{"id":5790,"date":"2026-09-01T21:05:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T21:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=5790"},"modified":"2026-09-01T21:05:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T21:05:11","slug":"part-4-i-got-pregnant-in-tenth-grade-mom-walked-me-into-school-like-a-guilty-defendant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=5790","title":{"rendered":"PART 4 \u2013 I got pregnant in tenth grade. Mom walked me into school like a guilty defendant."},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
PART 4 \u2014 THE NIGHT MATTHEW DISAPPEARED<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Matthew backed toward the wall.
\n\u201cI can explain.\u201d
\nThose three words did more damage than a confession.
\nMy father moved in front of me immediately.
\n\u201cThen start explaining.\u201d
\nMatthew looked at me.
\nNot my father.
\nNot his mother.
\nMe.
\n\u201cValerie, I swear I didn\u2019t hurt Patricia.\u201d
\nI felt my stomach turn.
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t ask if you hurt her.\u201d
\nHe went silent.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI asked where you were last night at 7:14.\u201d
\nRebecca Rivas whispered sharply:
\n\u201cMatthew, don\u2019t.\u201d
\nHe looked at her.
\nAnd something passed between them.
\nSomething practiced.
\nSomething familiar.
\nMy father saw it too.
\n\u201cYou two have already discussed this.\u201d
\n\u201cNo,\u201d Rebecca said.
\nMatthew answered at exactly the same time.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nSilence.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rebecca closed her eyes.
\nMatthew swallowed.
\n\u201cI was with my grandfather.\u201d
\nMy mother gasped.
\nSofia\u2019s face hardened.
\nDavid was still on speakerphone.
\nFor several seconds, nobody said anything.
\nThen David\u2019s voice came through.
\n\u201cYou met Victor?\u201d
\nMatthew nodded before realizing David could not see him.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cAt Bellflower Road.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

I stared at him.
\nThe same address where Aunt Patricia was being held.
\n\u201cYou were there?\u201d
\n\u201cLast night.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat were you doing there?\u201d
\nMatthew rubbed both hands over his face.
\n\u201cMy mom told me my grandfather wanted to talk to me.\u201d
\nRebecca shook her head.
\n\u201cThat isn\u2019t what happened.\u201d
\nMatthew spun toward her.
\n\u201cYou gave me the address.\u201d
\n\u201cBecause your grandfather demanded that I.\u201d
\n\u201cYou told me he was sick.\u201d
\n\u201cHe is.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe looked perfectly healthy while threatening me.\u201d
\nMy father stepped closer.
\n\u201cWhat did he threaten you about?\u201d
\nMatthew hesitated.
\nI laughed bitterly.
\n\u201cGo ahead.\u201d
\n\u201cValerie\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cNo. This seems to be what everyone does now. You hide something until somebody else exposes it.\u201d
\n\u201cI was scared.\u201d
\n\u201cSo was I when you told everyone you had never touched me.\u201d
\nHis face collapsed.
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cNo, you don\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cI do now.\u201d
\nI stepped toward him.
\n\u201cThen tell me what happened.\u201d
\nMatthew looked down.
\n\u201cGrandfather knew about the pregnancy.\u201d
\n\u201cI already know that.\u201d
\n\u201cHe knew before my mom did.\u201d
\nRebecca\u2019s head snapped up.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nMatthew looked at her.
\n\u201cHe showed me a picture of Valerie\u2019s pregnancy test.\u201d
\nMy blood froze.
\n\u201cWhat picture?\u201d
\n\u201cThe test in your math notebook.\u201d
\nI could not breathe.
\n\u201cThat test never left my backpack.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cThen how did he have a picture?\u201d
\nMatthew looked toward the phone on the desk.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s why he called me to Bellflower.\u201d
\nMy father\u2019s face darkened.
\n\u201cSomeone had been inside our house.\u201d
\nMatthew nodded.
\n\u201cHe said he had people watching Valerie.\u201d
\nMom covered her mouth.
\nI remembered everything suddenly.
\nThe window in my room that I sometimes forgot to lock.
\nThe strange car parked across the street three days earlier.
\nAunt Patricia checking the back door twice before bed.
\nDavid showing up unexpectedly.
\nThe tea.
\nThe warnings.
\nI whispered:
\n\u201cHow long?\u201d
\nMatthew looked sick.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did Victor want from you?\u201d
\n\u201cHe told me to deny the baby.\u201d
\nThe words hit differently now.
\nMy father lunged forward.
\n\u201cYou lying little\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cDad!\u201d
\nHe stopped inches from Matthew.
\nMatthew did not move.
\n\u201cHe told me if I admitted the baby was mine, Valerie would get hurt.\u201d
\nMy anger faltered.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cHe showed me photographs.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat photographs?\u201d
\n\u201cYou walking to school.\u201d
\nMy mother grabbed my arm.
\n\u201cYou at the grocery store.\u201d
\nHe looked at Dad.
\n\u201cHer father leaving work.\u201d
\nThen at Mom.
\n\u201cHer mother at church.\u201d
\nHe looked back at me.
\n\u201cAnd Patricia standing outside your house.\u201d
\nMy skin crawled.
\n\u201cHe said he could reach anyone.\u201d
\nSofia whispered:
\n\u201cThat sounds like Victor.\u201d
\nI stared at Matthew.
\n\u201cSo you denied me to protect me?\u201d
\nHe nodded weakly.
\n\u201cThat was part of it.\u201d
\n\u201cPart?\u201d
\nHe looked away.
\nI almost laughed.
\n\u201cThere it is again.\u201d
\n\u201cValerie.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat was the other part?\u201d
\n\u201cMy grandfather said if I cooperated, he would make the pregnancy disappear quietly.\u201d
\nMy father\u2019s fist clenched.
\n\u201cAnd you agreed?\u201d
\n\u201cNo!\u201d
\nMatthew\u2019s voice cracked.
\n\u201cI thought he meant money. Lawyers. My mom making some agreement with your parents.\u201d
\nRebecca whispered:
\n\u201cThat\u2019s what I thought too.\u201d
\nSofia turned on her.
\n\u201cYou offered them five thousand dollars.\u201d
\nRebecca\u2019s face tightened.
\n\u201cMy father told me to.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd you obeyed?\u201d
\n\u201cYou keep asking that like refusing Victor is easy.\u201d
\nMy mother stared at her.
\n\u201cPatricia refused.\u201d
\nRebecca looked at Mom.
\n\u201cAnd look where Patricia is now.\u201d
\nNobody had an answer to that.
\nThe countdown on my phone showed seven minutes.
\nDavid\u2019s voice returned.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re wasting time.\u201d
\nDad picked up the phone.
\n\u201cWhat can you see?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m across from Bellflower Road.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat kind of house?\u201d
\n\u201cAbandoned-looking. Two floors. White siding. Windows covered.\u201d
\n\u201cVehicles?\u201d
\n\u201cA black SUV behind the house.\u201d
\nSofia asked:
\n\u201cVictor\u2019s?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cAny guards?\u201d
\n\u201cI saw one man through a downstairs window.\u201d
\n\u201cCan you see Patricia?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nMy father said:
\n\u201cPolice need that address.\u201d
\nThe principal nodded.
