Chapter 5 - Ethan’s Mother’s Signature
Eleanor Mercer had died nine years earlier.
Before Ethan met Emma.
She had worked as registered nurse for thirty years.
Ethan never knew she worked at Westbridge.
Because officially she hadn't.
Payroll showed no Eleanor Mercer.
But contractor logs did.
For fourteen months, Eleanor served as temporary compliance nurse during Westbridge expansion.
She was hired through Meridian Clinical Review.
Why hide it from son?
Maybe she didn't.
Ethan had been twenty-six, living across country and rarely asked about temporary contracts.
Not every omission was conspiracy.
But Eleanor’s initials beside his specimen were harder.
Dates showed Ethan’s fertility storage began after his chemical exposure.
Eleanor learned.
Without telling him, she apparently checked release logs.
Was that authorized?
No.
Rachel found internal memo.
Eleanor reported Ethan’s specimen had been mistakenly queued for external donor shipment because technician entered wrong patient code.
She stopped release before specimen left controlled storage.
She demanded incident disclosure.
Westbridge administrator refused full report, fearing regulatory consequences.
Eleanor threatened state complaint.
Then she suddenly left contract.
Did Westbridge silence her?
Ethan's mind raced.
But records showed Eleanor later worked elsewhere normally.
She died six years later of heart disease.
No suspicious death.
Again, not every secret required murder.
Then why Ethan never informed?
Because Westbridge told Eleanor affected sample had been destroyed at Ethan request soon afterward and no misuse occurred.
Eleanor apparently believed risk resolved.
She wrote private note:
Ethan deserves disclosure, but not until I confirm no second release occurred.
No later note.
Maybe she never confirmed.
Then Rachel’s investigation found Donor 904.
Anonymous by contract.
But current law allowed certain medical disclosure? Rachel had obtained non-identifying profile.
Age, ancestry, blood group.
Sophie’s anomaly matched.
No Ethan connection.
So paternity resolved.
Yet someone wanted Rachel think Ethan might be father.
Why?
Because that drew Rachel toward Ethan’s house and hidden ledger.
Maybe anonymous sender wanted ledger found.
The watcher could be whistleblower, not threat.
Rachel had interpreted surveillance as danger.
Ethan asked:
“Who knew the ledger was here?”
Martin Keene.
Susan Vale.
Possibly Eleanor.
And whoever sent anonymous message.
Then police enhanced playground images.
Watcher identified:
Thomas Keene.
Martin’s son.
Age forty-seven.
Current attorney specializing healthcare restructuring.
He admitted following Rachel.
Why?
He said she had contacted him accusing father of reproductive fraud.
He hired investigator to determine what evidence she possessed.
The “watcher” in photos was investigator? But identified Thomas himself. Could be he personally observed twice, unwise. Let's make man is Thomas. He admits.
Did he send message?
“No.”
Did he know about Ethan?
“Yes.”
Did he know ledger?
His father told him before death:
“If Westbridge ever comes under review, original release book is in house.”
Why leave it after selling?
Martin suffered dementia near end; family discovered too late property sold.
Thomas considered retrieving illegally but didn't.
Then Rachel appeared.
He feared she had found it.
“Why didn't you just tell Ethan?”
“Because ledger implicated my father.”
Thomas’s cowardice fed secrecy.
Then he said something unexpected:
“Your mother wasn't merely checking your specimen.”
Ethan stiffened.
Thomas continued:
“She was investigating Lily.”
Ethan stared.
“Lily wasn't born.”
Thomas shook head.
“Not your daughter.”
May you like
He pointed at ledger.
“Project Lily.”
