accident. She's been raised by a family that has no idea who she really is.”
Michael stepped forward.
“Don't.”
Grant ignored him.
“And tomorrow morning, she'll be given a new identity.”
Daniel stared.
“Why?”
“Because the operation is moving.”
“Where?”
Grant smiled.
“Somewhere much bigger than this warehouse.”
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Grant, you're under arrest.”
He laughed.
“On whose authority?”
“Mine.”
Grant looked at her badge.
Then at Daniel.
Then at Sarah.
Finally, he looked at Noah.
“Ask your mother about the day you were born.”
Sarah's expression changed.
Grant continued:
“Ask her why she signed the second birth certificate.”
Daniel turned toward Sarah.
“Sarah?”
She began shaking her head.
“No.”
“Did you sign another birth certificate?”
Sarah covered her face.
“I didn't know what it meant.”
Michael looked at her.
“Sarah…”
She started crying.
“They told me it was a hospital correction. They said the first record had a mistake.”
Daniel stared.
“What did you sign?”
Sarah whispered:
“A document saying Noah was born to a different mother.”
Noah looked confused.
“Mom?”
Sarah rushed to hold him.
“You are my son.”
Grant smiled.
“That's what you believe.”
Daniel raised his weapon.
“Enough!”
Grant's smile disappeared.
Then he looked at Rebecca.
“Agent Lawson, tell him what happened to the original mother.”
Rebecca remained silent.
Grant tilted his head.
“Tell him.”
Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.
Finally, she whispered:
“She's still alive.”
Sarah looked up.
“Who?”
Rebecca turned toward Daniel.
Then she said:
“The woman who gave birth to Noah.”
The warehouse fell silent.
Daniel looked at Sarah.
Sarah looked at Michael.
Michael closed his eyes.
Noah began to cry.
And from somewhere behind the emergency door, a phone started ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Grant smiled.
“That's her.”
Daniel looked toward the sound.
“Who?”
Grant stepped aside.
“Your next witness.”
The phone kept ringing.
Sarah slowly reached into her pocket.
She pulled out her own phone.
The screen displayed an unknown number.
A message appeared beneath it.
ANSWER THE PHONE, SARAH.
Then another message.
YOUR DAUGHTER IS WAITING.
Sarah looked at Noah.
Then at the phone.
Her hand trembled.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Don't answer.”
But Sarah had already pressed the button.
A woman's voice came through.
Soft.
Young.
Terrified.
“Mom?”
Sarah stopped breathing.
“Lily?”
The girl began crying.
“Mom, I don't know what's happening.”
Sarah covered her mouth.
“Where are you?”
“I don't know. They took me somewhere.”
“Who?”
A pause.
Then the girl whispered:
“Dad.”
Sarah looked at Michael.
Michael's face turned white.
The voice continued.
“Mom, he says he's coming to get Noah.”
The call suddenly became distorted.
Then a man's voice replaced the girl's.
“Hello, Sarah.”
Sarah froze.
Daniel recognized the voice.
It was Captain Harris.
“I'm afraid we've reached the end of our little reunion.”
The line went dead.
A second later, the warehouse lights came back on.
And the door behind Grant opened.
Captain Harris stepped inside.
He was holding a photograph.
He placed it on the nearest table.
It showed Daniel Morgan.
Standing outside the courthouse seven years earlier.
Beside him was Michael Bennett.
And behind them stood a little girl.
On the back of the photograph were six words:
THE FIRST CHILD WAS NEVER MISSING.
Daniel looked at Harris.
“Where is Lily?”
Harris smiled.
“She's with her real father.”
Michael began shaking.
“No…”
Sarah grabbed Noah.
Daniel raised his weapon.
“Who is her father?”
Harris looked at Daniel.
Then he pointed toward Grant.
“Ask him.”
Grant slowly lowered his cap.
For the first time, his full face was visible.
Michael stared at him.
His lips parted.
Then he whispered a name.
“Jonathan…”
Harris smiled.
“That's right.”
Daniel turned toward the captain.
“You're Lily's father?”
Harris nodded.
“And Noah's.”
Sarah screamed.
“No!”
Harris looked at the boy.
“Hello, son.”
Noah began crying uncontrollably.
Daniel stepped in front of him.
“You're not taking him.”
Harris smiled.
“Daniel, you still don't understand. I'm not here to take Noah.”
He glanced at Grant.
Then at Rebecca.
Then at Michael.
“I've come to bring my family home.”
He reached into his jacket and placed another document on the table.
It was a birth certificate.
The name at the top was:
NOAH JONATHAN HARRIS.
The mother listed beneath it was:
REBECCA LAWSON.
Daniel stared.
Rebecca lowered her head.
Sarah whispered:
“What have you done?”
Harris smiled.
“Now, shall we discuss which one of you is going to tell the boy the truth?”
End of Part 2.
The next chapter: The Original Mother — Noah must confront the truth about his birth, while Daniel discovers that the woman he trusted most may have been involved in the conspiracy from the very beginning.