\n\u201cThey\u2019re outside.\u201d
\nMatthew suddenly said:
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nEveryone turned.
\nDad stared at him.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cYou can\u2019t send them yet.\u201d
\nMy father\u2019s voice became dangerous.
\n\u201cChoose your next words carefully.\u201d
\n\u201cGrandfather showed me the house.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cHe wanted me to understand how serious he was.\u201d
\n\u201cAbout what?\u201d
\nMatthew\u2019s hands began trembling.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a tunnel.\u201d
\nSofia frowned.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cUnder Bellflower.\u201d
\nDavid went silent.
\nMatthew continued.
\n\u201cThe house used to belong to one of my grandfather\u2019s companies. There\u2019s an old storm tunnel connecting the basement to a warehouse two blocks away.\u201d
\nMy father looked at the principal.
\n\u201cIf police surround the house\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cHe escapes,\u201d Sofia finished.
\nMatthew nodded.
\n\u201cOr takes Patricia with him.\u201d
\nDavid whispered:
\n\u201cI\u2019m going in.\u201d
\n\u201cNo!\u201d my mother shouted.
\n\u201cDavid, don\u2019t you dare.\u201d
\n\u201cThat woman raised me.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd I just found you!\u201d
\nMy mother\u2019s voice shattered.
\n\u201cI spent eighteen years believing you were dead. I am not losing you ten minutes after finding out you\u2019re alive.\u201d
\nDavid was silent.
\nMom started crying.
\n\u201cPlease.\u201d
\nHis voice softened.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d
\nThen the line disconnected.
\n\u201cDavid!\u201d
\nMom called back.
\nNo answer.
\nAgain.
\nVoicemail.
\nMy father cursed.
\nSofia grabbed her coat.
\n\u201cI\u2019m going there.\u201d
\nDad stopped her.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cThat is my sister\u2019s child.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd my wife\u2019s son.\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019re wasting time.\u201d
\nThe countdown showed five minutes.
\nI looked at Matthew.
\n\u201cYou know the tunnel?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere does it come out?\u201d
\n\u201cAn old warehouse on Larkin Street.\u201d
\nThe principal immediately relayed the information to the officers outside.
\nMy father looked at Sofia.
\n\u201cWe tell them to approach the warehouse quietly.\u201d
\nSofia nodded.
\n\u201cAnd Bellflower?\u201d
\n\u201cPlainclothes officers only.\u201d
\nRebecca suddenly laughed.
\nEvery head turned.
\nIt was not amusement.
\nIt was despair.
\n\u201cYou still don\u2019t understand.\u201d
\nMatthew stared at her.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nRebecca looked at the countdown.
\n\u201cMy father knows police are here.\u201d
\n\u201cHow?\u201d
\n\u201cHe always knows.\u201d
\nSofia crossed the room.
\n\u201cHow?\u201d
\nRebecca shook her head.
\n\u201cHe has people everywhere.\u201d
\n\u201cNames.\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know all of them.\u201d
\n\u201cThen give us the ones you do know.\u201d
\nRebecca looked toward the principal.
\n\u201cA deputy.\u201d
\nMy father went still.
\n\u201cWhat deputy?\u201d
\nRebecca swallowed.
\n\u201cSheriff\u2019s department.\u201d
\nMy father\u2019s jaw tightened.
\n\u201cName.\u201d
\n\u201cCharles Mercer.\u201d
\nSofia cursed.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cHe has worked for my father for years.\u201d
\nThe principal immediately called the officers again.
\nI watched the countdown.
\nThree minutes.
\nThen my phone vibrated.
\nThe timer disappeared.
\nA new message appeared.
\nDAVID SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO HIS MOTHER.<\/strong>
\nMy mother screamed.
\nA photograph followed.
\nDavid.
\nLying face down inside the Bellflower house.
\nBlood on the side of his head.
\n\u201cNo!\u201d
\nMom tried to grab the phone.
\nDad held her.
\nAnother message:
\nNOW I HAVE BOTH OF THEM.<\/strong>
\nI started shaking.
\n\u201cVictor knows David went inside.\u201d
\nMatthew stared at the image.
\n\u201cLook at the floor.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nHe grabbed the phone and zoomed in.
\nBeside David\u2019s hand was a small metal grate.
\nMatthew\u2019s eyes widened.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s not the house.\u201d
\nSofia leaned closer.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThat floor is concrete.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd?\u201d
\n\u201cThe Bellflower house has a wood basement floor over the old foundation.\u201d
\nDad understood first.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s in the warehouse.\u201d
\nMatthew nodded.
\n\u201cVictor moved them already.\u201d
\nThe principal was on the phone instantly.
\n\u201cRedirect everyone to Larkin Street.\u201d
\nRebecca rushed toward her.
\n\u201cNo!\u201d
\nThe security officer blocked her.
\nRebecca looked frantic.
\n\u201cYou cannot send police there.\u201d
\nSofia snapped:
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause the warehouse is wired.\u201d
\nNobody moved.
\nMatthew stared at his mother.
\n\u201cWired how?\u201d
\nRebecca began crying.
\n\u201cExplosives.\u201d
\nMy mother stopped breathing.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cMy father used that warehouse years ago for demolition storage.\u201d
\nDad stared at her.
\n\u201cDoes he still?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nSofia grabbed Rebecca\u2019s arms.
\n\u201cYou knew this and said nothing?\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t know he would take them there!\u201d
\n\u201cCan Victor detonate it remotely?\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cI think so.\u201d
\nMy mother made a broken sound.
\n\u201cDavid.\u201d
\nThe principal told the police to hold position.
\nWe were trapped.
\nVictor knew exactly what he was doing.
\nEvery answer created another danger.
\nMy phone vibrated.
\nA video call.
\nUnknown number.
\nEveryone stared.
\nDad whispered:
\n\u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d
\nI answered.
\nVictor Rivas appeared.
\nHe was sitting in a chair beneath a hanging industrial lamp.
\nBehind him stood Aunt Patricia.
\nNo longer tied to the chair.
\nInstead, her hands were bound in front of her.
\nDavid was on the floor nearby, moving slightly.
\nAlive.
\nMy mother sobbed.
\nVictor smiled.
\n\u201cValerie.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re a coward.\u201d
\nMy father grabbed my shoulder.
\nVictor\u2019s smile widened.
\n\u201cInteresting. Fifteen years old and already braver than most adults in that room.\u201d
\n\u201cLet them go.\u201d
\n\u201cEventually.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d
\n\u201cYou already know.\u201d
\n\u201cThe journal?\u201d
\n\u201cPartly.\u201d
\nSofia leaned toward the phone.
\n\u201cElena\u2019s journal belongs to her family.\u201d
\nVictor\u2019s face changed.
\n\u201cSofia.\u201d
\nHer eyes filled with hatred.
\n\u201cYou remember me.\u201d
\n\u201cI remember your sister better.\u201d
\nSofia went rigid.
\n\u201cWhere is Elena?\u201d
\nVictor smiled.
