Chapter 5
1359 Words
CHAPTER 5
The address led Troy to a quiet house not far from the town center. He stood outside for a moment, looking at the building. This was where Dr. Chinonye Joseph had lived with her family. The woman he had hoped would answer the questions surrounding his birth was dead. Now, the only people who could possibly help him were the people she had left behind. Troy took a deep breath and knocked. After a few moments, an elderly man opened the door.
“Good afternoon.”
“Good afternoon, sir. Please, are you the husband of Dr. Chinonye Joseph?”
The man’s expression changed.
“Yes. Why are you asking?”
“My name is Troy Michael. I came because I believe your wife may have known something about my past.”
The man stared at him.
“My wife?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Come in.”
Troy entered and sat down. The man took the chair opposite him.
“Tell me what this is about.”
Troy opened his bag and brought out the documents his detective had given him.
“I was found at Udochukwu Hospital when I was a baby. According to the information I have gathered, I was born in St Mary’s hospital and your wife was the doctor who handled my case and eventually gave me to the people who raised me.”
The man's face became serious.
“What did you say your name was?”
“Troy Michael.”
The older man looked at him carefully.
“I don’t understand.”
“I know it sounds unbelievable, sir. But I’ve spent years trying to discover who my biological parents are. Recently, I learned that Dr. Chinny may have been involved in the events surrounding my birth.”
The man remained silent. Troy continued.
“I went to the hospital looking for her, only to discover that she died about twenty years ago.”
The man’s eyes lowered.
“Yes. She died many years ago.”
“Did she ever tell you about a baby she brought home from the hospital?”
The man shook his head slowly.
“No.”
“Did she ever mention me?”
“I don’t remember her mentioning your name.”
Troy’s heart sank.
“Then perhaps she told someone else.”
“That is possible.”
The older man leaned back.
“My son, what you’re telling me is serious. I don’t want to give you an answer based on assumptions.”
“I understand.”
“Do you have evidence?”
“I have documents and information from my detective. I have followed several leads, but every answer seems to create another question.”
The older man nodded.
“Then you have to be careful. When someone desperately wants an answer, it is easy to believe every piece of information that appears.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here. I don’t want rumors. I want facts.”
The man studied him.
“And if the truth hurts?”
Troy was silent for a moment.
“I would rather have a painful truth than live with questions for the rest of my life.”
The older man nodded slowly.
“You are determined.”
“Yes, sir.”
“But determination is not enough. You need patience.”
“I will be patient.”
The man leaned forward.
“There are people who worked with my wife at the hospital. Some of them may still be alive. They may remember things she never told me.”
Troy immediately became attentive.
“Who?”
“One person in particular.”
“Who?”
“Her assistant.”
Troy leaned forward.
“Dr. Chinny’s assistant?”
“Yes.”
“Does she still live in Agulu?”
“I believe so.”
“Do you think she knows what happened?”
“I don’t know.”
“But she might?”
“She was with my wife during some of the years you are talking about. If anyone remembers what happened at the hospital, she may be one of them.”
Troy’s heart began beating faster.
“Please, sir. I need to speak with her.”
“You will.”
“When?”
The man paused.
“Give me one week.”
Troy frowned.
“One week?”
“Yes. I need time to contact her and a few other people.”
“Why can’t I meet her now?”
“Because we don’t know what she remembers. If you approach her suddenly with accusations, she may refuse to speak.”
Troy nodded.
“That makes sense.”
“There is something else.”
“What is it?”
The older man’s voice became lower.
“Don’t tell too many people about your investigation.”
Troy looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because we don’t know who may have a reason to keep the past buried.”
Troy’s expression changed.
“Do you believe someone deliberately hid the truth about me?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why would you say that?”
“Because secrets are rarely kept for only one reason.”
Troy remained silent. The older man continued.
“People hide things because they are ashamed. Sometimes because they are afraid. Sometimes because they are protecting someone. And sometimes because the truth could destroy what they have built.”
Troy looked down at the documents in his hands.
“Then someone may have known who my parents were all along.”
“Possibly.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
Troy closed his eyes briefly. After all these years, he was finally getting close to the answers he had wanted. Yet somehow, the closer he came, the more dangerous the truth seemed.
“Sir,” he said quietly, “what if my parents are no longer alive?”
“Then you will still know who they were.”
“And what if they abandoned me because they didn’t want me?”
The older man looked at him.
“Then you will have to decide whether knowing the reason is enough.”
Troy swallowed.
“I just want to know the truth.”
“And you will.”
The man stood.
“Come back in one week. By then, I will have spoken to the people who may be able to help us.”
Troy stood as well.
“Especially your wife’s assistant?”
“Yes.”
“Please don’t forget.”
“I won’t.”
Troy moved toward the door.
“Thank you, sir.”
“You are welcome.”
Troy stepped outside, but before he could walk away, the older man called after him.
“Troy.”
He turned.
“Yes, sir?”
The man’s expression had suddenly become unusually serious.
“There is one thing I didn’t tell you.”
Troy walked back toward him.
“What is it?”
The older man hesitated.
“My wife kept some of her hospital records at home.”
Troy’s eyes widened.
“Records?”
“Yes.”
“Where are they?”
The man looked toward the house.
“I haven’t seen them in years.”
“Do you still have them?”
“I don’t know.”
Troy stared at him.
“Sir, please. Can you check?”
The older man nodded slowly.
“I will.”
“Before I return?”
“I will try.”
Troy’s expression tightened.
“No, sir. Please.”
The man looked at him for several seconds.
“Come back next week.”
Troy nodded.
“I will.”
He walked away from the house, but his mind was racing. Dr. Chinny’s assistant might know what happened. And somewhere inside that house, there might still be records from the hospital. Records that could contain the answer to the question Troy had carried his entire life. He had thought finding Dr. Chinny’s family would bring him closer to the truth. He hadn’t expected to discover that Dr. Chinny herself might have left something behind. And Troy had no idea that someone else might be interested in those records too.
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