Chapter 16 - THE BOY AT THE CHURCH DOOR|
The little boy looked about six years old.
He had dark hair, a pale face, and Claire's eyes.
The same eyes she had seen in Amelia.
Claire stepped forward.
"Noah?"
The boy hid behind Thomas.
"Who are you?"
Claire knelt.
"I'm your mother."
Thomas raised one hand.
"Don't frighten him."
Ethan moved closer.
"Let him go."
Thomas shook his head.
"I brought him here because I wanted this settled."
"Where have you been keeping him?"
"With a family who cared for him."
"Why didn't you tell Claire?"
"Because Daniel paid me."
Claire's face tightened.
"You took my child for money?"
Thomas looked away.
"I was told it was temporary."
"Six years?"
"I was afraid."
Ethan's voice dropped.
"You're going to tell the authorities everything."
Thomas nodded.
"I will."
Claire slowly reached toward Noah.
"Would you like to come with me?"
The boy looked at her.
"Are you the lady in the picture?"
Claire began crying.
"Yes."
He took one cautious step forward.
Thomas released his hand.
Noah approached Claire and touched her cheek.
"You're real."
She embraced him.
The boy began crying, and Claire held him as though she could somehow make up for six lost years.
Ethan stood behind them, his eyes wet.
Then Noah looked up.
"Is Amelia here?"
Claire pulled back.
"Do you know Amelia?"
He nodded.
"Daniel showed me her picture."
Ethan crouched.
"Did he tell you anything else?"
Noah hesitated.
"He said if I didn't do what he wanted, Amelia would disappear."
Claire looked at Ethan.
Daniel had been using the children to control the adults.
Ethan called Marcus.
"Bring Amelia to the church. Now."
Thomas stepped forward.
"There's something else."
Ethan turned.
"What?"
"Daniel has a second location. A private medical facility. He keeps records there."
"Where?"
Thomas handed him an address.
"West Chicago. An old research building."
Claire looked at Noah.
"Did they ever hurt you?"
The boy shook his head.
"They took blood sometimes. They said it was for medicine."
Ethan's expression hardened.
The children were not merely hidden heirs. They had been used as part of the same medical operation that had poisoned Claire.
Thomas confirmed it.
"The Blackwell family funded the research. Daniel continued it after Richard's disappearance."
Claire looked at the recording device.
"Then we have to stop him."
Ethan nodded.
He called Claire Donovan, the federal investigator who had been following the family's finances.
Within an hour, agents were on their way.
But as they prepared to leave, Noah tugged at Claire's sleeve.
"Mom?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
He pointed toward the church window.
A black car was parked outside.
The driver was watching them.
Then the car's rear door opened.
A woman stepped out.
Claire recognized her immediately.
May you like
It was Vanessa.
And she was holding a gun.
