Chapter 13 - THE FINAL CONFESSIONEthan's mother had hidden Child 42.
She had taken the child away before the family could kill him.
She had changed his name.
Changed his records.
Changed his identity.
Then she had placed him with another family.
But she had never stopped watching him.
Ethan whispered:
“Where is he now?”
The recording answered:
“California.”
Claire looked at him.
“California is huge.”
Then another recording began.
A man's voice.
Ethan's father's.
“Your mother made one mistake.”
Ethan listened.
“She trusted someone.”
A name followed.
Claire's father.
He had betrayed them.
He had revealed the child's location.
The family had been searching ever since.
Ethan looked toward the cemetery.
“So Child 42 is still alive.”
“Yes.”
Then the recording ended.
California.
A quiet coastal town.
A modest house.
A man opened the door.
He was twenty-five.
His name was Noah.
He looked at Ethan.
“Why are you here?”
Ethan couldn't speak.
Claire stepped forward.
“We're looking for someone.”
Noah smiled.
“You found him.”
Ethan stared.
“You're Child 42.”
Noah's expression changed.
“That's what they called me.”
“What's your real name?”
He answered:
“David.”
Claire looked at him.
“David what?”
He smiled sadly.
“David Carter.”
Ethan's face went white.
“You're related to me.”
David nodded.
“I'm your brother.”
Silence.
Another lost child.
Another hidden life.
Another family secret.
Ethan stepped forward.
“How many of us are there?”
David looked behind him.
A woman appeared.
Then another.
Then a young man.
Then a teenage girl.
Four people.
All carrying Carter blood.
All believed dead.
Ethan couldn't breathe.
May you like
David whispered:
“We've been waiting for you.”
