Chapter 7: They Took the Wrong Boy
For three seconds, I couldn't move.
The phone was pressed against my ear, but Amara's words seemed to come from somewhere far away.
“Marcus, are you still there?””
I looked at Vanessa.
She was watching me with an expression that was almost satisfied.
“Who took him?”” I demanded.
“I don't know. Two men came through the back entrance. They knew the security code.””
“Where is the security team?””
“One of them is unconscious in the driveway. The other is speaking to the police.””
“Did Leo see their faces?””
“I don't know. His bedroom window was open.””
I closed my eyes.
My seven-year-old son was somewhere outside that house, frightened and alone.
And I knew exactly who was responsible.
I turned toward Vanessa.
“You did this.””
She raised an eyebrow.
“Be careful what you accuse me of.””
“You sent someone to take my son.””
“Perhaps someone is trying to correct a mistake you made.””
I stepped toward her.
“Tell me where Leo is.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“I don't have him.””
“Then why are you smiling?””
She looked at Ethan.
“Because you finally understand what it feels like to lose something you love.””
I wanted to grab her.
I wanted to shake the truth out of her.
But Ethan was standing behind me, trembling.
I couldn't let him see me lose control.
I crouched and held his shoulders.
“Ethan, listen to me. You're coming with me.””
He looked toward Vanessa.
“Will she be angry?””
I swallowed.
“She won't hurt you.””
Vanessa laughed.
“You cannot promise that.””
I stood.
“David, call your lawyer. Tell him we're cooperating with the police. Margaret, stay with Ethan.””
Then I looked at Vanessa.
“And you are coming with me.””
She folded her arms.
“I don't take orders from you.””
“Tonight, you might.””
The police arrived before we left the property.
Two officers questioned everyone separately. Another team began examining the house.
I showed them the message demanding Ethan's return.
They immediately treated Leo's disappearance as a suspected abduction.
One officer, Detective Harris, pulled me aside.
“Mr. Carter, we need to establish whether anyone besides Ms. Reed had access to your home.””
“Her name was on the security system.””
“Was it recently changed?””
I looked at Vanessa.
She said nothing.
Detective Harris continued.
“We also need to know whether the kidnappers specifically requested the boy named Ethan.””
“Yes.””
“Then we have reason to believe the two incidents are connected.””
I handed him the message from Amara.
He read it twice.
“Do you recognize the phone number?””
“No.””
“Have you received threats before?””
I glanced at Vanessa.
She smiled faintly.
“Not like this.””
Detective Harris turned toward her.
“Ms. Reed, we'd like you to accompany us to the station.””
Vanessa picked up her handbag.
“Of course. But I suggest you investigate the woman who has been living in Marcus Carter's house.””
I frowned.
“Amara?””
“She has been manipulating his son for years. Perhaps she knows more than she's admitting.””
Detective Harris looked at me.
“Is there a reason we should investigate her?””
“Because she was the one holding Claire's letter,” Vanessa replied.
I stepped between them.
“Leave Amara out of this.””
Vanessa smiled.
“Still protecting her. How predictable.””
I turned away.
I had no time for her games.
The drive home felt endless.
Detective Harris followed in an unmarked vehicle. David drove behind us with Margaret and Ethan.
When I reached the house, the front door was open.
A police officer stood in the hallway.
Amara was sitting on the staircase, holding Leo's blue dinosaur.
Her face was streaked with tears.
I rushed toward her.
“Where is he?””
She stood immediately.
“Marcus…”
“Where is my son?””
She handed me a folded piece of paper.
The message was printed on plain white paper.
*ONE CHILD FOR ANOTHER. BRING ETHAN TO THE OLD CARSON WAREHOUSE AT MIDNIGHT. COME ALONE. NO POLICE.*
I looked at the clock.
11:18 p.m.
My heart pounded.
“Why would they choose the warehouse?””
Amara looked at the note.
“Because Claire used to go there.””
I turned.
“What?””
“Your wife owned a small storage unit inside that building. She kept personal documents there.””
I looked toward Margaret.
“Did you know about this?””
Margaret nodded slowly.
“Claire mentioned it once. She said she had left something important there.””
I read the note again.
Then I noticed a second line written beneath the printed message.
*ASK AMARA WHY SHE WAS THERE THE NIGHT CLAIRE DIED.*
I looked up.
Amara's face had gone white.
“Marcus, I can explain.””
“Were you at the warehouse that night?””
She lowered her eyes.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Claire called me.””
“About what?””
Amara swallowed.
“She told me Vanessa had come to the hospital. She said she needed me to take something away before Vanessa found it.””
“What did you take?””
Amara shook her head.
“I don't have it anymore.””
I stepped closer.
“Where is it?””
She began crying.
“Vanessa took it.””
My stomach tightened.
“What was it?””
Amara looked toward the staircase.
Then she whispered:
“The original birth certificate for both boys.””
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
“Both boys?””
Amara nodded.
“Claire told me there was another child. But she also told me something else.””
“What?””
“She said one of the boys wasn't supposed to survive.””
I stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
Amara reached into her pocket and pulled out a small folded photograph.
It showed two newborn babies.
One was wrapped in blue.
The other in yellow.
But this photograph was different from the one David had shown me.
On the back was a handwritten note.
*Ethan — Baby A. Leo — Baby B.*
I looked at Amara.
“Leo is also one of the twins?””
She nodded.
“Mrs. Carter told me the truth shortly before she died. She said both boys were born prematurely, and the hospital believed only one would survive.””
My throat tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because she begged me to wait until you found the letter.””
I stared at the photograph.
All this time, I had believed Leo was my only child.
But he had a twin brother.
And Vanessa had stolen him.
I looked at the clock.
11:31 p.m.
“We're going to that warehouse.””
Amara grabbed my arm.
“No.””
“Leo is there.””
“Marcus, listen to me. Vanessa wants you to go there.””
“I don't care what she wants.””
“She wants you to find the blue file.””
I froze.
The blue file.
The one Claire had mentioned in her journal.
“What is in it?””
Amara's voice dropped.
“Proof that the person who signed the guardianship papers wasn't Vanessa.””
Before I could ask who it was, my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A little voice came through.
“Daddy?””
My heart stopped.
“Leo!””
“Daddy, I'm scared.””
“Where are you, sweetheart?””
“I don't know. It's dark.””
I heard a door slam.
Then a man's voice.
“Put the phone down.””
Leo began crying.
“Daddy, don't let them take me away.””
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone.
Then another message appeared.
*MIDNIGHT. BRING THE BOY.*
I looked at Ethan.
He was watching me from the doorway.
“Is Leo okay?””
I couldn't lie.
“I'm going to bring him home.””
Ethan nodded.
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
“Daddy, I know where Vanessa keeps the other papers.””
I turned.
“What papers?””
He pointed toward the front door.
“In her car. There's a blue folder under the spare tire.””
Amara covered her mouth.
I looked at the clock.
11:39.
The warehouse wasn't the only place where the truth was waiting.
And I was beginning to suspect that Vanessa hadn't stolen my children alone.
May you like
Someone inside my own family had helped her.
Someone who had been signing my name for six years.
