Chapter 9: The Recording My Father Left Behind
I didn't ask Megan another question.
Not immediately.
I was too tired to keep hearing another version of the truth.
Instead, I watched her face.
She looked like someone who had just realized the secret she'd been protecting was no longer hers to control.
"How did Wes get Dad's red box?"" I asked.
Megan rubbed her forehead.
"After Dad died, Mom asked me to help organize his office.""
"And?""
"Wes came over one afternoon.""
"Why?""
"He said he wanted to help.""
I stared.
"Wes never helped Dad organize anything.""
"I know.""
"What did he take?""
Megan looked at the floor.
"The red box.""
"What was inside?""
"Documents. Photographs. A small recorder.""
I felt my heart tighten.
"A recorder?""
Megan nodded.
"Dad used it to record notes for himself when he was working on important projects.""
I looked at Dr. Patel.
"Could there be a recording about the fertility arrangement?""
"Possibly.""
Megan continued.
"Dad told me not to let Wes take it.""
I stared at her.
"But you let him?""
She nodded.
"Why?""
"Because he said Dad had given it to him.""
I closed my eyes.
Again.
Another excuse.
Another lie.
Another moment when my sister had chosen Wes over me.
"Did you ever hear the recordings?""
"No.""
"Did you see the documents?""
"Some.""
"What documents?""
Megan reached into her handbag and removed a small folded piece of paper.
"I kept this.""
I unfolded it.
It was a handwritten inventory.
My father's handwriting.
The list contained several items.
- Original fertility storage agreement. - Embryology correspondence. - Rebecca Moore records.
- Audio statement. - Personal letter to Holly.
I stared at the final entry.
"Where is the personal letter?""
Megan shook her head.
"I don't know.""
I looked at the date.
The inventory had been written two weeks before my father's death.
"Why did you keep this?""
"Because I thought Wes might destroy everything.""
I looked at her.
"Then why didn't you stop him?""
She began crying.
"I was afraid.""
I leaned back.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I said quietly, "You were afraid of losing Wes. I was afraid of losing my chance to become a mother. We were both afraid, Megan. But only one of us was allowed to know what was happening.""
She covered her face.
Dr. Patel gently placed the paper in a folder.
"We need to get that box.""
"Where is it?""
Megan shook her head.
"I think it's in Wes's house.""
I looked at her.
"My house?""
She nodded.
"The safe in his study.""
I stared.
Wes had taken my father's documents into the house where I had lived for eleven years.
He had kept them in a safe while I prepared a nursery for our daughters.
"Does Vanessa know about the box?""
Megan hesitated.
"I think so.""
"Why?""
"Because she called me yesterday.""
I turned toward her.
"What did she say?""
Megan took a breath.
"She asked whether I still had the key.""
"Which key?""
"The key to Dad's safe deposit box.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why would she want that?""
"She said Wes had asked her to retrieve the original agreement.""
I looked at the USB drive.
"Then why did you give it to me?""
"Because I found something inside the box that wasn't on the inventory.""
"What?""
Megan reached into her handbag again.
This time, she removed a small memory card.
"Dad left this inside the lining.""
Dr. Patel took it carefully.
"Do you know what's on it?""
Megan shook her head.
"No.""
I looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?""
"Because I didn't know whether I could trust you.""
I stared.
"Trust me?""
She began crying again.
"Wes told me you would try to destroy everything if you found out.""
I laughed.
"Everything? My marriage? My family? My chance to have children?""
She lowered her head.
"I know.""
Dr. Patel placed the memory card in an evidence sleeve.
"We should have this copied and reviewed through the proper channels.""
I nodded.
"Do it.""
She made another call.
This time, she contacted the hospital's legal representative and requested assistance from the authorities.
Within an hour, a police officer arrived.
His name was Detective Harris.
He was in his late forties, with a tired expression and a notebook tucked into his jacket.
He introduced himself and listened while Dr. Patel explained the unauthorized records and specimen transfer.
Then he turned toward me.
"Mrs. Bennett, I need to ask you something.""
I nodded.
"Do you believe your husband has committed fraud?""
I looked at the documents.
"I believe he used my identity without permission. I believe he falsified medical records. And I believe he took something my father left for me.""
Detective Harris wrote that down.
"Do you have evidence?""
I pointed to the folders.
"All of it.""
He examined the documents.