\n\u201cStill asking the wrong question.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did you do to her?\u201d
\n\u201cThe same thing families like mine have always done when inconvenient people threaten everything we built.\u201d
\nMy father stepped into view.
\n\u201cYou hurt that woman, and there won\u2019t be a hole deep enough for you.\u201d
\nVictor chuckled.
\n\u201cCarlos Herrera.\u201d
\nDad froze.
\nVictor continued.
\n\u201cHard worker. Warehouse supervisor. Forty-three years old. Drives a twelve-year-old Ford. Pays the mortgage on the fifth of every month.\u201d
\nMy father\u2019s face went cold.
\nVictor looked directly into the camera.
\n\u201cI know exactly who lives in Valerie\u2019s house.\u201d
\nMy mother clutched Dad\u2019s arm.
\nThen Victor said:
\n\u201cWhich is more than Carlos can say.\u201d
\nNobody understood.
\nMy father frowned.
\n\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d
\nVictor smiled.
\n\u201cAsk Maria.\u201d
\nMom went white.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d
\nDad turned toward her.
\n\u201cMaria?\u201d
\nVictor laughed.
\n\u201cStill keeping secrets?\u201d
\nI felt anger rise.
\n\u201cStop playing games.\u201d
\nVictor\u2019s eyes moved to me.
\n\u201cFine.\u201d
\nHe leaned closer to the camera.
\n\u201cYou want Patricia and David alive?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cBring Rebecca.\u201d
\nEveryone turned toward Mrs. Rivas.
\nShe staggered backward.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nVictor smiled.
\n\u201cHello, daughter.\u201d
\nRebecca began trembling.
\n\u201cDad.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019ve disappointed me.\u201d
\n\u201cPlease.\u201d
\n\u201cYou allowed strangers to dig into family matters.\u201d
\n\u201cThey were going to find out.\u201d
\n\u201cBecause you were weak.\u201d
\nMatthew stepped in front of his mother.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re not taking her.\u201d
\nVictor stared at him.
\nFor the first time, the old man\u2019s expression softened.
\n\u201cMatthew.\u201d
\n\u201cStay away from her.\u201d
\n\u201cStill emotional.\u201d
\n\u201cYou lied to me my whole life.\u201d
\nVictor smiled slightly.
\n\u201cDid I?\u201d
\nMatthew clenched his fists.
\n\u201cWho are my biological parents?\u201d
\nRebecca whispered:
\n\u201cMatthew, not now.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nHe looked into the phone.
\n\u201cYou know.\u201d
\n\u201cOf course I know.\u201d
\nThe entire room froze.
\nMatthew whispered:
\n\u201cTell me.\u201d
\nVictor shook his head.
\n\u201cBring Rebecca.\u201d
\n\u201cTell me who I am.\u201d
\n\u201cBring her, and perhaps I will.\u201d
\nMatthew looked at me.
\nI knew what he was thinking.
\nThe same thing everyone had been thinking all morning.
\nAnother secret.
\nAnother trade.
\nAnother trap.
\nRebecca began crying.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t listen to him.\u201d
\nVictor tilted his head.
\n\u201cRebecca, do you remember November seventeenth?\u201d
\nShe stopped.
\nHer whole body went rigid.
\nMatthew noticed.
\n\u201cWhat happened November seventeenth?\u201d
\nVictor smiled.
\n\u201cThe day Matthew became Matthew.\u201d
\nMatthew looked sick.
\n\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d
\nVictor glanced offscreen.
\nSomeone entered the frame.
\nOnly a shoulder at first.
\nThen a face.
\nSofia screamed.
\nThe phone nearly fell from my hands.
\nThe woman looked older.
\nThin.
\nGray beginning in her dark curls.
\nBut there was no mistaking the face from the photographs.
\nElena Delgado.
\nAlive.
\nSofia sobbed.
\n\u201cElena?\u201d
\nThe woman looked into the camera.
\n\u201cSofia?\u201d
\nSofia covered her mouth.
\n\u201cOh my God.\u201d
\nElena stepped closer.
\nHer hands were not tied.
\nShe was not injured.
\nShe stood beside Victor willingly.
\nThat was somehow worse.
\nSofia\u2019s expression changed from relief to confusion.
\n\u201cElena, get away from him.\u201d
\nElena looked down.
\nVictor smiled.
\n\u201cYou see? Everyone believes a story becomes true simply because enough years have passed.\u201d
\nSofia whispered:
\n\u201cWhy are you with him?\u201d
\nElena\u2019s eyes filled with tears.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s complicated.\u201d
\n\u201cYou disappeared.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cWe thought you were dead!\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cI spent eighteen years looking for you!\u201d
\nElena began crying.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d
\nSofia shook her head.
\n\u201cNo. No, you don\u2019t get to say sorry. Tell me where your baby went.\u201d
\nElena looked toward Matthew.
\nHer face changed.
\nShe took one step toward the screen.
\n\u201cOh.\u201d
\nMatthew stopped breathing.
\nElena whispered:
\n\u201cYou look like him.\u201d
\nMatthew touched his face.
\n\u201cLike who?\u201d
\n\u201cJonathan.\u201d
\nRebecca shut her eyes.
\nMatthew stared at Elena.
\n\u201cAm I your son?\u201d
\nElena\u2019s mouth trembled.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nRelief passed through me.
\nBut Elena continued.
\n\u201cMy son had Jonathan\u2019s eyes.\u201d
\nShe looked at Victor.
\nVictor\u2019s smile disappeared.
\nSofia demanded:
\n\u201cThen where is he?\u201d
\nElena whispered:
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nVictor turned toward her.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s enough.\u201d
\n\u201cNo,\u201d Elena said.
\nHis eyes hardened.
\n\u201cYou promised.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ve spent eighteen years keeping your promises.\u201d
\nVictor grabbed her wrist.
\nSofia screamed:
\n\u201cDon\u2019t touch her!\u201d
\nElena pulled free.
\nAnd then she did something none of us expected.
\nShe looked directly into the camera and shouted:
\n\u201cMATTHEW, YOUR FATHER IS DAVID!\u201d
\nEverything stopped.
\nMy mother\u2019s mouth fell open.
\nI looked at David lying on the floor.
\nMatthew staggered backward.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nVictor slapped Elena.
\nThe phone jerked.
\nSofia screamed.
\nMatthew shouted:
\n\u201cWHAT DID SHE SAY?\u201d
\nThe video cut out.
\nThe room exploded.
\nRebecca dropped into a chair.
\nMatthew grabbed his hair.
\n\u201cDavid is twenty-seven.\u201d
\nMy father looked stunned.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re seventeen.\u201d
\n\u201cHe would\u2019ve been ten.\u201d
\nMom shook her head.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s impossible.\u201d
\nSofia was breathing fast.
\n\u201cElena was trying to tell us something else.\u201d
\nMatthew spun around.
\n\u201cShe said my father is David.\u201d
\n\u201cShe may not mean David Rojas.\u201d
\n\u201cHow many Davids are involved in this nightmare?\u201d
\nNobody answered.
