Chapter 6: The Witness Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I read the document three times.
Margaret Collins.
The same woman who had signed the reproductive power of attorney years earlier.
The same woman whose signature appeared beneath the latest embryo transfer authorization.
The same woman Patricia had told everyone died three years ago.
I called Rebecca immediately.
She answered on the fourth ring.
"Sarah?""
"We have another problem.""
I sent her the photograph.
There was a long silence.
"Where did this come from?""
"Vanessa received it from Daniel.""
Rebecca studied the document.
"Do not contact the clinic yet. I want to verify whether this is an authentic copy.""
"Margaret Collins died three years ago.""
"Do you have proof of that?""
"Her obituary. She was Patricia's closest friend.""
"An obituary isn't proof of death for legal purposes. We need the official record.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"Could someone have used her identity?""
"Possibly. Or the document could be fabricated. Either way, this needs to be investigated.""
I looked at the date again.
Last week.
Someone had signed a document using the name of a dead woman.
And the document concerned my third embryo.
"Rebecca, the transfer is scheduled for November 18.""
"I see that.""
"Can we stop it?""
"We'll send an immediate legal notice demanding that the clinic freeze all activity involving the account. I'll also request preservation of the electronic records.""
I exhaled.
"Thank you.""
"Sarah, I need you to understand something. This is no longer just a dispute between former spouses. If the documents are genuine, we may be dealing with identity misuse, forged medical authorization, and possible financial misconduct.""
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me.
"Do whatever you need to do.""
After the call, I contacted Vanessa.
"Don't let Daniel pressure you into signing anything.""
"I won't.""
"Has Olivia heard from him?""
"Yes. He's been calling her nonstop.""
"Tell her to save everything.""
Vanessa paused.
"Sarah?""
"Yes?""
"I think Daniel is going to do something desperate.""
I looked at the boys' drawings scattered across the kitchen table.
"So do I.""
The next morning, Rebecca sent a formal notice to Northstar Fertility.
Within two hours, the clinic confirmed that all embryo-related activity on the original account had been suspended pending investigation.
I thought that would give us some breathing room.
It didn't.
At eleven thirty, I received a message from an unfamiliar number.
You need to stop involving Olivia.
I stared at it.
Another message arrived.
She doesn't understand what she's doing.
I recognized the writing style.
Patricia.
I didn't respond.
Then came a third message.
If you keep pushing, Daniel will have no choice but to protect his family.
I forwarded everything to Rebecca.
A few minutes later, my doorbell rang.
I checked the security camera.
Daniel stood outside.
I opened the door but kept the chain attached.
"What do you want?""
He looked exhausted.
His shirt was wrinkled, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.
"Can we talk?""
"No.""
"Sarah, please.""
I kept my hand on the door.
"Say what you came to say.""
He looked past me into the apartment.
"Are the boys here?""
"Why?""
"I just want to see them.""
I stared at him.
"You haven't asked about them in three years.""
"They're my biological children.""
"No, Daniel.""
His jaw tightened.
"The embryos came from me.""
"And they were never used to create my children.""
He blinked.
For a moment, he looked genuinely confused.
Then I realized something.
He hadn't understood the distinction.
Or perhaps he simply didn't care.
"The boys have a father," I continued.
"He is the man who raised them with me. Not the man who abandoned me before they were born.""
Daniel looked away.
"I made mistakes.""
"You forged my signature.""
"I didn't forge anything.""
I stared at him.
"Do you really want to have this conversation on my doorstep?""
He lowered his voice.
"Mom handled the documents.""
"You signed them.""
"I trusted her.""
"That's not an excuse.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Sarah, you don't understand what was happening. Vanessa was desperate. Olivia was desperate. My mother was trying to help.""
"By stealing my embryos?""
He said nothing.
I continued.
"Why was Margaret Collins listed as a witness?""
Daniel's face changed.
He looked at me carefully.
"Where did you see that?""
"So it's true.""
He stepped closer.
"Sarah, you need to stop digging into things you don't understand.""
I felt my fingers tighten around the door.
"Get off my property.""
"Listen to me. Margaret wasn't dead when the first agreement was signed.""
"Then why did Patricia tell everyone she died?""
Daniel glanced toward the street.
"She had problems.""
"What problems?""
He swallowed.
"She was living under another name.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Why?""
He shook his head.
"Ask my mother.""
Then he stepped backward.
"One more thing, Sarah.""
I waited.
"Don't trust Olivia.""
He walked away before I could ask why.
That afternoon, Olivia arrived at Rebecca's office.
She looked frightened.
She carried a small leather handbag and kept both hands wrapped around it.
Rebecca offered her a chair.
"Olivia, thank you for coming.""
Olivia nodded.
"I don't know how much I can tell you.""
"Start with what you know about Margaret Collins.""
Olivia looked at me.
"Margaret was my mother's friend for almost thirty years.""
"Was she alive three years ago?""
Olivia hesitated.
"I don't know.""
"What do you mean?""
"Mom told us she died. There was a private funeral. Only a few people attended.""
"Did you see a body?""
Olivia shook her head.
