Chapter 9 - The Father Nobody Mentioned
For eight chapters, everyone had asked:
Who was C-17’s mother?
Wrong question.
The mother hid because of father.
Was Daniel father?
Timeline possible.
He was twenty-eight.
Photograph of him holding newborn intentionally encouraged that conclusion.
Daniel immediately requested DNA comparison with Grace only if Grace and legal guardian consented.
Anna refused initially.
Good.
No entitlement.
Then Thomas said Daniel was not father.
“How do you know?”
“I knew father.”
“Who?”
No answer.
Again.
Daniel began wondering whether Thomas himself was father.
Age possible.
Would explain payments.
Misdirection fit.
He confronted him.
Thomas almost laughed.
“No.”
“Then Uncle Robert?”
Daniel’s late uncle had reputation for affairs.
Thomas looked away.
That reaction was enough to suspect.
Robert Mercer died thirteen years ago.
Before Grace’s birth?
Nine months before.
Possible posthumous child.
If Robert fathered C-17’s baby, Mercer family connection enormous.
Then old medical records showed Robert hospitalized with terminal cancer around conception.
Still possible.
But travel records placed him overseas.
Unlikely.
Then Daniel found Victor Lane notes:
PATERNITY CLAIM MAY ALTER MERCER SUCCESSION.
That sounded like Mercer man.
Thomas had hidden it.
Why?
Mercer family trust passed certain shares to descendants of Thomas and Robert.
If Robert had another child, ownership changed.
Now financial motive.
Could Claire marrying Daniel consolidate something?
Maybe.
Claire’s fear of locket suddenly suspicious again.
Then Phoebe reviewed Mercer trust.
If Grace were Robert’s biological daughter, she might have claim to substantial assets.
But not automatic. Limitations, estate settlement, recognition issues.
Still significant.
Then Daniel asked Claire:
“Did you know Grace?”
“No.”
“Did your mother know who father was?”
“I think so.”
“Did she tell you?”
Claire hesitated.
Once.
Near death.
Evelyn said:
“The Mercers think they know which brother.”
Daniel’s pulse jumped.
Which brother.
Thomas or Robert?
Then:
“They're wrong.”
Again wrong suspect.
If not Thomas or Robert, who?
There was third Mercer brother.
James.
Daniel’s uncle James died in boating accident when Daniel was twelve.
Too early.
Impossible.
Unless “brother” referred Daniel’s generation.
Daniel had younger brother Michael.
Thirty-seven now.
Twenty-five at conception.
Michael lived in Seattle.
Daniel called.
Michael reacted strangely to St. Matthew’s.
“You're digging into that?”
Daniel froze.
“You know.”
Michael admitted he had dated a woman twelve years ago.
Briefly.
Secretly.
Older.
Married.
She became pregnant.
Told Michael baby wasn't his.
He believed her.
“Who was she?”
Michael refused.
Daniel asked:
“Was she C-17?”
Silence.
Then Michael:
“Where did you hear that code?”
There.
Daniel thought he finally had father.
Michael.
Then why Claire fear?
Why Evelyn involved?
Michael said woman’s sister worked hospital.
Daniel looked at Claire.
Evelyn had one sister.
Miriam.
But Claire’s mother was Evelyn.
Was C-17 Miriam?
Miriam would have been about fifty.
Possible but unlikely.
Then Michael said:
“Her sister was Evelyn Bennett.”
Daniel stared at Claire.
Claire went white.
Evelyn’s sister—
not Miriam?
Claire had lied again.
“Claire.”
She started crying.
“My mother had two sisters.”
Miriam.
And another.
One nobody discussed.
“What was her name?”
Claire looked at gold locket.
“I can't tell you.”
Daniel stood.
“Then wedding was never about Emma.”
Claire whispered:
“No.”
“It was about keeping me from learning who your aunt was.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Claire looked at him.
“The woman you're looking for wasn't my aunt.”
Daniel waited.
May you like
Claire’s voice broke.
“She was my sister.”