\nThen my mother whispered:
\n\u201cOne.\u201d
\nWe all looked at her.
\nShe stared at the phone.
\n\u201cJonathan\u2019s middle name.\u201d
\nSofia frowned.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nMom looked at her.
\n\u201cJonathan Rivas\u2019s full name was Jonathan David Rivas.\u201d
\nMatthew froze.
\nElena had said:
\nYour father is David.<\/strong>
\nMaybe she had not meant my cousin.
\nMaybe she meant Jonathan.
\nMatthew whispered:
\n\u201cJonathan is my father?\u201d
\nRebecca began sobbing.
\n\u201cMom?\u201d
\nShe covered her face.
\nMatthew stepped closer.
\n\u201cTell me.\u201d
\nRebecca whispered:
\n\u201cI never knew for certain.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d
\n\u201cMy brother\u2026\u201d
\nShe could barely speak.
\n\u201cJonathan was not the person everyone thought.\u201d
\nElena shouted from the phone before it disconnected that Matthew looked like him.
\nMy heart began pounding.
\n\u201cIf Jonathan is Matthew\u2019s biological father\u2026 who is his mother?\u201d
\nRebecca looked toward me.
\nThen toward my mother.
\nThen Sofia.
\nFinally she whispered:
\n\u201cNot Elena.\u201d
\nMatthew\u2019s face hardened.
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\nRebecca did not answer.
\nMatthew shouted:
\n\u201cWHO?\u201d
\nShe looked at my mother.
\nMaria stopped breathing.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nRebecca began crying.
\n\u201cNo, Rebecca.\u201d
\nMy mother stepped backward.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d
\nMatthew looked between them.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nMy father\u2019s face changed.
\n\u201cMaria?\u201d
\nMom shook her head frantically.
\n\u201cMy son was born October twenty-sixth.\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cHe was taken.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cYou said Matthew wasn\u2019t him.\u201d
\n\u201cHe isn\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cThen why are you looking at me?\u201d
\nRebecca whispered:
\n\u201cBecause Maria wasn\u2019t the only Rojas girl Jonathan was sleeping with.\u201d
\nMy blood turned cold.
\nSofia slowly turned toward the video image of Patricia.
\nMom whispered:
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cPatricia.\u201d
\nEveryone stared.
\nMy aunt.
\nDavid\u2019s adoptive mother.
\nThe woman Victor had kidnapped.
\nMatthew\u2019s voice disappeared.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re saying Patricia is my mother?\u201d
\nRebecca shook her head.
\n\u201cI\u2019m saying she could be.\u201d
\nMatthew looked as though someone had punched him.
\n\u201cBut Patricia would\u2019ve been\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cSeventeen.\u201d
\nSofia closed her eyes.
\n\u201cMy God.\u201d
\nMy mother shook her head.
\n\u201cShe would have told me.\u201d
\nRebecca laughed bitterly.
\n\u201cWould you have told her?\u201d
\nThat shut Mom up.
\nMy father whispered:
\n\u201cWere both sisters pregnant by Jonathan?\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cDid Elena know?\u201d
\n\u201cI believe so.\u201d
\nEverything in the journal suddenly changed.
\nOne Rojas girl was already a problem, and now there are two.<\/strong>
\nI had thought the second girl was Elena.
\nWhat if it meant Maria and Patricia?
\nI grabbed the journal.
\n\u201cOctober nineteenth.\u201d
\nSofia looked at me.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nI found the entry.
\nJonathan says his father knows about Maria now. He says his father is furious because one Rojas girl was already a problem, and now there are two.<\/strong>
\nI stared at my mother.
\n\u201cOne Rojas girl was already pregnant.\u201d
\nMom whispered:
\n\u201cPatricia.\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\nMy father looked sick.
\n\u201cSo Maria got pregnant second.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd Elena?\u201d
\nRebecca closed her eyes.
\n\u201cElena was third.\u201d
\nSofia stared at her.
\n\u201cThree girls?\u201d
\nRebecca whispered:
\n\u201cJonathan was reckless.\u201d
\nSofia slapped her.
\nHard.
\nThe security officer stepped forward.
\nSofia raised her hands.
\n\u201cI\u2019m done.\u201d
\nRebecca touched her cheek.
\n\u201cYou think I\u2019m defending him?\u201d
\n\u201cYou called him reckless like he broke a window.\u201d
\nRebecca stared at the floor.
\n\u201cHe destroyed lives.\u201d
\nMatthew spoke quietly.
\n\u201cIncluding mine.\u201d
\nRebecca looked at him.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nMatthew swallowed.
\n\u201cIf Patricia is my mother\u2026\u201d
\nHe looked toward David\u2019s image.
\n\u201cThen David isn\u2019t her biological son.\u201d
\nMy mother whispered:
\n\u201cHe\u2019s mine.\u201d
\nMatthew\u2019s eyes lifted to me.
\nThat meant something else.
\nIf Matthew was Patricia\u2019s biological son, then he and I were first cousins.
\nI pressed a hand against my stomach.
\nThe room became quiet again.
\nIt was not as horrifying as believing he was my brother.
\nBut it was still something neither of us had known.
\nMatthew turned away.
\n\u201cI need a DNA test.\u201d
\nMy father nodded.
\n\u201cWe all do.\u201d
\nMy phone vibrated.
\nAnother message from Victor.
\nEnough family history. Rebecca has fifteen minutes to arrive at Bellflower alone.<\/strong>
\nThen:
\nNo police. No Matthew.<\/strong>
\nA final line:
\nOr I tell Patricia what really happened to her first baby before I kill her.<\/strong>
\nMatthew froze.
\n\u201cFirst baby?\u201d
\nMy mother whispered:
\n\u201cOh God.\u201d
\nRebecca looked even more terrified.
\nSofia grabbed her.
\n\u201cWhat first baby?\u201d
\nRebecca said nothing.
\n\u201cMatthew?\u201d
\nSofia\u2019s eyes widened.
\n\u201cIs Matthew Patricia\u2019s first baby?\u201d
\nRebecca shook her head slowly.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nThe room went silent.
\nI stared at her.
\n\u201cThen Patricia had another child?\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cBefore Matthew?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cBy Jonathan?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nMom looked completely lost.
\n\u201cPatricia never told me.\u201d
\nRebecca\u2019s voice was barely audible.
\n\u201cShe didn\u2019t know the baby survived.\u201d
\nMy father slammed his hand against the desk.
\n\u201cAnother stolen baby?\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\nI almost laughed from disbelief.
\n\u201cHow many babies did Victor steal?\u201d
\nShe began crying.
\n\u201cMore than you think.\u201d
\nNobody moved.
\nSofia whispered:
\n\u201cWhat was Victor doing?\u201d
\nRebecca stared at us.
\nAnd finally, the truth began coming out.
\n\u201cMy father operated a private adoption network.\u201d
\nThe principal sat down.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cNot legal adoptions.\u201d
\nMy father\u2019s face hardened.
\n\u201cHe sold babies.\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cHe worked with a doctor at St. Matthew\u2019s. Girls who were young, poor, undocumented, unmarried\u2026 girls nobody thought would fight back.\u201d
\nSofia looked ready to kill her.