"No.""
Rebecca made a note.
"Was there an obituary?""
"Yes.""
"Who arranged the funeral?""
"My mother.""
Rebecca looked up.
"Did Margaret have any family?""
"She had a son. His name was Andrew. But he hadn't spoken to her in years.""
I leaned forward.
"Why?""
Olivia looked uncomfortable.
"Because Margaret had been involved in something with my father.""
I froze.
"Your father?""
Olivia nodded.
"He died when I was nineteen. My mother always said he had been a difficult man. But Margaret once told me he had discovered something about Patricia's finances.""
Rebecca stopped writing.
"What did he discover?""
Olivia opened her handbag.
She removed a small envelope.
"I found this in Margaret's old belongings. My mother kept it in a box in the basement.""
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Margaret sitting at a dining table with an older man.
I recognized the man immediately.
Daniel's father.
Robert Hayes.
He had died five years earlier.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten sentence.
If anything happens to me, give Sarah the original report.
I stared at the words.
"Why would Robert want to give me a medical report?""
Olivia shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Rebecca turned the photograph over.
"Is there anything else?""
Olivia nodded.
"There's a letter.""
She removed a folded sheet of paper.
The handwriting was uneven.
*Patricia believes she has erased the truth. She has not. The original medical report is safe, and the payment records are attached.
Daniel knows what happened. I hope he finds the courage to tell Sarah before it destroys everyone.*
The letter was signed:
*Robert Hayes.*
I sat back.
Robert had known.
Daniel's father had known that Patricia and Dr. Miller had altered my medical report.
He had apparently kept evidence.
But why hadn't he contacted me?
Rebecca examined the paper.
"Do you know where the original report is?""
Olivia shook her head.
"No. But the letter mentions an attachment.""
She opened the envelope again.
A tiny metal key slipped onto the desk.
Rebecca picked it up.
"Do you recognize this?""
Olivia nodded.
"It's from my father's old safety deposit box.""
I looked at her.
"Do you know which bank?""
"First National. Downtown Boston.""
Rebecca's expression changed.
"Is the box still active?""
"I think so. My mother always said it was closed after Dad died.""
"Did she show you proof?""
Olivia shook her head.
Rebecca placed the key in a clear evidence sleeve.
"Then we need to find out.""
The following morning, Rebecca and I met Olivia at First National Bank.
Olivia brought her father's death certificate and the necessary documents proving her status as his heir.
The bank manager reviewed everything.
After several minutes, he returned.
"Miss Hayes, the safety deposit box is still active.""
Olivia frowned.
"That's impossible. My mother told me it was closed.""
The manager looked at the computer.
"It appears the account has been maintained under a private family trust.""
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Who has authorized access?""
The manager checked the records.
"Your mother, Patricia Hayes.""
Olivia went pale.
"She kept it?""
"Yes.""
Rebecca placed a copy of Robert's letter on the desk.
"We have reason to believe the contents may be relevant to an ongoing legal investigation. We'd like to request access under the appropriate procedures.""
The manager nodded.
"We'll need to verify the trust documents and obtain the necessary authorization.""
Olivia looked at Rebecca.
"How long?""
"Possibly several days.""
I exhaled.
Several days.
We had less than three weeks before the scheduled embryo transfer.
And Patricia still had access to the account.
Rebecca noticed my expression.
"We'll request an urgent review.""
That evening, Vanessa called me.
She was crying.
"Sarah, Daniel came to my sister's house.""
"What happened?""
"He said he wants to reconcile.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you let him in?""
"No. He stood outside for almost twenty minutes.""
"Did he threaten you?""
"Not exactly.""
"What did he say?""
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
"He said that if I didn't come home, he'd tell everyone the truth about the pregnancy.""
I frowned.
"What truth?""
"He said he had proof that I knew about the embryos from the beginning.""
I sat up.
"Did you?""
"No! I swear, Sarah. I didn't know anything until the baby shower.""
"I believe you.""
"He said he had an email from me.""
My stomach tightened.
"An email?""
"Yes. Apparently, there was an email sent from my account to the fertility clinic approving the transfer.""
I felt cold.
"Did you send it?""
"Absolutely not.""
"Do you still have access to your old email account?""
"Yes.""
"Change the password. Enable two-factor authentication. Save everything.""
She started crying harder.
"Sarah, what if he has proof?""
"Then we find out where it came from.""
Vanessa went quiet.
Then she said, "There's something else.""
"What?""
"He told me that the baby might not be biologically related to him.""
I stared at the wall.
"What?""
"He said the clinic made another mistake with the genetic screening.""
My pulse quickened.
"Did he explain?""
"No. He just said the baby might have been created using a different embryo than the one listed in the records.""
I remembered Dr. Reynolds's concern about the genetic documentation.
"Vanessa, don't panic. The doctor said the ultrasound was reassuring. We need the actual medical records before drawing conclusions.""
She whispered, "What if the baby isn't even ours?""
I closed my eyes.
"Your baby is yours. You are carrying that child. Whatever the genetic records say, nobody can take away the bond you already have.""
