CHAPTER 12 — THE NAME ON THE ORIGINAL RECORD
The gunshot echoed across the warehouse.
Claire screamed.
Richard dropped to the floor and pulled Ethan beneath him.
Samuel shoved a metal crate toward them.
"DOWN!"
Another shot struck the steel beam overhead.
Sparks scattered across the concrete.
Detective Reed drew his weapon.
"Police! Drop your weapon!"
Silence.
Then Edward's voice came from somewhere in the darkness.
"You still believe a badge can protect you."
Reed scanned the shadows.
"Show yourself."
A slow laugh answered him.
"You're standing inside my family's history."
Richard kept Ethan behind him.
"Edward!"
The old man's voice came again.
"You should have listened to me."
Richard shouted:
"You kidnapped my son!"
"No."
Edward's voice remained calm.
"I brought him home."
Richard's anger exploded.
"He's not yours!"
A pause.
Then Edward answered:
"That depends on what you mean by mine."
Another shot struck the floor.
Everyone ducked.
Alexander pulled Claire behind a pillar.
"Stay here."
Claire whispered:
"Where's Victor?"
"Outside."
"Is he safe?"
Alexander nodded.
"For now."
Richard looked toward the darkness.
"You want the birth certificate?"
Edward laughed.
"I already know what's on it."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"Then why are you here?"
"Because you don't."
Ethan clutched Richard's jacket.
"Dad."
Richard looked down.
"I'm here."
"I'm scared."
"I know."
"But I don't want to leave you."
Richard hugged him.
"You won't."
Edward's voice echoed again.
"Ethan."
The boy froze.
"Don't answer him," Richard whispered.
Edward continued.
"You've spent your whole life hearing lies."
Ethan remained silent.
"Your mother lied."
Claire closed her eyes.
"Your father lied."
Richard's jaw tightened.
"And even the people who protected you lied."
Samuel looked down.
Edward's voice became softer.
"But I can tell you the truth."
Ethan whispered:
"You're the one who lied."
Silence.
For the first time, Edward didn't answer immediately.
Richard looked at his son.
Ethan continued.
"You said my dad didn't love me."
Edward remained hidden.
"But he did."
The boy's voice trembled.
"He was there."
Richard's eyes filled with tears.
Ethan looked toward the darkness.
"And you weren't."
A long silence followed.
Then Edward said:
"You sound like your grandmother."
Outside the warehouse, Victor stood beside a black SUV.
He was watching the windows.
Suddenly, a second vehicle appeared.
Victor recognized it.
"Police."
The SUV stopped.
Three officers stepped out.
Then the back door opened.
Judge Harrison emerged.
Victor stared.
"Your Honor?"
Harrison walked toward him.
"I came to finish what I started."
Victor's expression hardened.
"You're too late."
"No."
Harrison looked toward the warehouse.
"I'm exactly on time."
Inside, Alexander slowly stepped into view.
"Edward."
Edward finally appeared.
He stood on the upper walkway.
Older.
Silver-haired.
Perfectly calm.
His gun was pointed downward.
Alexander stared at him.
"You've been hiding for twenty-three years."
Edward smiled.
"So have you."
"Because you tried to kill me."
"No."
Edward corrected him.
"I tried to erase you."
Alexander's expression hardened.
"Why?"
"Because William made a mistake."
At the mention of his father's name, Alexander froze.
"Don't speak about him."
Edward laughed.
"You still defend your father."
"Someone had to."
Edward's smile disappeared.
"Your father betrayed everyone."
"No."
Alexander shook his head.
"You betrayed him."
Edward looked toward Ethan.
"Your son carries his blood."
Alexander stepped forward.
"My son carries my blood."
Edward smiled.
"That's what the documents say."
Alexander frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Edward raised the gun slightly.
"The documents were altered."
Richard looked at him.
"Again."
Edward nodded.
"Again."
Reed moved closer to Richard.
"Can you get Ethan out?"
Richard shook his head.
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because Edward isn't alone."
Reed looked up.
There were shadows moving on the upper floor.
Security.
At least six men.
Reed whispered:
"We're surrounded."
Samuel looked toward the emergency exit.
"There."
Claire nodded.
"But Ethan can't cross the open floor."
Richard looked at him.
"Then we create a distraction."
Alexander stepped forward.
"I'll do it."
Richard stopped him.
"No."
Alexander looked at him.
"He's my son."
Richard's eyes hardened.
"He's my son too."
The two men stared at each other.
Then Ethan stepped between them.
"Stop."
Both froze.
Ethan looked at Alexander.
"Are you really my father?"
Alexander nodded.
"Yes."
Ethan looked at Richard.
"But Dad is still Dad."
Alexander smiled sadly.
"I know."
Ethan looked at both men.
"Then don't fight."
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Edward laughed.
"Beautiful."
His voice was filled with contempt.
"You still don't understand."
He pointed at Ethan.
"The boy was never supposed to have two fathers."
Richard stared.
"What are you talking about?"
Edward answered:
"Because one of you was supposed to die."
The warehouse doors suddenly opened.
Judge Harrison walked inside.
Richard stared.
"What are you doing here?"
Harrison looked at Ethan.
"I came to protect him."
Reed lowered his weapon.
"Are you working with Edward?"
Harrison shook his head.
"No."
Edward laughed from above.
"Judge Harrison."
The judge looked up.
"Edward."
"You should have stayed retired."
"I've regretted many things."
Harrison's eyes hardened.
"But helping you was the greatest."
Edward's expression changed.
"You finally admit it."
"I admit nothing."
Harrison turned toward Richard.
