Chapter 9 - THE BROTHER WHO NEVER LEFT THE HARBOR
The search began with a hospital transfer record.
Ten years earlier, an unidentified man had been admitted to a rehabilitation center after suffering severe burns and a head injury.
The record contained no family name.
No emergency contact.
No explanation of how he arrived.
But the date matched the West Harbor explosion.
Claire Bennett traced the transfer through a network of private medical contractors.
The patient had been moved repeatedly.
Albany.
Buffalo.
Pittsburgh.
Then a long-term facility outside Cleveland.
Dominic stared at the records.
“Why would they keep moving him?”
Claire looked at him.
“Possibly to prevent identification.”
Beatrice sat beside him.
Her heart pounded.
Samuel Whitcomb had survived.
Perhaps Anthony had too.
Dominic took a breath.
“Find him.”
Claire nodded.
“We're working on it.”
Two days later, they traveled to Ohio.
The facility stood beside a quiet lake.
Its walls were pale yellow.
Its gardens carefully maintained.
Dominic entered with Beatrice and Claire.
A nurse led them toward a private room.
“Mr. Russo,” she said gently, “the patient has cognitive difficulties. He may not recognize you.”
Dominic nodded.
But his hands were trembling.
The door opened.
A man sat beside the window.
He was forty-two.
His face bore scars.
His hair was thinning.
One hand rested awkwardly on his lap.
Dominic stopped breathing.
“Anthony?”
The man turned.
His eyes narrowed.
For a moment, he looked confused.
Then his lips moved.
“Dom?”
Dominic's knees nearly gave way.
He crossed the room.
Knelt beside the chair.
And took his brother's hand.
“Anthony.”
The man stared.
Then tears filled his eyes.
“Dom.”
Dominic began crying.
For ten years, he'd visited a grave.
For ten years, he'd believed his brother was dead.
Now Anthony was sitting in front of him.
Alive.
He embraced him carefully.
Anthony began sobbing.
Beatrice turned away.
Her own eyes filled.
She thought of her father.
Of all the stolen years.
Of all the families manipulated by lies.
Dominic pulled back.
“Who did this?”
Anthony struggled to speak.
His voice was rough.
“Mercer.”
Dominic froze.
“Julian Mercer?”
Anthony nodded.
“He knew.”
Dominic looked toward Claire.
She began taking notes.
Anthony continued slowly.
“Explosion. Records. Celeste.”
Dominic's face tightened.
“What about Celeste?”
Anthony looked at him.
His eyes filled.
“She tried to stop him.”
Silence.
Dominic stared.
“What?”
Anthony struggled.
“She wasn't part of it at first.”
Beatrice leaned forward.
“Can you tell us what happened?”
Anthony nodded.
Then whispered:
“Mercer used her.”
Dominic felt the world shift.
For weeks, he'd believed Celeste was a willing participant.
Now Anthony was suggesting something more complicated.
He looked at his brother.
“Tell me everything.”
Anthony closed his eyes.
May you like
Then began speaking.
And the truth that emerged was worse than any of them expected.
