Chapter 7: The Boy Called Isaiah
“Daniel?””
Marcus's voice came from the front of the store again.
Calm.
Almost cheerful.
Daniel closed the wooden box.
Leah immediately pulled Ava behind the stockroom door.
Evelyn whispered, “Don't let him see her.””
Walter moved toward the back exit.
Daniel grabbed his sleeve.
“Where are you going?””
“To get us out.””
“You're not leaving.””
Walter stared at him.
“Daniel, your brother doesn't come here without a plan.””
A floorboard creaked.
Marcus called again.
“Daniel, I know you're back there.””
Daniel looked at Leah.
“Take Ava upstairs.””
“What about you?””
“I'll handle him.””
Leah shook her head.
“No.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“If he sees her, we don't know what he'll do.””
Ava suddenly grabbed Daniel's hand.
He looked down.
She was trembling.
“Don't let him take me.””
Something broke across Daniel's face.
He crouched in front of her.
“I won't.””
“You promise?””
Daniel swallowed.
“I promise.””
Then the stockroom door opened.
Marcus stood there.
He was taller than Daniel remembered, his gray hair cut close to his scalp, his expensive navy suit perfectly pressed. He carried no weapon, no bag, nothing that looked threatening.
That was somehow worse.
His eyes moved to Daniel.
Then Leah.
Then Evelyn.
Then Walter.
Finally, they stopped on Ava.
Marcus's expression softened.
“Hello, sweetheart.””
Ava stepped backward.
Daniel moved in front of her.
“Don't.””
Marcus sighed.
“Daniel, you don't understand.””
“I understand enough.””
Marcus looked at the wooden box.
“You found Mother's things.””
“Yes.””
“She should have burned them.””
“You knew about them?””
“I knew she kept records.””
Daniel's voice sharpened.
“You stole my son.””
Marcus's face remained still.
“I saved him.””
“You took him.””
“He was going to be sold.””
Daniel froze.
Marcus continued.
“Your mother discovered what was happening. She couldn't stop the people involved. So she asked me to.””
Leah stepped forward.
“By changing his identity?””
Marcus nodded.
“Eli Carter became Isaiah Brooks.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Leah looked at her.
“Brooks?””
Evelyn's lips trembled.
“He used my last name.””
Daniel stared at Marcus.
“Where is he?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Where is my son?””
“Safe.””
“Where?””
Marcus finally looked at Ava.
“Your daughter is the reason I came.””
Daniel's entire body tightened.
“What does that mean?””
“Eli knows about her.””
Ava's eyes widened.
Marcus smiled sadly.
“He's been asking about his sister for years.””
Daniel whispered, “You've been letting him?””
“No.””
“Then how does he know?””
Marcus looked at Walter.
Walter's face dropped.
“Don't,” he whispered.
Marcus continued.
“Because Renee found him.””
Leah's breath caught.
“She found Eli?””
“Once.””
Daniel stared.
“When?””
“Six months ago.””
“Why didn't she tell me?””
Marcus looked at him.
“She tried.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Who stopped her?””
Marcus said nothing.
Evelyn began crying.
Leah turned toward her.
“You knew.””
Evelyn whispered, “I knew Renee found him.””
“You let her die without telling Daniel?””
“I was afraid.””
“Of Marcus?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“Of what would happen if the people behind all of this learned Eli was alive.””
Daniel grabbed Marcus by the collar.
“Who are these people?””
Marcus didn't resist.
“They're gone.””
“Who?””
“Most of them.””
“Most?””
Marcus looked at Ava.
“One isn't.””
The store suddenly felt silent.
Leah noticed Ava staring at the photograph on the counter.
The old photograph of the twins.
Ava touched the corner.
“That's Eli.””
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.””
“Where is he?””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“You have to trust me.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You kidnapped my child and you're asking me to trust you?””
“I kept him alive.””
“You lied to me.””
“To keep him alive.””
“You lied for eight years!””
Marcus's eyes hardened.
“And if I hadn't, you would have buried two children instead of one.””
Daniel released his collar.
Marcus straightened his suit.
Then he reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small envelope.
“This came from Isaiah.””
Ava stepped forward.
Daniel took it.
Her name was written across the front.
*AVA.*
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“When did he write this?””
“Yesterday.””
Ava's eyes filled with tears.
“Is he okay?””
Marcus nodded.
“He's waiting.””
“Where?””
Marcus looked toward the back door.
“At the place where everything started.””
Leah frowned.
“The hospital?””
Marcus shook his head.
“The house.””
Daniel went pale.
“What house?””
Marcus stared directly at him.
“Your mother's old house.””
Daniel's voice dropped.
“She burned that place.””
“No.””
Marcus shook his head.
“She burned the part she wanted you to find.””
Daniel opened the envelope.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
One sentence.
*Dad, if Ava is with you, bring her home.*
Daniel's hands shook.
Below the sentence was an address.
Leah recognized it immediately.
It was the address on Daniel's mother's letter.
The boys' residential school.
Daniel looked up.
“He's there.””
Marcus nodded.
“He's been there all along.””
Ava wiped her eyes.
“Then let's go.””
Marcus looked at her.
For the first time, his calm expression disappeared.
“There's one problem.””
“What?”” Daniel asked.
Marcus glanced toward the front windows.
“The people who took him know you're coming.””
A loud crash exploded from the front of the store.
Everyone jumped.
Then another.
The lights went out.
Ava screamed.
May you like
And somewhere in the darkness, a man's voice whispered:
“Find the girl.””