\n\u201cThey took their children.\u201d
\n\u201cSometimes.\u201d
\n\u201cSometimes?\u201d
\n\u201cSometimes they convinced the mothers the babies had died. Sometimes they forged consent.\u201d
\nMy mother started crying again.
\n\u201cMy son.\u201d
\nRebecca looked at her.
\n\u201cYour son was supposed to be sold.\u201d
\nMom covered her face.
\n\u201cBut Patricia stopped it.\u201d
\nEveryone froze.
\nI looked at the photo of my aunt tied inside the warehouse.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cPatricia discovered what my father was doing.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cThe night Maria gave birth.\u201d
\nMom stared at her.
\n\u201cPatricia was with Elena.\u201d
\n\u201cUntil she learned you were in labor.\u201d
\nMy mother\u2019s breath caught.
\nRebecca continued.
\n\u201cShe went to St. Matthew\u2019s.\u201d
\nSofia whispered:
\n\u201cThat\u2019s why her initials were on Elena\u2019s bracelet?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nRebecca shook her head.
\n\u201cPatricia had already been inside that hospital several times.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause Patricia had lost a baby there the year before.\u201d
\nMy mother whispered:
\n\u201cShe told me she had appendicitis.\u201d
\n\u201cShe lied.\u201d
\nRebecca looked at Matthew.
\n\u201cPatricia was fourteen when she became pregnant.\u201d
\nI felt sick.
\n\u201cWho was the father?\u201d
\nRebecca shook her head.
\n\u201cI never knew.\u201d
\n\u201cVictor did?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happened to the baby?\u201d
\n\u201cHe sold him.\u201d
\nMatthew whispered:
\n\u201cA boy?\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\nPatricia had spent years secretly investigating stolen babies because she had been one of Victor\u2019s victims long before Elena or Mom.
\nEverything she had done suddenly made sense.
\nHer anger.
\nHer secrecy.
\nHer obsession.
\nWhy she had looked at my pregnancy like history repeating itself.
\nSofia asked:
\n\u201cWhere is Patricia\u2019s first son?\u201d
\nRebecca whispered:
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nMy phone vibrated.
\nA photograph appeared.
\nIt was a baby picture.
\nA newborn wrapped in a green blanket.
\nOn the back, someone had written:
\nPATRICIA ROJAS \u2014 MALE \u2014 NOVEMBER 3<\/strong>
\nBelow the photograph Victor had written:
\nHE NEVER LEFT TOWN.<\/strong>
\nMy mother stared at the image.
\n\u201cNever left town?\u201d
\nMy father whispered:
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\nAnother photograph arrived.
\nA boy at age six.
\nThen another.
\nAge twelve.
\nAnother.
\nHigh school graduation.
\nMy heart started pounding harder with every picture.
\nThere was something familiar about him.
\nThe eyes.
\nThe nose.
\nThe way he smiled.
\nSofia whispered:
\n\u201cI know him.\u201d
\nMy father leaned closer.
\n\u201cSo do I.\u201d
\nThe final photograph loaded.
\nA recent image.
\nA man in uniform.
\nSheriff\u2019s department.
\nDeputy Charles Mercer.
\nThe same deputy Rebecca had just identified as Victor\u2019s corrupt officer.
\nNobody spoke.
\nPatricia\u2019s first stolen son had grown up to become Victor\u2019s employee.
\nAnd he did not even know the woman Victor was holding hostage was his biological mother.
\nMy mother whispered:
\n\u201cCharles.\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cMy father kept him close.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cInsurance.\u201d
\n\u201cAgainst Patricia?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nMy father stared at the image.
\n\u201cSo Mercer has been protecting Victor without knowing Victor stole him from his own mother.\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\nSofia\u2019s expression changed.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s why Victor wants Rebecca.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cHe thinks Rebecca is the only person who can expose the adoption network.\u201d
\nRebecca shook her head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nSofia looked at her.
\n\u201cYou have records.\u201d
\nRebecca said nothing.
\n\u201cYou do.\u201d
\nMatthew stared at his mother.
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\nRebecca closed her eyes.
\n\u201cMy house.\u201d
\nMy father stepped closer.
\n\u201cWhere in your house?\u201d
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a safe behind the library wall.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s inside?\u201d
\n\u201cNames.\u201d
\n\u201cHow many?\u201d
\nRebecca whispered:
\n\u201cOne hundred and seventeen.\u201d
\nThe principal stared at her.
\n\u201cOne hundred and seventeen babies?\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cFamilies. Payments. Hospital records. New identities.\u201d
\nSofia whispered:
\n\u201cThat journal isn\u2019t what Victor really wants.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nRebecca looked at us.
\n\u201cHe wants the ledger.\u201d
\nMy mother said:
\n\u201cThen why demand the journal?\u201d
\n\u201cTo make sure Patricia never proves where everything started.\u201d
\nI stared at the old book.
\nElena\u2019s journal was evidence.
\nBut Rebecca\u2019s ledger could destroy Victor.
\nMy father looked at her.
\n\u201cCan we get it?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWithout Victor knowing?\u201d
\nRebecca hesitated.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cHe has cameras in my house.\u201d
\nMatthew laughed bitterly.
\n\u201cOf course he does.\u201d
\nThen he looked at me.
\n\u201cI know another way.\u201d
\nRebecca\u2019s head snapped up.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nMatthew ignored her.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a service passage behind the library.\u201d
\n\u201cHow do you know?\u201d
\n\u201cI used it when I was a kid.\u201d
\nRebecca grabbed his arm.
\n\u201cYou cannot go back there.\u201d
\nHe pulled free.
\n\u201cIf that ledger can save Patricia and David, I\u2019m getting it.\u201d
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t understand.\u201d
\n\u201cThen explain.\u201d
\nRebecca looked terrified.
\n\u201cThe safe doesn\u2019t just contain adoption records.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat else?\u201d
\nShe stared at her son.
\n\u201cDNA results.\u201d
\nMatthew stopped breathing.
\n\u201cWhat DNA results?\u201d
\n\u201cYours.\u201d
\nNobody moved.
\nMatthew whispered:
\n\u201cYou already tested me?\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cWhen you were five.\u201d
\n\u201cYou know who my biological mother is.\u201d
\nRebecca started crying.
\nMatthew\u2019s entire body went rigid.
\n\u201cYou stood here for an hour saying you didn\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cI was trying to protect you.\u201d
\nHe laughed once.
\nA broken sound.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s that word again.\u201d
\n\u201cMatthew\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cWho is she?\u201d
\nRebecca looked at Patricia\u2019s image.
\nAnd said nothing.
\nMatthew\u2019s eyes filled with tears.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s Patricia.\u201d
\nRebecca slowly shook her head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cThen who?\u201d
\nShe looked at Elena.
\nSofia stopped breathing.
\nMatthew followed her gaze.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nRebecca whispered:
\n\u201cElena.\u201d
\nSofia grabbed the desk.
\nMatthew stared at the frozen image of the woman we had just seen alive.