She began crying again.
I stayed on the phone until she calmed down.
Then she asked, "Sarah, can I tell you something I haven't told anyone?""
"Of course.""
"When Daniel proposed, he gave me a necklace.""
I waited.
"It was a small silver heart. He said it had belonged to his grandmother.""
"All right.""
"Yesterday, I found a tiny envelope inside the jewelry box. It had a handwritten note from Patricia.""
"What did it say?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"It said, 'For the mother of our family's next generation. Thank you for making this possible.''"
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Did it have a date?""
"Yes.""
"What date?""
"Three months before Daniel proposed.""
I closed my eyes.
Three months before their engagement.
Before their wedding.
Before Vanessa's pregnancy.
Patricia had already decided what role Vanessa would play.
And Daniel had apparently known.
Two days later, Rebecca received a call from the bank.
The safety deposit box had been opened under the supervision of the trust administrator.
Inside were several sealed envelopes, a USB drive, and a thick medical file.
We met at Rebecca's office that afternoon.
She connected the USB drive to an isolated computer.
There were dozens of scanned documents.
Bank transfers.
Emails.
Medical reports.
And a video file.
The date on the video was September 14, the day of my first fertility appointment.
Rebecca clicked play.
The image was dark and slightly blurred.
But the voices were clear.
Patricia was speaking.
"We need to make sure Sarah believes the problem is hers.""
Dr. Miller answered.
"That's not medically accurate.""
Patricia laughed.
"Accuracy isn't the issue. Daniel needs to protect his reputation.""
Then Daniel's voice came through.
"What about the embryos?""
Patricia replied.
"They stay in storage. Once the divorce is finalized, we'll arrange the transfer.""
Dr. Miller sounded uncomfortable.
"Both contributors need to authorize any transfer.""
Patricia's voice became colder.
"Then we make sure the paperwork says they did.""
The video continued.
Daniel asked, "And what happens if Sarah finds out?""
Patricia answered without hesitation.
"She won't. By then, she'll be busy rebuilding her life. And if she does find out, nobody will believe her.""
The screen went black.
Nobody in the room spoke.
I stared at the computer.
Four years.
Four years of believing I had been the problem.
Four years of carrying shame that never belonged to me.
Rebecca slowly closed the laptop.
"Sarah, this changes everything.""
I wiped my eyes.
"Can this prove they planned it?""
"Yes. We need authentication and expert review, but it is highly significant evidence.""
I looked at the USB drive.
"Can we stop the transfer permanently?""
"We can seek an emergency court order and request that the clinic preserve all records and prohibit further action.""
Rebecca picked up her phone.
"I'll contact the clinic's legal department immediately.""
Then another file appeared on the screen.
It had been saved under the name:
*VANESSA_GENETIC_SCREENING_FINAL.*
Rebecca opened it.
The document contained a genetic analysis report.
The first page listed the embryo identification number.
The second listed the recipient.
The third contained a note from the laboratory.
I leaned forward.
"What's that?""
Rebecca read it aloud.
"Potential sample identity discrepancy. Additional verification required.""
My stomach dropped.
She opened the attached laboratory correspondence.
There were two separate sample identification numbers.
One matched the embryo transfer record.
The other did not.
Then I saw the name of the person who had requested the additional test.
*Patricia Hayes.*
And beneath it was a handwritten instruction:
Do not disclose the result to Vanessa until after delivery.
I looked at Rebecca.
"Why would Patricia order a genetic test and hide the result?""
Rebecca didn't answer immediately.
She opened the final attachment.
It was a preliminary genetic relationship analysis.
The report contained three names.
Daniel Hayes.
Vanessa Hayes.
And a third individual.
I recognized the name.
*Olivia Hayes.*
I felt the air leave my lungs.
Rebecca stared at the screen.
"Sarah, this report suggests the embryo used for Vanessa's pregnancy may not be the one identified in the transfer paperwork.""
I gripped the edge of the desk.
"What does that mean?""
Rebecca scrolled down.
There was a note beneath the preliminary findings.
Possible biological relationship between the transferred embryo and the recipient's spouse's sibling. Further confirmation required.
Olivia.
Daniel's sister.
Vanessa's unborn child might be genetically related to Daniel through Olivia rather than through the embryo originally identified in the records.
I looked at the screen again.
Then I saw the final line.
*Sample source: Third-party embryo reference — restricted account.*
My voice barely worked.
"Rebecca, whose embryo was actually transferred?""
She stared at the document.
Before she could answer, her office phone rang.
She picked it up.
"Rebecca Lawson.""
A pause.
Her expression changed.
"You're certain?""
Another pause.
"Send the records immediately.""
She hung up.
I stood.
"What happened?""
Rebecca looked at me.
"The clinic has just confirmed that the embryo transferred into Vanessa was not embryo number one or embryo number two from your original account.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Then whose embryo was it?""
Rebecca turned the laptop toward me.
A new document had arrived.
At the top was a name I had never expected to see.
*ROBERT HAYES.*
May you like
And beneath it, in smaller print:
*Original genetic contributor — deceased.*