Then he looked at Megan.
"Ms. Bennett, did you participate in any of these transactions?""
Megan's face went pale.
"Yes.""
"Did you know your sister had not consented?""
She hesitated.
"I knew she hadn't signed the forms herself.""
The detective stopped writing.
"Then why did you submit them?""
Megan began crying.
"Wes told me he had her permission.""
"Did you verify that?""
"No.""
"Did you benefit financially?""
Megan shook her head.
"No.""
The detective closed his notebook.
"Then I suggest you cooperate fully. The records will be reviewed.""
Megan nodded.
He turned back to me.
"We're going to request the storage facility preserve all materials and suspend any transfer activity.""
"Can you stop the appointment tomorrow?""
"Yes. We'll contact them immediately.""
I felt a small measure of relief.
Then the detective asked one more question.
"Does your husband know you're here with these documents?""
I looked at my phone.
"He knows I've seen the access logs.""
"Has he threatened you?""
"Not directly.""
I showed him the messages.
He read them.
Then his expression hardened.
"Don't respond to him without documenting everything.""
He stepped aside to make a call.
While he spoke, I looked at Megan.
"Did you love him?""
She raised her head.
"What?""
"Wes.""
She looked horrified.
"No.""
"Then why did you keep helping him?""
She stared at me for a long time.
Finally, she whispered, "Because he made me feel needed.""
I didn't answer.
She continued.
"After Dad died, I was a mess. You were trying to get pregnant, Mom was falling apart, and Wes kept checking on me. He paid my rent once.
He helped me get a job interview. He told me I was the only person who understood what he was going through.""
I stared at her.
"And you believed him?""
"I wanted to believe someone needed me.""
I looked toward the bassinets.
"You could have helped me.""
"I know.""
"You could have told me the truth.""
"I know.""
"Instead, you helped him take the one thing I had spent ten years praying for.""
She began sobbing.
I turned away.
I wasn't ready to forgive her.
I wasn't sure I ever would be.
A few minutes later, Detective Harris returned.
"The storage facility has suspended the transfer request. We've also requested the original specimen records.""
"Good.""
He nodded.
"But there's a complication.""
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
"The facility's owner claims the specimen was transferred under a valid contract.""
"Vanessa?""
"Yes.""
"What contract?""
He looked at the documents.
"She hasn't provided it yet.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Of course she hasn't.""
He continued.
"However, she did agree to an interview.""
"When?""
"Tomorrow morning.""
I looked at Dr. Patel.
"What if she destroys the records tonight?""
"The facility has been instructed to preserve them.""
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
It was my mother.
I answered.
"Holly?""
Her voice sounded frightened.
"What's wrong?""
"Your husband is here.""
My blood turned cold.
"Where?""
"At my house.""
I sat up.
"Why is he there?""
"He says he needs to speak to Megan.""
I looked at my sister.
She immediately shook her head.
"Don't let him in," I said.
My mother lowered her voice.
"He's already inside.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"Mom, listen to me. Do not give him anything.""
"He says he wants the red box.""
I looked at Megan.
She went completely still.
"Mom, where is it?""
"In the study. He says your father promised it to him.""
I closed my eyes.
"Don't let him take it.""
My mother began crying.
"Holly, he says he's going to call the police if I stop him.""
I almost laughed.
The man who had falsified my medical records was threatening to call the police.
"Put him on the phone.""
There was movement.
Then Wes's voice came through.
"Holly.""
I gripped the phone.
"Leave my mother's house.""
"Give me the documents.""
"No.""
"You don't understand what you're doing.""
"I understand that you took my father's property.""
"He gave it to me.""
"Then prove it.""
Silence.
Then Wes spoke more quietly.
"Your father knew what was best.""
I felt anger rise.
"Don't use my father to justify what you've done.""
"He wanted me to have a child.""
"He wanted me to have a family.""
"And I gave you one.""
I stared at the phone.
"You left your daughters in the hospital.""
"I had no choice.""
"You always had a choice.""
He exhaled.
"Listen, Holly. I know you're upset. But if you let this continue, you'll destroy more than our marriage.""
"Our marriage is already destroyed.""
"Not just our marriage.""
He lowered his voice.
"Your father left something in that box that could ruin your life.""
I looked at Detective Harris.
He was watching me.
"What is it?""
Wes hesitated.