\n\u201cBut she said I wasn\u2019t her son.\u201d
\n\u201cShe lied.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause Victor was standing beside her.\u201d
\nMatthew\u2019s knees nearly buckled.
\nRebecca reached for him.
\nHe stepped away.
\n\u201cMy mother is alive.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd my father was Jonathan.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cThen why did Victor replace the baby you originally brought home with me?\u201d
\nRebecca\u2019s face crumpled.
\n\u201cBecause Elena tried to escape with you.\u201d
\nSofia gasped.
\nRebecca continued.
\n\u201cThree weeks after your birth, Elena found where you were being kept.\u201d
\nMatthew whispered:
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cAt my parents\u2019 house.\u201d
\n\u201cShe came for me?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cJonathan helped her.\u201d
\nSofia covered her mouth.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s why he died.\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cMy father caught them.\u201d
\nElena escaped.
\nJonathan did not.
\nMatthew stared at Rebecca.
\n\u201cYour father killed your brother?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nThe room went silent.
\nRebecca sobbed.
\n\u201cHe made it look like a boating accident.\u201d
\nSofia whispered:
\n\u201cAnd Elena?\u201d
\n\u201cShe disappeared because Victor told her he would kill Matthew if she ever came back.\u201d
\nMatthew closed his eyes.
\n\u201cMy whole life\u2026\u201d
\nRebecca reached toward him again.
\n\u201cI loved you.\u201d
\nHe opened his eyes.
\n\u201cYou loved the child your father stole.\u201d
\n\u201cI was a child too when it started.\u201d
\n\u201cYou had seventeen years to tell me.\u201d
\n\u201cI was afraid.\u201d
\nMatthew looked toward the video.
\n\u201cSo was she.\u201d
\nMy phone vibrated.
\nTen minutes remaining.
\nRebecca wiped her eyes.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll go.\u201d
\nMatthew turned.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ll go to Bellflower.\u201d
\n\u201cGrandfather will kill you.\u201d
\n\u201cHe wants the ledger.\u201d
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t have it.\u201d
\n\u201cHe doesn\u2019t know that.\u201d
\nMy father shook his head.
\n\u201cYou walk in empty-handed and everyone dies.\u201d
\nRebecca looked at me.
\n\u201cThen we give him something he thinks is the ledger.\u201d
\nSofia understood.
\n\u201cA fake.\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cThe adoption records are written in identical black binders.\u201d
\nThe principal said:
\n\u201cPolice can prepare one.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nRebecca shook her head.
\n\u201cVictor will open it.\u201d
\nMy father looked at Matthew.
\n\u201cHow far is your house?\u201d
\n\u201cEight minutes.\u201d
\n\u201cToo far.\u201d
\nMatthew shook his head.
\n\u201cNot if someone is already there.\u201d
\nEveryone looked at him.
\nHe took out his phone.
\n\u201cWho?\u201d I asked.
\nHe hesitated.
\n\u201cMy sister.\u201d
\nRebecca went pale.
\n\u201cYou called Olivia?\u201d
\nMatthew nodded.
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cBefore the school meeting.\u201d
\nRebecca looked terrified.
\n\u201cShe can\u2019t know about this.\u201d
\nMatthew laughed.
\n\u201cShe deserves to.\u201d
\n\u201cMatthew.\u201d
\nHe dialed.
\nA girl answered almost immediately.
\n\u201cFinally.\u201d
\nMatthew put her on speaker.
\n\u201cOlivia, listen carefully. Are you home?\u201d
\n\u201cYes. Why?\u201d
\n\u201cGo to the library.\u201d
\nRebecca whispered:
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nOlivia heard her.
\n\u201cMom?\u201d
\nMatthew continued.
\n\u201cBehind the second bookcase is a panel.\u201d
\nSilence.
\nThen Olivia whispered:
\n\u201cHow do you know about that?\u201d
\n\u201cYou found it too?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nRebecca sat down.
\nMatthew frowned.
\n\u201cWhat did you find?\u201d
\nOlivia hesitated.
\n\u201cNothing.\u201d
\n\u201cOlivia.\u201d
\n\u201cI found photos.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat photos?\u201d
\n\u201cBabies.\u201d
\nRebecca covered her face.
\nMatthew looked at us.
\n\u201cFind the safe.\u201d
\n\u201cThere is no safe.\u201d
\nRebecca\u2019s head lifted.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nOlivia continued.
\n\u201cThe wall compartment is empty.\u201d
\nRebecca stood.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s impossible.\u201d
\n\u201cI opened it last week.\u201d
\n\u201cLast week?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause Grandpa told me to.\u201d
\nRebecca\u2019s face drained.
\nMatthew whispered:
\n\u201cGrandpa contacted you?\u201d
\nOlivia began crying.
\n\u201cI thought you knew.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did he ask you to do?\u201d
\n\u201cHe said Mom had been keeping family records from him.\u201d
\nRebecca staggered backward.
\n\u201cDid you give him the ledger?\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t know what it was.\u201d
\n\u201cOlivia!\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry!\u201d
\nMatthew closed his eyes.
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cSix days ago.\u201d
\nVictor already had the ledger.
\nEverything we believed collapsed again.
\nThen why was he demanding Rebecca?
\nSofia whispered:
\n\u201cHe doesn\u2019t need evidence destroyed.\u201d
\nMy father looked at her.
\n\u201cHe needs witnesses destroyed.\u201d
\nRebecca understood.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s cleaning up.\u201d
\nPatricia.
\nDavid.
\nElena.
\nRebecca.
\nAnyone connected to the truth.
\nMy father grabbed the principal\u2019s phone.
\n\u201cTell the police this is now an immediate rescue.\u201d
\nRebecca shook her head.
\n\u201cThe explosives.\u201d
\nMatthew looked at his phone.
\n\u201cOlivia, leave the house.\u201d
\nSilence.
\n\u201cOlivia?\u201d
\nA man\u2019s voice answered.
\n\u201cToo late.\u201d
\nVictor.
\nRebecca screamed:
\n\u201cOLIVIA!\u201d
\nVictor laughed.
\nMatthew nearly dropped the phone.
\n\u201cWhere is my sister?\u201d
\n\u201cSafe.\u201d
\n\u201cLet me talk to her.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cYou touch her\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cYou sound like your father.\u201d
\nMatthew froze.
\nVictor continued.
\n\u201cJonathan always believed anger made him brave.\u201d
\nMatthew\u2019s face hardened.
\n\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d
\n\u201cRebecca.\u201d
\n\u201cYou already have the ledger.\u201d
\n\u201cCorrect.\u201d
\n\u201cSo why her?\u201d
\nVictor went silent.
\nThen:
\n\u201cBecause Rebecca knows where the originals are.\u201d
\nEveryone turned toward her.
\nRebecca shut her eyes.
\nMatthew whispered:
\n\u201cOriginals?\u201d
\nVictor laughed.
\n\u201cThe ledger contains copies.\u201d
\nSofia looked at Rebecca.
\n\u201cWhere are the original hospital records?\u201d
\nRebecca said nothing.
