Chapter 3 - The Wrong Date
The inconsistency was a date.
Daniel discovered it while organizing Noah’s medical records.
The original DNA report said Noah’s sample had been collected on October 17.
Daniel stared at the page.
October 17.
He remembered that day perfectly.
Noah hadn’t been anywhere near a laboratory.
He had been hospitalized overnight with a respiratory infection.
Daniel had slept beside his crib.
Hospital records confirmed Noah never left the pediatric floor.
Daniel immediately called Margaret.
“Who collected Noah’s DNA sample?”
Silence.
Then Margaret answered calmly.
“The laboratory sent someone.”
“To the hospital?”
“I suppose.”
“What was their name?”
“I don’t remember.”
Daniel’s skin prickled.
Margaret rarely forgot anything.
Especially anything involving paperwork.
The next morning, he called the laboratory listed on the report.
The number was disconnected.
He searched the company name.
The business had dissolved six months earlier.
Then he searched its former director.
That search produced something unexpected.
The director, Dr. Raymond Bell, had once served as a consultant for Carter Holdings.
Daniel drove to his mother’s mansion that evening.
Margaret was drinking wine in the library.
“You knew Dr. Bell.”
Her hand stopped halfway to her glass.
Only for a second.
Then she smiled.
“Your father knew hundreds of consultants.”
“I said you.”
“I don't remember him.”
Daniel placed the report on the desk.
“Then why did his laboratory invoice go through your private family office?”
Margaret’s smile disappeared.
She stood.
“You’re grieving, Daniel. Don’t turn grief into paranoia.”
“I’m ordering another test.”
Her reaction was immediate.
“No.”
Daniel stared at her.
Margaret corrected herself.
“I mean, why torture yourself again?”
“Because Claire asked me to.”
Margaret’s jaw tightened.
“Claire is dead.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“But Noah isn’t.”
He took the report and walked away.
Behind him, Margaret called out.
“If you start digging into this, you may discover things about Claire you won’t survive.”
Daniel stopped.
He almost turned around.
Instead, he said quietly:
“Then I’ll survive them for Noah.”
That night, someone entered Daniel’s home office.
May you like
Nothing valuable was stolen.
Only Claire’s old medical folder disappeared.
