Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Saved Him
Jonathan did not speak for almost a minute.
Richard did.
"Your father saved your life."
Jonathan looked at him.
"He lied to me for nine years."
"He monitored you."
"Secretly."
"Because he was afraid."
"Of what?"
Richard's jaw tightened.
Lila moved the microfilm under the magnifier.
More names.
Anna Hart.
Jonathan Mercer.
Workers.
Addresses.
Children.
Some entries marked DECEASED.
Some LOST CONTACT.
Some SETTLED.
Lila's throat tightened.
"My mom copied this."
Richard nodded once.
"Part of it."
"Why?"
"Insurance."
"Against you."
"Against everyone."
Jonathan searched the archive.
A memo.
SUBJECT A. HART POSSESSES DUPLICATED PATIENT INDEX.
RECOVER COPY.
He looked at Richard.
"You searched her apartment."
"Security did."
"You sent them."
"Yes."
"Did they find this?"
Richard looked at the broken bracelet.
"No."
Lila laughed without humor.
"Because nobody checks hospital trash."
Anna had hidden a corporate scandal inside something worthless.
Jonathan turned another page.
Support status.
Anna Hart.
HOUSING ASSISTANCE TERMINATED.
MEDICAL SUPPORT SUSPENDED PENDING RELEASE.
His face tightened.
"You cut her off."
Richard said, "She refused the confidentiality agreement."
"She got sick."
"She was offered care."
"With silence attached."
"Yes."
Lila stepped toward Richard.
"We lost our apartment."
He looked at her.
"I know."
"Sam slept in a car for three nights."
"I know."
"You knew where we were."
"Yes."
Lila raised her hand.
For one second, she wanted to slap him.
Then she lowered it.
"You're not worth making my hand hurt."
Richard looked away.
Jonathan searched deeper.
Annual monitoring.
His own blood panels.
Nine years.
A physician note.
PATIENT MUST NOT BE INFORMED OF EXPOSURE SOURCE WITHOUT W.M. APPROVAL.
W.M.
William Mercer.
His father.
Below it:
FAMILY HISTORY COMPLICATES LONG-TERM RISK.
TEST SIBLING IF LOCATED.
Jonathan stopped.
Lila noticed.
"What?"
He pointed.
"Sibling."
"You have one?"
"No."
Richard's face changed.
Jonathan saw.
"What?"
Richard said nothing.
Jonathan walked toward him.
"What sibling?"
"William had another child."
Jonathan froze.
"Who?"
Richard looked at Lila.
Then Jonathan.
"A daughter."
Jonathan's voice dropped.
"Name."
Richard swallowed.
"Anna."
Lila stared.
Jonathan turned toward her.
For one impossible second, neither breathed.
Then Richard said:
"But she was not your sister."
Jonathan frowned.
"What?"
Richard's face hardened.
"William only believed she might be."
Lila whispered:
"Then whose daughter was my mother?"
Richard looked at her.
May you like
"Mine."
CUT.
