Chapter 7: My Mother Took My Son
The police located my mother's car twenty minutes later.
It was parked outside an old country house belonging to my grandfather.
I hadn't visited the property in nearly five years.
It stood at the edge of a wooded area, surrounded by tall iron gates and neglected gardens.
My grandfather had used it as a private retreat.
After his death, Mom had kept the keys.
Sergeant Collins pulled up behind me.
“Mr. Parker, we're going to handle this carefully.””
I was already reaching for the door.
“That's my son in there.””
“I understand. But we don't know whether your mother is armed or whether anyone else is inside.””
I forced myself to stop.
The front windows were dark.
A single light burned upstairs.
Then I saw something move behind the curtains.
A small hand.
Noah.
I pressed my forehead against the car window.
“Please be okay, buddy.””
Sergeant Collins spoke into his radio.
Two officers moved toward the side entrance.
Another approached the rear of the property.
I waited.
Then my phone rang.
Mom.
I answered immediately.
“Where is Noah?””
“Ethan, please don't bring the police.””
“You took my child!””
“I needed to protect him.””
“From whom?””
“From Richard. From Emily. From everything.””
I stared at the illuminated window.
“Put Noah on the phone.””
“He's asleep.””
“Put him on the phone!””
A pause.
Then Mom sighed.
“Ethan, you have to understand. Your grandfather left Daniel's inheritance to Noah. But that money belongs to our family.””
“Noah is our family.””
“Not like that.””
I closed my eyes.
“What does that mean?””
“He's Daniel's son. Not yours.””
The words hurt, but I refused to let them change anything.
“I'm the man who raised him. I'm his father.””
“Biologically, you aren't.””
“I don't care!””
My voice echoed through the quiet road.
“I changed his diapers. I stayed awake when he had nightmares. I taught him to walk.
I was there when he said his first word. I am his father.””
Mom began crying.
“You don't understand what Daniel did.””
“Then explain it.””
She was silent.
Finally, she whispered:
“Daniel wanted to tell you.””
My stomach tightened.
“When?””
“Before he died.””
“What stopped him?””
“Your grandfather.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Your grandfather threatened to disinherit him if he destroyed your marriage.””
I stared at the house.
“That's not true.””
“It is.””
“Then why did Daniel keep seeing Emily?””
“Because he loved her.””
I felt sick.
My brother had betrayed me.
But he had also died carrying a secret that everyone else had used to control my life.
“Mom, listen to me. Bring Noah outside.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because Emily is coming here.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She knows about the documents. She knows about Daniel. She's going to take Noah away.””
“Emily is recovering in hospital.””
My mother said nothing.
Then I heard a door open behind her.
A man's voice spoke.
“Margaret, end the call.””
My blood ran cold.
Richard.
I looked toward Sergeant Collins.
He immediately signaled to the officers.
“Richard is there,” I whispered.
The sergeant raised his radio.
“Suspect may be inside. Proceed with caution.””
Mom's voice came through the phone again.
“Ethan, you need to leave.””
“Is Richard holding you there?””
“No.””
“Then let Noah go.””
“Your grandfather left something else in this house.””
“What?””
“The original trust.””
I looked at the building.
“What does that have to do with Noah?””
“Everything. The document says whoever has legal custody of Daniel's biological child can control the inheritance until he turns eighteen.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“That's not how custody works.””
“It is under the old trust agreement.””
I remembered Emily's words.
The original documents.
The yellow box.
My grandfather had known this would happen.
“Mom, where is the document?””
“Somewhere safe.””
“Where?””
She hesitated.
Then Richard's voice cut through.
“Give me the phone.””
The call ended.
Seconds later, the upstairs light went out.
Sergeant Collins raised his hand.
The officers moved.
A loud crash came from inside the house.
Then a scream.
“NOAH!””
I ran toward the entrance.
An officer caught my shoulder.
“Wait!””
“That's my son!””
We entered together.
The hallway smelled of old wood and dust.
A chair had been overturned.
Glass covered the floor.
My mother's handbag lay near the staircase.
But there was no sign of Noah.
“Police!””
No answer.
We searched the kitchen, the sitting room, and the bedrooms.
Then I noticed a narrow door beneath the stairs.
It was slightly open.
I pushed it.
A small storage room appeared.
Inside stood a wooden cabinet.
And beside it, a child's red shoe.
Noah's shoe.
I picked it up.
“Buddy?””
A faint whimper came from behind the cabinet.
I moved it aside.
Noah was curled in the corner, holding his stuffed rabbit.
His face was wet with tears.
“Daddy!””
I dropped to my knees and pulled him into my arms.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
He clung to my neck.
“Grandma said I had to stay quiet.””
“It's okay. You're safe now.””
He buried his face against my shoulder.
Then he whispered:
“Daddy, Grandma said Mommy was bad.””
I swallowed.
“What did you tell her?””
“I told her my mommy is nice.””
I kissed his hair.
“You were right.””
He pulled back slightly.
“Is my mommy coming?””
“Yes.””
“Both mommies?””
The question nearly broke me.
I held his little hands.
“Your birth mother is coming home when the doctors say she's strong enough. And Claire...””
I stopped.
How could I explain Claire?
Noah looked toward the hallway.
“Grandma said Claire was going to take me away.””
I hugged him tighter.
“I'm not letting anyone take you.””
A shout came from upstairs.
“We found someone!””
I stood up, carrying Noah.
Sergeant Collins appeared at the top of the stairs.
“We have Margaret.””
“Where's Richard?””
“Gone.””
He looked toward the open back door.
“He escaped through the woods.””
I felt Noah tighten his arms around my neck.
Then Sergeant Collins noticed the rabbit.
“Is that the same toy?””
I nodded.
He examined it.
“Your son was holding this when we found him?””
“Yes.””
“Did you open the compartment?””
I looked down.
The rabbit's back seam was open again.
The envelope was still there.
But the recorder was missing.
I turned toward the hallway.
Then I saw a small piece of paper sticking out of Noah's pocket.
“What is this, buddy?””
Noah looked at it.
“Grandma gave it to me.””
I unfolded it.
There were three lines in my grandfather's handwriting.
*THE TRUTH IS IN THE FAMILY BIBLE.*
*THE RECORDING IS ONLY HALF THE STORY.*
*ASK WHO WAS IN THE CAR WITH DANIEL.*
I looked at Sergeant Collins.
“Where is the family Bible?””
He frowned.
“Do you know?””
I nodded slowly.
“At my mother's house.””
Then Noah touched my cheek.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Grandma said the man in the car is coming to get me.””
My blood turned cold.
“What man?””
Noah looked toward the dark window.
“The man who gave Mommy the flowers.””
I knew exactly who he meant.
Richard.
And suddenly, I understood.
He hadn't escaped because he was afraid of being arrested.
May you like
He had escaped because he still needed something.
And that something was my son.
