Chapter 6: The Wrong Child
Daniel stared at Vivian.
“What did you just say?””
Vivian closed the front door behind her.
“The child who was taken isn't the one they're after.””
“My daughter was kidnapped.””
“I know.””
“Then tell me what you mean.””
Vivian looked at Eleanor.
For thirty-eight years, the two women had apparently carried the same secret in opposite directions.
Eleanor looked away.
Vivian's voice softened.
“Lily is leverage.””
“Leverage for what?””
“The truth.””
Daniel stepped toward her.
“Where is she?””
“I don't know.””
His anger exploded.
“Then why did you come here?””
“Because I know where the man who took her is going.””
Officer Shaw moved between them.
“Ms. Cross, start from the beginning.””
Vivian nodded.
“I worked for Thomas Mercer for twelve years. I handled personal records, correspondence, and certain private financial matters.””
“You knew Evelyn?””
“She was my niece.””
Daniel stopped.
“Your niece?””
Vivian nodded.
“Evelyn was my younger sister's daughter.””
Daniel's head spun.
“So Naomi—”
“Naomi is Evelyn's daughter.””
“And Evelyn was—”
“Your mother's sister.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
The family tree was becoming a maze.
Vivian continued.
“Evelyn gave birth to twins. Thomas knew they were his children.””
“But you just said Jonathan Cross was the father.””
“I said that's what Thomas eventually believed.””
Daniel looked at her.
“What changed?””
Vivian's expression hardened.
“Blood testing.””
Martin Hale spoke from behind them.
“Vivian.””
She ignored him.
“Thomas discovered that one of the twins was biologically his.””
Daniel's heart hammered.
“One?””
“Yes.””
“And the other?””
“Jonathan's.””
Daniel looked at Eleanor.
She didn't move.
“Which one was mine?”” he asked.
Vivian's eyes met his.
“You.””
Daniel stared.
“I'm Thomas's son.””
“Yes.””
“And my twin?””
“Jonathan's daughter.””
The room went silent.
Daniel's entire identity seemed to shift again.
“So Eleanor raised me because I was Thomas's biological son.””
“Yes.””
“And she gave my sister away because—”
“She wasn't considered a Mercer.””
Daniel looked at his mother.
“Is that true?””
Eleanor's voice was barely audible.
“Yes.””
“You separated twins because one of us wasn't useful to the family.””
“No.””
“You did.””
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
Daniel's anger faltered.
“Alive?””
Eleanor looked at Vivian.
“Tell him.””
Vivian's expression darkened.
“Your grandfather ordered Jonathan Cross eliminated.””
Daniel froze.
“Why?””
“Because Jonathan discovered the financial fraud.””
Martin's face tightened.
Vivian continued.
“Your grandfather had been moving Mercer assets through shell companies for years. Jonathan found the records. He threatened to expose him.””
“And my father?””
“Thomas discovered what was happening after you were born.””
Daniel looked toward the old clock in the hallway.
“That's why Dad was afraid.””
“Yes.””
“And Evelyn?””
“She knew Jonathan was the biological father of one of the twins. Your grandfather considered that child a liability.””
Daniel whispered, “My sister.””
Vivian nodded.
“Evelyn tried to take both children and run.””
“What happened?””
“Eleanor stopped her.””
Daniel turned toward his mother.
Eleanor's eyes were filled with tears.
“I couldn't let you leave.””
“You kidnapped me.””
“I saved you.””
“From what?””
“Your grandfather.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You could have told me.””
“If I'd told you, you would have gone looking for her.””
“Yes.””
“And they would have found you.””
“Who?””
Eleanor whispered:
“The people who still control your family's money.””
Officer Shaw's expression sharpened.
“What people?””
Eleanor looked at Martin.
He finally spoke.
“Several offshore entities remain connected to Mercer Holdings.””
Daniel stared.
“My company?””
“Parts of it.””
“How much?””
Martin hesitated.
“Enough.””
“Enough for what?””
“Enough for someone to kill over.””
The room fell quiet.
Daniel's phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
*You have one hour.*
Then another.