"I need to speak with you."
"About what?"
"Your mother."
Richard froze.
"My mother?"
Harrison nodded.
"She left something for you."
"What?"
"The original trust."
Richard stared.
"Where?"
Harrison looked at Ethan.
"Inside the courthouse."
Samuel's face changed.
"The hidden room."
"Yes."
"But we already searched it."
"Not deeply enough."
Harrison reached inside his coat.
He pulled out a small brass key.
"This opens the second chamber."
Edward suddenly raised his gun.
"Don't."
Harrison smiled.
"You're too late."
A gunshot rang out.
Harrison dropped.
Claire screamed.
"Judge!"
Reed rushed forward.
Richard grabbed Ethan.
"Move!"
Samuel ran toward Harrison.
The judge was wounded in the side.
He grabbed Samuel's arm.
"Get... the boy..."
Samuel nodded.
"Where?"
"The courthouse."
"What about the trust?"
"Inside..."
Harrison coughed.
"...the judge's chamber."
Then his eyes closed.
Samuel checked his pulse.
"He's alive."
Reed shouted:
"Go!"
The group escaped through the emergency exit.
Victor was waiting outside.
He opened the SUV door.
"Get in."
Richard pushed Ethan inside.
Claire followed.
Samuel climbed in.
Alexander stayed behind.
Richard looked at him.
"Come with us."
Alexander shook his head.
"I'll slow you down."
"You don't understand."
Richard stepped closer.
"Ethan needs you."
Alexander looked at the boy.
Ethan reached toward him.
"Come."
Alexander hesitated.
Then climbed into the vehicle.
Victor drove.
Behind them, the warehouse erupted in chaos.
Police flooded the area.
Edward disappeared.
Again.
At 5:10 A.M., they reached the courthouse.
The building was surrounded by police.
Victor parked underground.
They entered through a maintenance tunnel.
Samuel carried the brass key.
Richard walked beside Ethan.
Claire followed.
Alexander stayed close.
At the end of the corridor stood an old steel door.
Samuel inserted the key.
Nothing happened.
He turned it again.
A click.
The door opened.
Inside was a small chamber.
One desk.
One chair.
One locked cabinet.
And a wall covered with photographs.
Richard stared.
Every photograph showed Ethan.
From birth.
To age eight.
He whispered:
"Edward."
Alexander shook his head.
"No."
Richard turned.
"Then who?"
Alexander pointed to one photograph.
A woman stood beside Ethan at the age of three.
Richard didn't recognize her.
Claire did.
Her face went pale.
"That's my mother."
Richard stared.
"Your mother?"
"She died before Ethan was born."
Claire stepped closer.
The photograph was dated two years after her supposed death.
Richard whispered:
"How?"
Claire shook her head.
"I don't know."
Samuel opened the cabinet.
Inside was a thick envelope.
Written across the front:
FOR ETHAN — WHEN HE IS EIGHT.
Richard looked at the date.
The letter had been prepared before Ethan was born.
He opened it.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
But the first line made Claire gasp.
My grandson, if you're reading this, your father has failed you.
Ethan looked up.
"Who's my father?"
Claire couldn't answer.
Richard continued reading.
You will be told many stories about your birth. Most will be lies.
You will be told that Richard Hawthorne is your father.
He is not.
Richard's hand shook.
Ethan looked at him.
"Dad?"
Richard kept reading.
You will be told that Alexander Bennett is your father.
Alexander's face changed.
He is not.
Everyone froze.
Richard turned the page.
You will be told that Victor Hawthorne is your father.
Victor stared at the letter.
He is not.
Silence.
Ethan looked confused.
"Then who is?"
Richard continued.
The final sentence appeared alone.
Your father is the one man everyone in this room believes is dead.
Richard stopped breathing.
Claire whispered:
"William."
Alexander shook his head.
"No."
Samuel stared at the letter.
"Then who?"
Richard slowly turned the page.
There was one final photograph.
A young man.
Twenty-five years old.
Standing beside Claire.
Richard looked at the photograph.
His face went white.
He recognized him.
He had seen him before.
At the hospital.
In the records.
In Edward's files.
The name beneath the photograph was:
MICHAEL HAWTHORNE.
Richard whispered:
"Who is Michael?"
Victor answered.
"Edward's firstborn son."
Richard stared.
"My brother?"
Victor nodded.
"He died twenty-three years ago."
Claire shook her head.
"No."
Everyone looked at her.
She was crying.
"I knew him."
Richard stared.
"When?"
"Before I met you."
"What happened?"
Claire covered her mouth.
"He was the man I loved."
Richard froze.
"You loved him?"
Claire nodded.
"Michael was Ethan's father."
Suddenly, the lights went out.
The chamber became completely dark.
A voice came from the hidden speakers.
Edward.
"Now you finally understand."
Richard turned.
"Where are you?"
Edward laughed.
"Closer than you think."
A projector switched on.
An image appeared on the wall.
Michael Hawthorne.
Alive.
Standing beside a newborn Ethan.
Claire screamed.
"No..."
The video continued.
Michael looked directly into the camera.
"If you're watching this, Dad has already started lying."
Edward's voice disappeared.
Michael continued.
"Ethan is my son."
Richard stared at the screen.
Then Michael said something that changed everything.
"But I didn't die."
The video cut to black.
A final message appeared:
MICHAEL HAWTHORNE — STATUS: ALIVE.
Ethan whispered:
"My father is alive?"
Richard stared at the screen.
Then the chamber door slammed shut.
Everyone turned.
May you like
Edward's voice came through the speakers.
"And he's coming for his son."