\nVictor answered for her.
\n\u201cAsk Maria.\u201d
\nMom stared at the phone.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nVictor chuckled.
\n\u201cThey have been in your house for eighteen years.\u201d
\nMy mother looked completely lost.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cPatricia hid them.\u201d
\nEveryone froze.
\nAunt Patricia had lived in our house for six months.
\nShe had not moved in because she needed somewhere to stay.
\nShe had moved in because something was hidden there.
\nMy father whispered:
\n\u201cWhere would Patricia hide records?\u201d
\nMom shook her head.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nThen I remembered.
\nThe tea.
\nThe kitchen.
\nAunt Patricia had been spending hours in our pantry.
\nRearranging shelves.
\nCleaning cupboards.
\nShe had even replaced part of the floor after saying there was water damage.
\nI stared at Mom.
\n\u201cThe pantry.\u201d
\nDad looked at me.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cShe redid the pantry floor.\u201d
\nMom\u2019s eyes widened.
\n\u201cThree months ago.\u201d
\nExactly when Patricia began investigating.
\nVictor heard us.
\nHis voice changed.
\n\u201cYou should not have said that aloud.\u201d
\nThe line disconnected.
\nMy stomach dropped.
\n\u201cHe knows.\u201d
\nDad grabbed his keys.
\n\u201cWe have to get home.\u201d
\nSofia said:
\n\u201cIf records are there, his people will already be moving.\u201d
\nMatthew looked toward the window.
\n\u201cMercer.\u201d
\nThe corrupt deputy.
\nPatricia\u2019s biological son.
\nHe might already be heading to our house without knowing he was destroying the evidence his own mother had spent years protecting.
\nMy father told the principal:
\n\u201cCall the officers. Our address. Now.\u201d
\nThen my phone rang.
\nDavid.
\nI answered instantly.
\n\u201cDavid?\u201d
\nHe whispered:
\n\u201cDon\u2019t speak loudly.\u201d
\nMom grabbed my arm.
\n\u201cAre you okay?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m inside the warehouse.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re conscious?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat about Patricia?\u201d
\n\u201cShe\u2019s gone.\u201d
\nMy heart stopped.
\n\u201cWhat do you mean gone?\u201d
\n\u201cWhen I woke up, Victor had moved her.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cI heard Bellflower.\u201d
\nThe houses and tunnel.
\nVictor had been moving hostages between both locations to confuse everyone.
\nDavid continued.
\n\u201cElena is still here.\u201d
\nSofia grabbed the phone.
\n\u201cCan you reach her?\u201d
\n\u201cI think so.\u201d
\n\u201cDavid, please.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ll try.\u201d
\nThen he whispered:
\n\u201cThere\u2019s something else.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThe man Victor said killed Jonathan.\u201d
\n\u201cYes?\u201d
\n\u201cI saw him.\u201d
\n\u201cWho is he?\u201d
\nDavid took a breath.
\n\u201cDeputy Mercer.\u201d
\nRebecca went pale.
\nSofia whispered:
\n\u201cCharles killed Jonathan?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nDavid\u2019s voice trembled.
\n\u201cVictor told him he did.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d
\n\u201cMercer thinks Jonathan was his father.\u201d
\nSilence.
\nMy blood ran cold.
\nPatricia\u2019s stolen son had been raised believing Jonathan Rivas was his biological father.
\nVictor had shaped his entire life with lies.
\nDavid continued.
\n\u201cVictor told Mercer Jonathan abandoned his mother. That Patricia wanted him dead.\u201d
\nSofia whispered:
\n\u201cHe turned Patricia\u2019s own son against her.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nThen David said:
\n\u201cAnd Mercer is on his way to Valerie\u2019s house.\u201d
\nDad ran for the door.
\nMatthew followed.
\nRebecca shouted:
\n\u201cWait!\u201d
\nDad turned.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cIf Mercer finds the records, Victor will order him to burn the house.\u201d
\nMy mother screamed:
\n\u201cOur house?\u201d
\nRebecca nodded.
\n\u201cVictor has done it before.\u201d
\nMy father left.
\nMom followed.
\nI moved too.
\nDad turned.
\n\u201cNo, Valerie.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s my house.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re staying here.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cYour baby comes first.\u201d
\nI stopped.
\nThose words did it.
\nMy baby.
\nFor hours, every adult\u2019s secrets had been deciding what happened to the child inside me.
\nI placed a hand on my stomach.
\nDad softened.
\n\u201cStay with the principal.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m not hiding anymore.\u201d
\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t hiding.\u201d
\n\u201cIt feels like it.\u201d
\nHe walked back and put both hands on my shoulders.
\n\u201cYou want to be brave?\u201d
\nI nodded.
\n\u201cThen be brave enough not to run into danger just because everyone else is running.\u201d
\nMy eyes filled with tears.
\n\u201cDad.\u201d
\n\u201cI need to know at least one person I love is safe.\u201d
\nI hugged him.
\nHard.
\n\u201cBring them back.\u201d
\n\u201cI will.\u201d
\nMom hugged me next.
\nThen she looked at Matthew.
\n\u201cYou stay too.\u201d
\nMatthew shook his head.
\n\u201cMy sister is missing.\u201d
\n\u201cMatthew\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cMy biological mother is trapped in a warehouse, my sister is somewhere with Victor, and the woman who might be my aunt is being held hostage.\u201d
\nHe looked at me.
\n\u201cI\u2019m going.\u201d
\nI wanted to tell him not to.
\nInstead I said:
\n\u201cCome back.\u201d
\nHe stared at me.
\n\u201cI will.\u201d
\nThen they left.
\nSofia went with them.
\nRebecca went too, because police needed her to identify Victor\u2019s properties and explain the tunnel system.
\nFor the first time all morning, I was alone.
\nAlmost.
\nThe principal remained.
\nThe counselor.
\nThe security officer.
\nAnd the old journal.
\nI sat down.
\nMy hands would not stop shaking.
\nThe principal handed me water.
\nI stared at it.
\nShe noticed.
\n\u201cSealed bottle.\u201d
\nI almost laughed.
\nThat was what my life had become.
\nAfraid of tea.
\nAfraid of water.
\nAfraid of family names.
\nI opened the bottle myself.
\nThen I looked at Elena\u2019s journal.
\nThere was something wrong.
\nSomething we had missed.
\nVictor wanted the journal badly enough to kidnap people.
\nBut the journal only told part of the story.
\nRebecca had the adoption ledger.
\nPatricia had the original records.
\nWhy did Victor care about one teenage girl\u2019s diary?
\nI began reading from the beginning.
\nNot skimming.
\nReading.
\nElena wrote about school.
\nMusic.
\nHer sister Sofia.
\nJonathan.
\nThen Patricia.
\nPatricia appeared constantly.
\nPatricia says she knows a secret about Victor.<\/strong>
\nThree pages later:
\nPatricia says if anything ever happens to her, the truth is inside the story.<\/strong>
\nI frowned.
\nInside the story?
\nI turned the page.