*Bring the original birth record to the old ferry terminal.*
A third message followed.
*Come alone.*
Daniel looked at Officer Shaw.
She immediately shook her head.
“You are not going alone.””
“My daughter is there.””
“That's exactly why you aren't.””
Vivian stepped forward.
“I know the ferry terminal.””
“So do I,” Daniel said.
“You don't know the tunnels beneath it.””
Daniel looked at her.
“What tunnels?””
“During the Prohibition era, there were service passages beneath the waterfront. Your grandfather used them to move documents.””
Martin's face went pale.
“Those tunnels were sealed.””
Vivian shook her head.
“Not all of them.””
Daniel's phone vibrated again.
This time, there was a photograph.
Lily sat in a wooden chair.
Her stuffed rabbit was in her lap.
She looked frightened but unharmed.
Behind her was a wall covered in faded green paint.
Daniel zoomed in.
A brass number plate was visible beside her.
*17.*
“Where is that?”” Shaw asked.
Vivian studied the image.
“Mercer Maritime Warehouse Seventeen.””
Daniel looked at Martin.
“My family owns that?””
“Technically, the property is held by a subsidiary.””
“Can we get there?””
Miller was already moving toward the door.
“Yes.””
They reached the warehouse twenty-two minutes later.
The building stood near the old waterfront, abandoned for years. Rusted loading doors lined one side, while weeds pushed through cracks in the concrete.
Police surrounded the property.
Daniel ran toward the entrance.
“Lily!””
No answer.
Officer Shaw caught his arm.
“Wait.””
They entered carefully.
The warehouse smelled of salt, oil, and wet wood.
Rows of old crates stood beneath hanging lamps.
Number 17 was at the far end.
The door was unlocked.
Daniel pushed it open.
Empty.
A chair sat in the center.
On it was Lily's stuffed rabbit.
Daniel picked it up.
“No.””
He spun around.
“Where is she?””
Miller examined the floor.
“Fresh footprints.””
Shaw crouched.
“Two adults. One child.””
“They left through the back.””
Daniel followed.
A narrow corridor led to an old freight elevator.
The elevator doors stood open.
Inside, someone had written a message across the wall in red paint.
*THE WRONG CHILD ALWAYS PAYS.*
Daniel stared.
Then he heard something.
A faint tapping.
Three knocks.
He turned.
“Lily?””
Three more knocks.
They were coming from behind a wooden partition.
Daniel tore it aside.
A narrow metal door was hidden behind it.
He grabbed the handle.
Locked.
“Move.””
Miller forced the door.
It opened into a cramped storage room.
Lily was there.
Tied to a chair.
Alive.
Daniel rushed forward.
“Daddy!””
He dropped to his knees and pulled her into his arms.
“I'm here. I'm here.””
Lily clung to him.
“I was scared.””
“I know.””
“I told the man I wanted you.””
“You did exactly right.””
Officer Shaw cut the restraints.
Lily immediately pointed behind Daniel.
“He said you would come.””
“Who?””
“The man with Grandpa's ring.””
Daniel looked up.
“Grandpa's ring?””
Lily nodded.
“He had a big black stone.””
Daniel's blood ran cold.
His grandfather had worn a distinctive onyx signet ring.
He had buried the ring with the man twenty-two years ago.
At least, he thought he had.
“Did he tell you his name?””
Lily nodded.
“He said his name was Daniel.””
Daniel froze.
“What?””
Lily pointed toward the doorway.
“He said his name was Daniel.””
Everyone turned.
No one was there.
Then Daniel noticed something on the floor.
A black onyx ring.
Beside it was a folded piece of paper.
He opened it.
There was only one sentence.
*You found the daughter. Now find the son.*
Daniel looked at Lily.
Then at Vivian.
Then at Eleanor, who had arrived at the warehouse with Martin.
Eleanor's face went white.
“Daniel,” she whispered.
“What?””
She pointed at the note.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
Her eyes filled with terror.
“The man who took Lily doesn't think he's your enemy.””
Daniel stared.
“Then who does he think he is?””
May you like
Eleanor looked at the ring on the floor.
“He thinks he's your brother.””
