Chapter 9: The Last Secret
I couldn't move.
The man stood beneath the warehouse lights.
Older than the photographs my mother had hidden.
Thinner.
Scarred.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
My father's eyes.
I looked at my mother.
“You said he was gone.””
She wiped her tears.
“I thought he was dead.””
The man smiled.
“Daniel made sure she believed that.””
Daniel stopped laughing.
“That's impossible.””
My father looked at him.
“You've said that before.””
Daniel's face drained of color.
The police officer stepped forward.
“Sir, identify yourself.””
The man reached into his coat.
Several officers raised their weapons.
He slowly removed a driver's license.
“Samuel Brooks.””
My knees nearly gave out.
My father.
Alive.
After all these years.
Lucas looked up at me.
“Is that Grandpa?””
I couldn't answer.
Samuel looked at him.
“Lucas?””
Lucas nodded.
Samuel smiled.
“I remember holding your mother when she was smaller than you.””
My mother broke down.
I stared at her.
“You both lied to me.””
“We were trying to protect you.””
“You let me grow up thinking I had nobody.””
My father lowered his head.
“You were safer believing that.””
“Safer?””
I stepped toward him.
“I spent twelve years thinking my entire family was gone.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
“No, you don't.””
“I do.””
He looked at Daniel.
“Because I spent those twelve years running from him.””
Daniel shouted, “You're a liar!””
Samuel looked at him.
“You remember the night at the hospital?””
Daniel said nothing.
“You tried to kill me.””
“I thought you were dead.””
“You tried.””
My father pulled a small envelope from his coat.
He handed it to the police officer.
“Bank records.””
The officer opened it.
“Payments from Hale Holdings.””
“Those prove nothing.””
“There are dates.””
Samuel pointed at Daniel.
“Every payment corresponds to a missing child.””
Daniel went silent.
The officer's expression hardened.
“How did you get these?””
“Daniel's accountant.””
“Where is he?””
“Dead.””
The warehouse became silent.
My father looked at me.
“He was the last person who knew where your daughter had been taken.””
I felt a chill.
“Taken?””
My father nodded.
“Emma wasn't supposed to be raised by Vanessa.””
“Then why was she?””
“Because Daniel needed someone close to him who would never question the paperwork.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She was sitting against a pillar, handcuffed.
Tears streaked her face.
“I loved her,” she whispered.
I didn't know whether to believe her.
My father continued.
“Vanessa discovered the truth three years ago.””
Claire nodded.
“She found the original birth records.””
“And Daniel threatened her.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“He said he'd take Emma away.””
My father looked at her.
“So you agreed to help him.””
Vanessa began crying harder.
“I thought if I followed his instructions, he would leave her alone.””
“You pushed the stroller.””
“I know.””
“You tried to kill her.””
“I know.””
My father turned away.
I didn't feel sorry for Vanessa.
Not anymore.
A police officer approached Daniel.
“You're under arrest for attempted murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, fraud, and trafficking.””
Daniel laughed.
“You have no idea how many people are involved.””
The officer cuffed him.
“Then we'll keep asking questions.””
Daniel looked at me as they pulled him away.
“Grace.””
I ignored him.
“Grace!””
I finally looked.
His face had changed.
No arrogance.
No anger.
Only desperation.
“Ask your mother where the first baby went.””
My mother went pale.
I turned toward her.
“What first baby?””
Daniel smiled.
“The one she never told you about.””
The police dragged him away.
I looked at my mother.
“Mom?””
She couldn't meet my eyes.
“Grace…”
“What first baby?””
She started crying.
Claire stepped forward.
“There's something we all misunderstood.””
“What?””
Claire looked at my father.
“Emma wasn't the first child Daniel took.””
My stomach tightened.
“How many?””
“Thirty-two.””
I stared.
“Thirty-two?””
“Thirty-two children across twelve years.””
The police officer looked at the documents.
“That's consistent with the records.””
I looked at my mother.
“And my sister?””
She nodded.
“Your sister was one of them.””
The photograph in the envelope suddenly made sense.
The little girl with dark curls.
The missing sister I had never known existed.
“What happened to her?””
My mother whispered, “She survived.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“Where is she?””
Nobody answered.
“Where is she?””
My father looked at Claire.
Claire looked toward the warehouse entrance.
Then a young woman stepped inside.
She was perhaps nineteen.
Dark curls.
A gap between her front teeth.
The same face from the photograph.
I couldn't breathe.
She looked at me.
“Grace?””
I nodded slowly.
“Who are you?””
She smiled through tears.
“I'm Lily.””
My mother covered her mouth.
“My baby.””
Lily ran into her arms.
I stood frozen.
My sister was alive.
After all these years, she was alive.
Then Lily pulled away from my mother.
She looked at me.
“I've been trying to find you.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel isn't the only person who knows where the children went.””
My blood ran cold.
“What do you mean?””
Lily looked at the police.
“He kept copies of everything.””
“We have the records.””
“Not all of them.””
She shook her head.
“There is another list.””
“Where?””
“In the house.””
“What house?””
She looked at me.
“Your old house.””
My mother suddenly grabbed my hand.
“No.””
Lily stared at her.
“You know where it is.””
My mother shook her head.
“Don't go there.””
“Why?””
“Because that's where Daniel kept the children who weren't sold.””
I felt sick.
“Who?””
Lily whispered:
“Children who belonged to powerful people.””
My father stepped forward.
“How many?””
“Seven.””
The police officer asked, “Where are they now?””
Lily looked toward me.
“One of them is already with us.””
I frowned.
“Who?””
She didn't answer.
Instead, she reached into her coat and pulled out a photograph.
A baby.
A newborn.
A familiar birthmark behind the left ear.
My blood froze.
It wasn't Emma.
It was another baby.
And written beneath the photograph was one name.
*Lucas Brooks.*
I looked at my son.
He was standing beside me.
Alive.
Safe.
But Lily's face told me the truth before she spoke.
“That isn't Lucas.””
My entire world stopped.
I turned toward the boy holding my hand.
He looked up at me.
“Mom?””
Lily whispered:
“Daniel switched them when they were babies.””
And the boy beside me suddenly smiled.
May you like
Not like Lucas.
Like Daniel.
