CHAPTER 9 — THE WOMAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
I stared at my father.
“Evelyn Hale is alive?”
He nodded.
“But Victor said she died.”
“I know.”
“Her death certificate exists.”
“I know.”
“Her grave exists.”
“I know.”
“Then how can she be alive?”
My father looked toward the road where the SUV had disappeared.
“Because the woman buried in that grave wasn't Evelyn.”
My stomach twisted.
“Then who was it?”
“I don't know.”
I turned toward Victor.
He was lying on the warehouse floor, bleeding heavily.
“Did he know?”
Daniel nodded.
“Victor always knew she was alive.”
“Then why didn't he tell me?”
“Because he thought she would come after you.”
“She just kidnapped my wife and son.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“She didn't kidnap them.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“She took them because she believes Frederick belongs to her.”
I felt something inside me snap.
“Frederick is my son.”
“I know.”
“She doesn't get to take him.”
“I know.”
“Then help me get him back.”
My father looked at me.
“I will.”
Detective Reed rushed toward us.
“Connor!”
I turned.
He was holding a radio.
“We have a vehicle description.”
“Can you track it?”
“We're trying.”
“Try harder.”
Reed looked at me.
“We're dealing with multiple armed suspects.”
“My wife and child are inside that vehicle.”
“I understand.”
“No.”
My voice shook.
“You don't.”
I pointed toward the road.
“That woman has my son.”
Reed looked at my father.
“Who is Evelyn Hale?”
Daniel answered.
“She's the most dangerous person in this entire story.”
I stared at him.
“You said Jonathan was.”
“Jonathan is dangerous because he wants money.”
Daniel's voice became quiet.
“Evelyn wants blood.”
My phone vibrated.
A message.
YOU HAVE ONE HOUR.
Then another.
COME TO THE OLD RIVER TERMINAL.
Then:
COME ALONE.
I showed Reed.
He immediately shook his head.
“No.”
“I have to go.”
“We'll follow you.”
“They'll see you.”
“Then we'll stay hidden.”
I looked at my father.
“Do you know the terminal?”
“Yes.”
“Then you're coming.”
He nodded.
Victor suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
I crouched beside him.
His face was pale.
“Connor…”
“I'm here.”
He struggled to breathe.
“Don't trust Evelyn.”
“I won't.”
“She'll tell you she saved you.”
“Why?”
“Because she believes she did.”
I frowned.
“What does she want?”
Victor looked toward my father.
“Daniel knows.”
I turned.
“Dad?”
Daniel was silent.
“Tell me.”
He finally said:
“She believes you were stolen from her.”
“But I'm her nephew.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
I froze.
“What?”
He looked at me.
“Evelyn isn't just Victor's wife.”
“Then who is she?”
Daniel took a breath.
“She was your father's partner.”
I stared.
“Partner?”
“In the original operation.”
My head was spinning.
“Then why did Victor marry her?”
“Because they were trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
“From her.”
I didn't understand.
My father continued.
“Evelyn discovered that you existed.”
“And?”
“She wanted custody.”
“Why?”
“Because she believed your bloodline gave you control over something valuable.”
“The trust.”
“Yes.”
“And Frederick?”
Daniel looked at me.
“She believes Frederick is the next heir.”
I clenched my fists.
“She won't hurt him.”
Daniel didn't answer.
I looked at him.
“Dad.”
He hesitated.
“She may not.”
“May not?”
“She believes children are innocent.”
“That sounds reassuring.”
“But she doesn't believe adults are.”
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
“She won't hurt Frederick.”
A pause.
“But she may hurt Amy.”
My blood went cold.
We reached the river terminal forty minutes later.
The place was abandoned.
Old shipping containers.
Rusting cranes.
Broken concrete.
The river moved slowly behind the docks.
I stepped out of the vehicle.
Detective Reed stayed several hundred yards away.
My father came with me.
“You're sure?”
“No.”
“Good.”
He looked at me.
“Because neither am I.”
We walked toward the terminal.
A loudspeaker crackled.
Then a woman's voice echoed across the docks.
“Connor.”
I stopped.
Evelyn.
“I'm here.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
She laughed softly.
“Your father is with you.”
I looked at Daniel.
“How did she know?”
“She always knows.”
The voice continued.
“Bring him forward.”
Daniel stepped beside me.
“Evelyn.”
Silence.
Then:
“Daniel.”
Her voice carried years of anger.
“You stole my child.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“You know that's not true.”
“You changed his name.”
“I saved him.”
“You took him away from me.”
“You were dead.”
“I was hiding.”
“Because you were working with Jonathan.”
A pause.
Then Evelyn laughed.
“You still believe that?”
Daniel's expression changed.
“What?”
“I never worked for Jonathan.”
My father looked confused.
“Then who did?”
“You.”
Daniel froze.
I stared at him.
“What?”
Evelyn continued.
“You betrayed me.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“You told Victor I was dead.”
“I thought you were.”
“You signed the papers.”
“I was protecting Connor.”
“You signed them.”
Her voice became colder.
“And then you gave him to Teresa.”
My father looked broken.
“You disappeared.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice.”
The loudspeaker clicked off.
For several seconds, there was only the river.
Then a container door opened.
Amy appeared.
She was holding Frederick.
My heart almost stopped.
“Amy!”
She looked at me.
“Connor!”
I took a step forward.
A gunman stepped behind her.
I stopped.
Evelyn appeared beside them.
She was an elegant woman in her late fifties.
Dark coat.
Silver hair.
Cold eyes.
She looked nothing like a dead woman.
She looked powerful.
Untouchable.
And strangely familiar.
She stared at me.
Then at Frederick.
“Your son.”
I said nothing.
She smiled.
“He looks exactly like you.”
“Let them go.”
“No.”
“Evelyn.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
She stepped closer.
“You think this is about money.”
“It isn't?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
She pointed at Frederick.
“It's about what runs through his blood.”
I stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
She smiled.
“Your father never told you.”
“My father has told me enough.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“He told you the version that keeps you loyal.”
I looked at Daniel.
“Dad?”
He looked away.
Evelyn laughed.
“Ask him what happened the night you were born.”
My father's face went pale.
I turned to him.
“What happened?”
He didn't answer.
“Dad.”
Evelyn stepped closer.
“You were born with a twin.”
The world stopped.
I stared at her.
“What?”
She looked at Frederick.
“Your father had two sons.”
My heart hammered.
“Where is the other one?”
Evelyn smiled.
“You're looking at him.”
I looked at Frederick.
“No.”
“He isn't your first child.”
I felt dizzy.
“What are you talking about?”
Evelyn pointed at my son.
“Frederick is your brother's son.”
I stared at her.
Then at Daniel.
Then at Amy.
Nobody spoke.
Evelyn continued.
“Your biological brother didn't die.”
My father whispered,
“Stop.”
“He was taken.”
“Stop!”
“He grew up believing another family was his.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Where is he?”
Evelyn smiled.
“Closer than you think.”
My phone suddenly rang.
The caller ID displayed an unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice whispered:
“Connor?”
I froze.
The voice sounded young.
Maybe thirty.
Then he said:
“I'm your brother.”
The call ended.
I looked at Evelyn.
She smiled.
Then she handed Amy a knife.
My blood froze.
“Evelyn…”
She looked directly at me.
“Now you have ten minutes to find your brother.”
She glanced at the river.
“Or your wife learns what it feels like to lose a child.”
May you like
Then the container doors slammed shut.
And the entire terminal went dark.
