Chapter 9 - Brooke Hears the Truth)
Brooke Mercer had spent most of her childhood believing adults could be divided into two categories.
Successful people.
And people who made excuses.
Her father taught her that.
Her grandfather reinforced it.
Her mother Cassandra encouraged ambition.
Rachel confused her.
Rachel never competed.
Never showed off.
Never defended herself when Elaine made small comments about careers.
Brooke interpreted silence as weakness.
Then she overheard the truth.
Walter's hospital room door had not fully closed.
Brooke heard enough.
Mercer House.
Experiments.
Rachel at fourteen.
Blood.
Emily.
A baby.
Brooke walked backward from the door.
Her chest hurt.
She remembered calling Rachel a deadbeat two weeks earlier.
Rachel had made her breakfast the next morning anyway.
Daniel found Brooke sitting on a bench.
"You okay?"
She looked at him.
"Did you know?"
"Know what?"
"About Rachel."
Daniel's face changed.
Brooke understood.
"You didn't."
"No."
"Why?"
Daniel sat.
"I didn't ask."
Brooke looked toward the room.
"Neither did I."
Daniel rubbed his hands together.
"Your grandfather is involved in something complicated."
"Bad?"
Daniel took too long.
Brooke whispered, "Bad."
Rachel came out.
She stopped when she saw them.
Brooke looked at her.
For once, she didn't know what to say.
Rachel sat beside her.
"Walter's okay."
Brooke nodded.
Silence.
Then Brooke asked, "Were you really in a place when you were fourteen?"
Rachel glanced at Daniel.
He shook his head slightly.
He hadn't told her.
Rachel understood.
"You heard us."
Brooke nodded.
Rachel did not lie.
"Yes."
"Were people hurting you?"
Rachel's expression softened.
"Sometimes."
Brooke's eyes filled.
"I'm sorry."
Rachel looked surprised.
"For what?"
Brooke wiped her face angrily.
"For being horrible."
Rachel breathed out.
"You've been difficult."
Brooke almost laughed.
"But you're sixteen."
"That's not an excuse."
"No."
Rachel took her hand.
"But it's a reason to learn."
Brooke looked down.
"Do you hate me?"
"No."
"Why?"
Rachel smiled sadly.
"Because I know what it feels like to be sixteen and angry at the wrong person."
Brooke hugged her.
It was awkward.
Sudden.
Real.
Daniel watched.
Shame burned through him.
He had spent years believing money created authority.
Rachel had created loyalty without demanding it.
His phone rang.
Thomas.
Daniel answered.
"Hello?"
Thomas's voice was urgent.
"Where's Rachel?"
"Here."
"Put me on speaker."
Rachel looked at him.
Thomas continued.
"We found Emily's daughter."
Rachel stood.
"Where?"
Thomas paused.
"Fairview."
Rachel's face drained.
"She's been here?"
"For years."
"What's her name?"
Thomas took a breath.
"Claire Sutton."
Rachel knew the name.
Everyone in Fairview did.
Claire Sutton was thirty-four.
Founder of a regional family-care charity.
A woman Rachel had met several times.
A woman who had recently joined the hospital board.
Rachel whispered, "That's impossible."
Thomas continued.
"There's more."
"What?"
"Claire's birth certificate was altered."
"By whom?"
"We traced the attorney."
Daniel looked toward Walter's room.
May you like
Thomas said the name.
"Walter Mercer."
