Chapter 9 - THE TRAP IN MY OWN HOUSEI returned to my home wearing a wire.
Arthur stayed two blocks away with three private security officers.
The house looked exactly as I had left it.
Except for one thing.
My wedding photograph was back on the wall.
I stepped inside.
“I'm here.”
Nothing.
Then Vanessa appeared at the top of the stairs.
She was smiling.
“Welcome home.”
I looked at her.
“Where's Daniel?”
“Safe.”
“Show me.”
She shook her head.
“Ledger first.”
I held it up.
“You're willing to trade my son for a book?”
“It isn't a book.”
“What is it?”
“Proof.”
“Of what?”
She smiled.
“Ask Robert.”
My anger exploded.
“You don't get to say his name.”
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
“You still think he was a good man.”
“He was my husband.”
“He was a liar.”
“So are you.”
Her eyes hardened.
Then the basement door opened.
Two men dragged Daniel into the room.
His face was bruised.
I stepped forward.
“Daniel.”
He looked at me.
“Mom, don't give it to them.”
Vanessa slapped him.
“Shut up.”
My son stared at her.
And then I saw it.
He wasn't afraid of her.
He was terrified of someone else.
I placed the ledger on the floor.
“Take it.”
Vanessa bent down.
Then a gunshot rang out.
The man beside her dropped.
Arthur's security team stormed the house.
Chaos erupted.
Vanessa grabbed Daniel and pulled a gun to his head.
Everyone froze.
“Back away!”
Arthur entered.
“Vanessa.”
She laughed.
“You should have stayed out of this.”
Arthur raised his hands.
“Let the boy go.”
“No.”
She looked at me.
“You want him?”
I nodded.
“Then tell her the truth,” she said.
Daniel looked terrified.
“Mom…”
Vanessa pressed the gun harder.
“Tell her who you really are.”
Daniel whispered,
“I don't know.”
Vanessa stared at him.
“You do.”
“No.”
“You saw the file.”
“What file?”
Vanessa's face changed.
For the first time, she looked frightened.
Then someone fired from outside.
The bullet shattered the window.
Vanessa ducked.
Daniel twisted free.
Arthur's men grabbed him.
Vanessa ran.
By the time police arrived, she was gone.
But she left something behind.
A black folder.
Inside was a birth certificate.
I opened it.
Daniel's name had been crossed out.
Underneath was another name.
Elias Victor Whitmore.
I felt the world disappear.
Arthur looked over my shoulder.
“No.”
Daniel stared at the document.
“Mom…”
I could barely speak.
“My son…”
He started crying.
“I didn't know.”
Arthur took the paper.
“This means Daniel is not who we thought he was.”
I looked at my son.
“What did your father know?”
Daniel shook his head.
May you like
Then he whispered,
“Everything.”