\nAnother entry:
\nVictor thinks adults are smarter than children because adults look for safes. Children look inside books.<\/strong>
\nMy heartbeat changed.
\nI held the journal differently.
\nThe cover felt thick.
\nToo thick.
\nI ran a finger along the spine.
\nSomething was hidden underneath the leather.
\n\u201cMrs. Alvarez?\u201d
\nThe principal walked over.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cDo you have scissors?\u201d
\nThe security officer said:
\n\u201cDon\u2019t damage evidence.\u201d
\n\u201cI think there\u2019s something inside.\u201d
\nHe examined the spine.
\nThen pulled out a small pocketknife.
\nCarefully, he lifted a loose piece of leather.
\nSomething metallic clicked onto the desk.
\nA key.
\nTiny.
\nBrass.
\nTaped inside the journal\u2019s spine.
\nThe principal stared.
\n\u201cWhat does it open?\u201d
\nI searched the cover.
\nNothing.
\nThen I saw numbers scratched into the key.
\n317.<\/strong>
\nRoom number?
\nLocker?
\nSafety deposit box?
\nI flipped through Elena\u2019s journal looking for 317.
\nNothing.
\nThen the counselor whispered:
\n\u201cSchool lockers.\u201d
\nThe principal looked at her.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cOld building numbering.\u201d
\nShe turned to me.
\n\u201cBefore the renovation, lockers on the third floor were numbered in the three hundreds.\u201d
\nMy heart pounded.
\n\u201cDoes locker 317 still exist?\u201d
\nThe principal thought.
\n\u201cThe old lockers were moved to basement storage.\u201d
\nWe all looked at one another.
\nTen minutes later, the security officer had located a row of rusted blue lockers behind stacks of chairs.
\n317 was there.
\nThe key fit.
\nMy hands shook as I turned it.
\nInside was a metal box.
\nNo bigger than a shoebox.
\nI opened it.
\nPhotographs.
\nCassette tapes.
\nHospital badges.
\nAnd a sealed envelope.
\nOn the envelope:
\nIF VALERIE EVER FINDS THIS, PATRICIA FAILED.<\/strong>
\nMy blood went cold.
\nMy name.
\nWritten eighteen years ago.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nThe principal stared.
\n\u201cHow could your name be on something written before you were born?\u201d
\nI touched the ink.
\nMaybe the envelope was newer.
\nMaybe Patricia had placed it there.
\nI opened it.
\nInside was a letter.
\nValerie, if you are reading this, then Victor found out who you are.<\/strong>
\nI stopped breathing.
\nThe principal whispered:
\n\u201cWho you are?\u201d
\nI kept reading.
\nYour mother will tell you that you were born on March 8. That is true. She will tell you Carlos Herrera is your father. He is the man who raised you and loved you, but he is not the man whose blood you carry.<\/strong>
\nThe room disappeared.
\nMy fingers went numb.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nI read the next line.
\nThen again.
\nThen a third time.
\nMaria never knew the truth because the hospital altered one final record.<\/strong>
\nTears blurred the page.
\nThe principal sat beside me.
\nI forced myself to continue.
\nWhen Maria gave birth at sixteen, Victor stole her son. Years later, when Maria returned to St. Matthew\u2019s to deliver you, Victor recognized her name. He ordered blood work without her knowledge because he believed there was something unusual in the Rojas family line.<\/strong>
\nI did not understand.
\nWhat family line?
\nWhy would he care?
\nThe next paragraph answered.
\nJonathan Rivas was not Victor Rivas\u2019s biological son.<\/strong>
\nI froze.
\nWhat?
\nJonathan\u2019s biological father was Maria and Patricia\u2019s father, Rafael Rojas.<\/strong>
\nMy grandfather.
\nI nearly dropped the letter.
\nIf that was true, Jonathan Rivas had actually been my mother\u2019s half-brother.
\nWhich meant when Jonathan got Maria pregnant\u2026
\nMy stomach lurched.
\nThe horror was bigger than anyone had understood.
\nMy mother had unknowingly conceived a child with her own half-brother.
\nDavid.
\nMy mother\u2019s stolen son.
\nDavid was the child of that relationship.
\nI gagged.
\nThe principal grabbed a trash can.
\nI pushed it away.
\nThere was more.
\nVictor discovered Jonathan\u2019s true parentage only after Elena became pregnant. He feared blood testing would expose the family secret. That is why the babies became dangerous. That is why records were changed.<\/strong>
\nMy hands shook violently.
\nThen:
\nBut Valerie, there is one thing Maria still does not know.<\/strong>
\nI whispered:
\n\u201cPlease don\u2019t.\u201d
\nI read anyway.
\nCarlos is not your biological father because Maria was already pregnant when she met him.<\/strong>
\nThat made no sense.
\nMy parents had told me they had been together years before I was born.
\nUnless that story was another lie.
\nThe next sentence destroyed everything.
\nYour biological father is the only surviving son Victor ever acknowledged publicly.<\/strong>
\nI stared at the paper.
\nRebecca had one brother besides Jonathan?
\nI remembered hearing the Rivas company history.
\nJonathan died young.
\nRebecca inherited part of the company.
\nBut there had been another Rivas.
\nA man who moved overseas.
\nA man whose name had disappeared from local stories.
\nAlexander Rivas.
\nMatthew\u2019s supposed uncle.
\nMy biological father?
\nThen the final lines:
\nVictor has protected Alexander for fifteen years because Alexander does not know you exist. Patricia discovered this only after obtaining the blood records. Victor believes that if Alexander learns the truth, he will turn against him.<\/strong>
\nThat makes you the one person Victor cannot allow to reach Alexander.<\/strong>
\nMy phone rang.
\nUnknown number.
\nI stared at it.
\nThe principal whispered:
\n\u201cDon\u2019t answer.\u201d
\nI did.
\nA man spoke.
\nNot Victor.
\nA younger voice.
\nCalm.
\n\u201cValerie?\u201d
\n\u201cYes?\u201d
\n\u201cMy name is Alexander Rivas.\u201d
\nMy entire body went cold.
\n\u201cI think I\u2019m your father.\u201d
\nI could not speak.
\nThen he said:
\n\u201cAnd you need to leave that school immediately.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\nHis voice became urgent.
\n\u201cBecause Victor never sent Mercer to your house.\u201d
\nMy heartbeat stopped.
\n\u201cThen where did he send him?\u201d
\nAlexander whispered:
\n\u201cTo you.\u201d
\nA gunshot exploded somewhere upstairs.
\nThe principal jumped.
\nThe security officer drew his weapon.
\nFootsteps thundered in the hallway.
\nSomeone screamed.
\nThen the lights went out.
\nMy phone remained pressed against my ear.
\nAlexander shouted:
\n\u201cValerie, RUN!\u201d
\nAnd from the darkness outside the basement door, a man\u2019s voice called my name.
\n\u201cValerie Herrera?\u201d
\nDeputy Charles Mercer had found me\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

TO BE CONTINUED IN LAST PART\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

CLICK HERE CONTINUE TO READ LAST PART \u2013 I got pregnant in tenth grade. Mom walked me into school like a guilty defendant.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n