Chapter 6 - THE BOY WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD“MY MOTHER THINKS I’M DEAD?”
Noah’s voice came through Michael’s phone.
Michael could hear Vanessa sobbing through the second line.
“Yes.”
Noah looked toward Franklin.
Something changed in his expression.
“You told me she abandoned me.”
Franklin remained calm.
“She did.”
“No.”
Michael stepped toward the phone.
“She was told you died.”
Franklin reached to end the recording.
Noah grabbed his wrist.
For the first time, Franklin lost control.
“Don’t.”
Noah stared at him.
“You lied.”
The video ended.
Vanessa screamed:
“Michael, find him.”
“I will.”
“You bring my son home.”
Michael closed his eyes.
“I will.”
It was a promise he had no idea how to keep.
Agent Sloan traced the video.
An abandoned medical facility outside Lake Forest.
Federal teams mobilized immediately.
Michael insisted on going.
Claire objected.
“You have Emily.”
“So do you.”
“If something happens—”
“Something already happened.”
He touched her face.
“I need to end this.”
Claire kissed him.
“Come back.”
Michael nodded.
“Both of us.”
The facility stood behind rusted gates surrounded by dead winter trees.
Federal agents entered first.
Michael followed Sloan.
Inside they found medical equipment.
Beds.
Locked cabinets.
Children’s records.
But no children.
No Franklin.
No Noah.
Then Michael heard a sound.
Knocking.
Three times.
Behind a wall.
Agents broke through.
A hidden room appeared.
Inside sat Dr. Helen Morris.
Alive.
Her hands were tied.
Michael rushed toward her.
“Where are they?”
She looked terrified.
“He moved the boy.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
“What about Lily?”
Helen stared.
“You still don’t understand.”
Michael’s patience snapped.
“Then help me understand!”
Helen looked toward Sloan.
“Project Legacy never belonged to Robert Carter.”
Michael froze.
“What?”
“Robert financed it.”
“Then who created it?”
“Eleanor.”
Michael’s mother.
Again.
“Why?”
Helen swallowed.
“Because Eleanor was dying.”
Michael frowned.
“She died from an aneurysm.”
“No.”
Helen shook her head.
“She had a degenerative neurological disease.”
Michael felt cold.
“She created children to cure herself?”
“At first.”
“At first?”
“The research changed.”
“How?”
“Eleanor discovered Donor 417 had unusual cellular regeneration markers.”
Sloan frowned.
“Who was the donor?”
Helen looked at Michael.
“Franklin.”
Claire’s father.
Michael stared.
“So Emily and Lily…”
“Are Franklin’s biological daughters.”
Michael felt the words like a physical blow.
Claire’s father had fathered her children genetically.
Then Helen corrected herself.
“Not exactly.”
Michael stared.
“What does that mean?”
“417 wasn’t Franklin’s DNA.”
“Whose was it?”
Helen’s eyes filled with fear.
“He stole it.”
“From whom?”
Before she answered, gunfire erupted outside.
Sloan pushed Michael down.
Agents shouted.
A vehicle crashed through the rear gate.
Michael looked through a shattered window.
A black SUV.
Franklin stepped out.
Beside him stood Noah.
But Noah wasn’t restrained.
He was holding a gun.
Michael whispered:
“No.”
Franklin shouted from outside.
“Michael!”
Sloan aimed through the window.
Michael stopped her.
“Wait.”
“Mr. Carter—”
“My nephew is out there.”
Franklin raised his hands.
“I came to trade.”
Michael shouted:
“For what?”
“Dr. Morris.”
Helen went white.
“No.”
Michael looked at her.
“Why?”
“She knows where Lily is.”
Franklin smiled outside.
“Exactly.”
Michael stared at Helen.
“You said you didn’t know.”
“I lied.”
“Where is she?”
Helen began crying.
“Your mother took her.”
Michael froze.
“My mother is dead.”
Helen looked at him.
“No, Michael.”
Everything stopped.
“She isn’t.”
Michael stared.
“No.”
“She survived.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Eleanor Carter has been alive for eleven years.”
Michael’s legs nearly failed him.
His mother.
Another dead parent.
Another lie.
“Where?”
Helen whispered:
“North Lake.”
Michael understood the name.
Not a corporation.
A place.
Franklin shouted:
“Michael, thirty seconds!”
Noah stared toward the building.
Michael stepped outside despite Sloan’s protest.
Franklin smiled.
“You always were brave.”
“Where is my daughter’s twin?”
“With Eleanor.”
“Why?”
“Because Lily matched.”
Michael felt sick.
“Matched what?”
Franklin looked almost sad.
“Your mother.”
Michael stared.
“Emily didn’t?”
“No.”
“And Noah?”
“Partial.”
Michael looked at the boy.
Noah’s face showed years of pain Michael could barely imagine.
“Come with me.”
Noah laughed bitterly.
“Why?”
“Your mother is waiting.”
“My mother sold me.”
“No.”
Michael stepped closer.
“She thought you died.”
Noah looked at Franklin.
Franklin said nothing.
That silence changed everything.
Noah lowered his gun.
Franklin grabbed him.
A shot exploded.
Michael ran.
Agents fired.
Franklin dragged Noah toward the SUV.
Noah elbowed him and broke free.
Sloan tackled Franklin.
Federal agents surrounded him.
Michael reached Noah.
The boy stared at him.
“You’re my uncle?”
“Yes.”
“My mother really wanted me?”
Michael’s eyes filled.
“She never stopped grieving you.”
Noah began crying.
For fourteen years, he had believed he was unwanted.
Michael pulled him into his arms.
The boy resisted for one second.
Then collapsed against him.
Franklin was handcuffed.
As agents dragged him away, he laughed.
Michael turned.
“What?”
Franklin looked at Noah.
Then at Michael.
“You think finding the children ends this?”
Michael stared.
Franklin smiled.
“Ask Eleanor why she chose Lily.”
“You said she matched.”
“She did.”
“For treatment?”
Franklin laughed harder.
“No.”
Michael felt cold.
“Then for what?”
May you like
Franklin leaned closer as agents restrained him.
“To replace her.”
