Chapter 5 - THE DNA TEST
We returned to California the following morning.
I didn't tell Alora everything over the phone.
Some truths were too dangerous to deliver through a speaker.
When I entered her hospital room, she immediately knew something had changed.
“You found her.”
I nodded.
Alora began crying.
“Tell me.”
I sat beside her.
“Her name was Clara.”
Alora looked down.
“She was my biological mother.”
“Yes.”
“She died because of Kareen.”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
I hesitated.
“I was hidden from her.”
Alora took my hand.
“I’m sorry.”
I shook my head.
“There's more.”
I told her about Evelyn.
About my father's warnings.
About the missing records.
About the possibility that my entire identity had been fabricated.
Then I showed her the photograph.
Alora stared at it.
“You look exactly like him.”
“Who?”
“My father.”
I frowned.
“Your father?”
She nodded.
“My father knew yours.”
“Then why did Kareen blame your father?”
“I think she wanted everyone to believe he was responsible.”
“For your mother's death?”
“Yes.”
The detective entered.
“We have authorization for the DNA test.”
I looked at him.
“Against whom?”
“Evelyn agreed to provide a sample.”
The test was rushed.
The next forty-eight hours were unbearable.
Kareen remained in custody.
Mara stayed at the hospital.
And I couldn't sleep.
On the third morning, the detective arrived.
He carried a sealed envelope.
My hands trembled.
He opened it.
“The probability that Evelyn Hart is your biological aunt is greater than 99.9 percent.”
I closed my eyes.
“And your biological father?”
He handed me another page.
“We tested archived material from your father's belongings.”
I stared at the result.
Probability of paternity: 99.9998 percent.
My father was my father.
Kareen was not my mother.
For thirty years, she had lied.
I walked into the bathroom and vomited.
When I returned, Alora was crying.
“I knew.”
“You knew what?”
“That you were his son.”
“How?”
“My father told me.”
“When?”
“Before he died.”
I sat beside her.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he made me promise.”
“Why?”
“Because he said Kareen would kill anyone who exposed her.”
Then the door opened.
Mara stood there.
She was holding her phone.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Mom is gone.”
I stood.
“What?”
“She escaped custody.”
The detective swore.
“How?”
“Someone posted bail.”
“Who?”
Mara looked at me.
“An account controlled by the company from the safe.”
My stomach tightened.
“What company?”
She showed me the name.
Hartwell Security Holdings.
I recognized it.
It was the security company that protected our estate.
The same company I had hired three years earlier.
The same company that had access to every camera.
Every door.
Every alarm.
Every blind spot.
Kareen hadn't escaped alone.
Someone inside my own security system had helped her.
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A distorted voice said:
“Congratulations, Thane.”
“Who are you?”
“You finally found out who your mother isn't.”
“What do you want?”
A pause.
“Your wife.”
My blood turned cold.
The voice continued:
“Bring Alora to the old vineyard tonight.”
“If I don't?”
“You'll never meet your child.”
The line went dead.
I looked at Alora.
She had heard everything.
Mara whispered:
“Thane…”
I was already reaching for my jacket.
“We're going.”
The detective grabbed my arm.
“No.”
I looked at him.
“You don't understand.”
“Yes, I do.”
He pointed toward the hospital window.
May you like
Three black SUVs were parked across the street.
“They're already here.”