Then he said, "A recording.""
My heart skipped.
"Of what?""
"Your father explaining why he chose me.""
I stared.
"Why he chose you for what?""
Wes went quiet.
Then he said, "Ask Dr. Patel.""
I turned toward her.
She looked alarmed.
"What did he say?"" she mouthed.
I put the call on speaker.
Wes continued.
"Ask her what your father told her about the genetic arrangement.""
I looked at Dr. Patel.
Her expression had changed completely.
"Wes," I said, "what arrangement?""
He gave a bitter laugh.
"The one your father made before he died.""
Then he hung up.
I turned toward Dr. Patel.
"What is he talking about?""
She took a long breath.
"Holly, I think we need to review the recording.""
Detective Harris stepped closer.
"We can arrange that.""
He spoke to the officer outside.
A few minutes later, my mother's phone rang.
It was a video call.
She answered.
The screen showed my mother's living room.
Wes stood beside the fireplace.
He was holding the red document box.
My mother was standing several feet away, crying.
"Give it back," I shouted.
Wes looked at the camera.
"Holly, please. Don't make this worse.""
"Put it down.""
He opened the box.
Then he removed a small black recorder.
He held it up.
"Your father left this for me.""
"You're lying.""
He pressed a button.
A familiar voice filled the room.
My father's voice.
Weak.
Breathless.
But unmistakable.
Wes, if you're listening to this, it means Holly has finally discovered the truth.
I stopped breathing.
My father continued.
I need you to understand something. I never intended for you to have control over the specimen. I never intended for you to decide what happened to my daughter's future.
Wes's face changed.
He pressed another button.
The recording continued.
And if you have already used it, then you have made a decision that belongs to Holly alone.
I looked at Dr. Patel.
She was staring at the screen.
My father's voice became softer.
There is one thing I never told Holly. Something I should have told her before I died.
A pause.
Then he said:
Wes is not the biological father of the child he has been claiming as his daughter.
My blood turned cold.
Wes abruptly stopped the recording.
I stared at the screen.
"What?""
My mother covered her mouth.
Wes looked directly into the camera.
"That's enough.""
He put the recorder back into the box.
Then he said something that made me feel as though the floor had disappeared beneath me.
"Your father was trying to protect you from the wrong person, Holly.""
The video ended.
I stared at the blank screen.
Dr. Patel slowly sat down.
I turned toward her.
"Is it true?""
She didn't answer.
"Is Wes not Sophie's father?""
Dr. Patel looked at Detective Harris.
Then she turned back to me.
"I can't confirm that without the original genetic records.""
I swallowed.
"Then why did my father say it?""
She took a breath.
"Because he had evidence.""
My phone vibrated.
A new message from an unknown number.
There was a photograph attached.
It showed Wes standing outside a school.
Beside him was Sophie.
And behind them, holding the little girl's hand, was another man.
The message contained only one sentence.
If you want to know who Sophie really belongs to, ask Vanessa why she lied about the first embryo.
I stared at the photograph.
Then I looked at Megan.
"Who is that man?""
She examined the image.
Her face went white.
"I know him.""
"Who?""
She whispered a name.
"Daniel Moore.""
I looked at her.
"Who is Daniel?""
Megan swallowed.
"Rebecca's brother.""
I stared.
"Why would Rebecca's brother be with Sophie?""
Megan's eyes filled.
"Because he's the person who raised her.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Wes had spent eight years claiming to be Sophie's father.
He had told my father he wanted to raise her.
He had used her existence to justify his decisions.
And now someone was telling me that even that story was false.
Detective Harris took the phone.
"Who sent this?""
"I don't know.""
He examined the photograph.
Then he looked at Dr. Patel.
"Do we have any records connecting Daniel Moore to the original fertility treatment?""
She shook her head.
"Not yet.""
My phone vibrated again.
Another message.
This time, the sender identified herself.
Rebecca Moore.
Holly, I'm sorry it has taken this long.
Your father asked me to wait until you had your babies.
I have the original recording, and I know what Wes did.
But before I tell you the truth, there's something you need to understand.
The final line appeared.
One of your daughters has a biological connection to someone in your family that Wes has been desperate to hide.
I looked at Lily.
Then Emma.
My hands began to shake.
May you like
And Rebecca sent one final message.
Holly, please don't let Wes take either of the girls home.
