Chapter 6 - The Child Who Knew Too Much
What My Nephew Whispered in the Dark
We found my nephew twenty-three minutes later.
He was in a locked maintenance room beneath Tower Seven.
Alive.
Terrified.
Clutching a red plastic toy truck.
Claire collapsed when she saw him.
I remained in the doorway.
There was something wrong.
The boy wasn't crying.
He was staring at me.
“Uncle Tyler told me to hide.”
I knelt.
“What did he tell you?”
“He said not to tell anybody.”
“Did he hurt you?”
The boy shook his head.
“He was scared.”
“Of what?”
He looked toward the ceiling.
“Grandpa.”
My blood ran cold.
“Your grandfather?”
He nodded.
“Grandpa said the bad man was coming.”
“Which grandfather?”
He pointed.
“Mom's dad.”
My father.
I looked at Claire.
She was shaking.
“My father didn't go near him.”
“He did,” my nephew said.
He held up the toy truck.
“He put this in my room.”
I took it.
Nothing unusual.
Then I turned it over.
A tiny memory card was taped underneath.
My heart skipped.
The police arrived.
The board sent security.
Tyler tried to leave.
I stopped him.
“Did you know my father was moving money through my trust?”
He looked at me.
“Yes.”
“Did you know Claire's child was being used?”
“No.”
“Then who knew?”
Tyler's face changed.
“Victor.”
The name seemed to poison the room.
“Victor kidnapped my nephew?”
“No.”
“Then why does he know about him?”
“Because Victor knows everything.”
Tyler sat down.
“I started working with your father eight years ago.”
“Why?”
“I had a business.”
“What kind?”
“Commercial construction.”
He looked at me.
“Your grandfather gave us financing.”
“That sounds innocent.”
“It wasn't.”
He looked down.
“He discovered our books had been manipulated.”
“By whom?”
“Victor.”
My stomach tightened.
“What happened?”
“Your grandfather wanted to expose him.”
“Then why didn't he?”
“Because Victor had your mother.”
I stared.
Tyler nodded.
“She had already signed fraudulent transfers.”
“She was coerced?”
“Yes.”
“And my father?”
“He chose the money.”
I turned away.
For years, my mother had told me my father was difficult because he was ambitious.
Now I realized ambition had been the polite word they used for fear.
I opened the memory card.
A video.
My nephew's bedroom.
My father entering.
He placed the same red toy truck beneath the bed.
Then looked directly into the camera.
He spoke.
“Tell Morgan that Tower Seven isn't what she thinks.”
The video ended.
I stared at the screen.
Then another clip opened automatically.
Victor.
Speaking to my father.
“You promised she would sign.”
“She will.”
“And Claire?”
“She doesn't matter.”
Tyler looked sick.
The video continued.
My father asked:
“What happens if Morgan refuses?”
Victor replied:
“Then we take the child.”
Claire covered her mouth.
I paused the video.
Nobody spoke.
Then the room's lights flickered.
Security guards moved instantly.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
You have forty-five minutes.
Bring the USB to the old Meridian station.
Come alone.
I looked at the time.
6:42 p.m.
I showed Tyler the message.
He shook his head.
“Don't go.”
“I have to.”
“They'll kill you.”
“Maybe.”
“I know them.”
I looked at him.
“You've been working with them for eight years.”
“I've been trying to escape them for eight years.”
“Why should I believe you?”
He looked toward Claire.
“Because I married her to get close to you.”
Claire stared at him.
“What?”
Tyler closed his eyes.
“I was supposed to steal the trust documents.”
Claire looked shattered.
“You used me.”
“Yes.”
“But then?”
He looked at her.
“Then I fell in love with you.”
She slapped him.
Nobody stopped her.
He accepted it.
I took the USB.
“I'll go.”
Tyler stood.
“No.”
“I said alone.”
“You won't survive.”
I looked at my nephew.
Then Claire.
Then Tyler.
“I may not.”
I turned toward the door.
“But whoever is behind this has made one mistake.”
“What?”
I looked back.
“They think I'm still the woman who doesn't know what she owns.”
I walked into the hallway.
May you like
And heard a sound behind me.
A gunshot.
