Chapter 11 - THE CHILD WHO WAS TAKENThe house was surrounded by police.
Michael ran through the foyer.
“LUCAS!”
Nothing.
“Sophie?”
His daughter clung to his hand.
Emily searched upstairs.
Thomas checked the security room.
Every camera had been disabled at 2:03 a.m.
Except one.
A backup camera.
It captured three figures entering the house.
Two men.
And a woman.
Michael zoomed in.
Victoria.
“No.”
Victoria had been in police custody.
Thomas rewound the footage.
The woman wasn't Victoria.
It was someone wearing her coat.
Emily stared.
“Who is that?”
Thomas paused the video.
The woman turned toward the camera.
Michael's heart stopped.
Rachel.
Impossible.
“She’s dead,” Emily whispered.
The timestamp was current.
Michael looked at Daniel.
“Explain.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I can't.”
Michael grabbed him.
“You brought us into this.”
Daniel didn't resist.
“I told Rachel not to trust anyone.”
“Why did she trust you?”
“Because I was her father.”
Michael froze.
The room fell silent.
Daniel continued.
“Rachel was my daughter.”
Michael stared.
“What?”
“You thought Rachel was born under another name.”
“That makes no sense.”
“She was.”
Daniel placed an old birth certificate on the table.
Mother:
Eleanor Hayes.
Father:
Daniel Hayes.
Michael stared.
Rachel had been a Hayes by blood.
The entire family story was a lie.
Then Thomas spoke.
“There's more.”
He opened a second file.
“Rachel had a twin.”
Michael looked at him.
“What?”
Thomas pointed to the name.
Rebecca Hayes.
Michael's face drained.
“Victoria?”
“No.”
Thomas shook his head.
“Rebecca disappeared before Rachel met you.”
Michael stared at the security footage again.
The woman in Rachel's coat.
The same face shape.
The same hair.
Emily whispered:
“She looked exactly like Rachel.”
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
“Because she was.”
Michael couldn't speak.
Then Sophie suddenly said:
“She isn't Mommy.”
Everyone turned.
“How do you know?”
Sophie pointed at the screen.
“Mom had a little scar here.”
She touched the left side of her chin.
“That woman doesn't.”
Michael stared at his daughter.
“Then who is she?”
Daniel answered:
“Rebecca.”
Michael's heart pounded.
“If Rebecca took Lucas…”
“She may want the trust.”
“Why?”
Daniel's face hardened.
“Because she believes Rachel stole her life.”
Michael's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A whisper.
“Come alone.”
“Who is this?”
“You want your son?”
Michael froze.
“Where is Lucas?”
“You know where.”
“What do you want?”
“Your signature.”
Michael gripped the phone.
“On what?”
A pause.
Then:
“The document Rachel refused to sign.”
The call ended.
Thomas looked at him.
Michael stared ahead.
“She's taking me to the same place Rachel went.”
May you like
Daniel whispered:
“Pier Nine.”
