Chapter 11 - THE GRANDMOTHER’S CHOICE
Margaret pointed the pistol at Pierce.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Mother.”
“Move.”
“No.”
Pierce smiled.
“She won’t shoot.”
Margaret’s face contained no emotion.
“You blackmailed my husband for twenty years.”
“You funded him.”
“I funded legitimate research.”
Pierce laughed.
“You knew exactly what Charles wanted.”
Margaret’s hand tightened.
Claire spoke.
“Put the gun down.”
Margaret ignored her.
Claire continued.
“If you shoot him, you destroy evidence.”
“He deserves worse.”
“That’s not your decision.”
Margaret glanced at her.
“For once, Claire, stop pretending morality is enough.”
Claire stared back.
“For once, Margaret, stop pretending power makes you right.”
Police vehicles surrounded the facility.
Blue light flashed through the windows.
Pierce shifted slightly.
Marcus noticed.
“Don’t.”
Pierce grabbed the syringe from beneath the table.
Margaret fired.
The bullet struck his hand.
The syringe flew away.
Pierce screamed.
Margaret lowered the gun.
“I aimed exactly where I intended.”
Daniel looked stunned.
Police entered seconds later.
Weapons drawn.
Everyone raised their hands.
Within thirty minutes, Pierce was in custody.
Natalie surrendered the copied research files.
Margaret surrendered her weapon.
Daniel voluntarily gave a statement.
Then an investigator approached Claire.
Special Agent Elena Ruiz.
Federal medical fraud division.
“We’ve been investigating Bennett Health for eleven months.”
Claire stared.
“Eleven months?”
Ruiz nodded.
“Miriam Cole contacted federal authorities five years ago.”
“She died before she could testify.”
Laura’s face hardened.
“Was her death an accident?”
Ruiz looked at her.
“We no longer believe so.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
Laura whispered.
“Who killed her?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Ruiz turned toward Daniel.
“But financial records show a payment from a Bennett subsidiary to the driver who struck her vehicle.”
Claire looked at Daniel.
He shook his head quickly.
“I didn’t know.”
Ruiz continued.
“The authorization came from Charles Bennett’s office.”
Laura began crying.
Sophie held her hand.
Claire watched them.
Mother and daughter.
Not by biology.
By eight years of love.
The same way Claire and Rebecca belonged to each other.
Ruiz asked Claire for consent to perform DNA testing on Ethan.
Claire hesitated.
“What happens after?”
“Biology alone does not determine custody.”
Marcus spoke immediately.
“I am not seeking custody.”
Claire looked at him.
“You’re sure?”
“He’s your son.”
Marcus looked at Ethan.
“I would like to know him someday.”
“But only if you want that.”
Claire nodded.
For the first time that night, someone connected to Ethan had asked instead of demanded.
Then Ruiz looked toward Rebecca and Sophie.
“We also need to confirm the original switch.”
Rebecca’s grip tightened.
Claire understood.
She knelt as much as her wheelchair allowed.
“You can say no tonight.”
Rebecca whispered.
“But eventually?”
“The truth may need to be documented.”
Rebecca looked at Sophie.
Sophie walked closer.
“Can we do it together?”
Rebecca considered it.
Then nodded.
The girls sat beside each other.
Two swabs.
Two names.
Two families changed by one night.
As the samples were sealed, Daniel approached Claire.
“Can we talk?”
Claire stared at him.
“There’s one thing left.”
“What?”
He looked terrified.
“My father’s confession.”
Claire frowned.
“He made one?”
Daniel nodded.
“A video.”
“Where?”
Daniel looked toward Ethan’s bracelet.
“The medical number is the password.”
Claire stared at him.
“Password to what?”
May you like
Daniel whispered.
“To the file that explains why Charles chose you in the first place.”
