Chapter 13: The Child Arthur Stole
The pounding on the apartment door grew louder.
"MICHAEL! OPEN THIS DOOR!""
Arthur's voice carried through the hallway.
Michael stood frozen, holding the photograph.
I stared at the image.
A young Eleanor was sitting in a hospital bed, holding a newborn baby. Daniel stood beside her, one hand resting on her shoulder.
But the man standing in the background was Arthur.
My grandfather.
The handwriting on the back was unmistakably Daniel's.
The child Arthur stole before any of us were born.
I turned toward Eleanor.
"Mom, what does this mean?""
She looked at the photograph.
Her lips trembled.
Then she whispered, "That's not possible.""
Michael grabbed a small backpack from beneath the table.
"We need to leave. Now.""
Edward moved toward the hallway.
"There's another exit?""
"Through the kitchen. It leads to the fire stairs.""
Another crash shook the front door.
Arthur shouted again.
"YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO ME!""
Michael grabbed my wrist.
"Emily, listen. Whatever happens, don't let him take that photograph.""
I looked at Eleanor.
She hadn't moved.
"Mom!""
She finally looked up.
"That baby...""
Her voice broke.
"That baby was supposed to be my son.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Your son?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Before you were born, I had another pregnancy. Daniel and I were expecting a boy.""
I stared at her.
"Why have you never told me?""
"Because I was told he died.""
She looked at the photograph again.
"But I never saw his body. I never received a death certificate. Arthur told me there had been complications during delivery.""
Michael's face hardened.
"That's what he told everyone.""
The front door shook again.
Edward opened the kitchen door.
"Everyone out. We'll discuss this somewhere safe.""
We hurried down the fire stairs.
Behind us, the front door finally gave way.
A man's footsteps thundered across the apartment.
"MICHAEL!""
Then Arthur shouted something that made Eleanor stop halfway down the stairs.
"YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD, ELEANOR!""
Edward pulled her forward.
We reached the parking lot just as two police vehicles turned onto the street.
Detective Harris stepped out.
He had received the evidence Michael sent before we arrived.
"Nobody move!"" he shouted.
Arthur appeared at the apartment entrance.
For the first time, I saw him without a camera between us.
He was older than the photographs suggested, but his posture was straight and his eyes were sharp.
He looked at me.
Then at Eleanor.
His face twisted.
"You should have stayed in Connecticut.""
Eleanor stepped forward.
"You stole my children.""
Arthur laughed.
"I protected this family.""
"You stole my son!""
His expression changed.
"That boy was never yours to raise.""
"His name was Daniel's son!""
Arthur turned toward the police.
"Officer, these people are trespassing. Michael Reed has stolen confidential property from my family.""
Detective Harris approached.
"We have evidence concerning attempted intimidation, fraudulent custody documents, and possible involvement in a fatal vehicle accident.""
Arthur's smile faded.
"You're making a serious mistake.""
"Then you'll have an opportunity to explain yourself at the station.""
Arthur glanced toward Richard's photograph on Michael's phone.
"Where is Richard?""
Nobody answered.
Arthur suddenly looked at me.
"Emily, listen to me. Your husband has been protecting you.""
I almost laughed.
"From what?""
"From the truth.""
"Then tell me.""
He stepped closer.
"Your mother wasn't innocent. Daniel wasn't innocent. And neither were you.""
Eleanor slapped him.
"Don't you dare.""
The officers separated them.
Arthur was placed in a police vehicle for questioning, not formally charged at that moment.
But before the door closed, he looked directly at me.
"You still don't know who your real family is.""
Then the vehicle drove away.
We spent the next several hours at the police station.
Michael gave a full statement and handed over the financial records.
Margaret arranged for the original documents to be examined.
Detective Harris reviewed the recording.
When he reached the part where Richard admitted marrying me to access the trust, he paused the video.
"That's significant.""
Michael nodded.
"It's only part of it.""
He opened another file.
This one contained an old medical report.
The patient was Eleanor Hayes.
The date was January 2002.
I looked at the screen.
"That's four years before the other hospital records.""
Michael nodded.
"That's when Eleanor gave birth to the first baby.""
Eleanor covered her face.
The report stated that the infant had been transferred to a private care facility after delivery.
The father's name was Daniel Bennett.
But the child's name had been changed.
Instead of the name Daniel and Eleanor had chosen, the document listed:
*Richard Arthur Bennett.*
I stared.
"No.""
Michael looked at me.
"Richard wasn't Arthur's biological son.""
Eleanor began crying.
"Daniel and I named our little boy Richard. Arthur took him.""
My world tilted.
Richard.
My husband.
The man who had spent six years making my life miserable.
He was my biological brother.
The room went silent.
I looked at Eleanor.
"How old was he when Arthur took him?""
"Three days.""
"Did you know?""
"No. Arthur told me he had died.""
Michael pointed to the document.
"Arthur registered the child as his own. He raised him under his family name.""
I thought about every birthday Richard had celebrated.
Every photograph of him with Arthur.
Every time he called Arthur the only father he'd ever known.
And suddenly, something else became clear.
Richard had married me.
Not knowing I was his sister?
Or knowing all along?
I looked at Michael.
"Did Richard know?""
Michael's expression was grim.
"I found a letter.""
He placed it on the table.
It was dated six years earlier.
The letter was addressed to Richard.
The first sentence made me feel physically sick.
Richard, your mother Eleanor is alive, and the woman you are preparing to marry is your biological sister.
I stared at the page.
The date was three weeks before my wedding.
Below it was Richard's signature.
He had received the warning.
He knew.
And he married me anyway.
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
Eleanor started sobbing.
"Oh, Emily.""
I couldn't look at her.
For six years, Richard had slept beside me, kissed me, and called me his wife.
All while knowing the truth.
Michael placed another document in front of me.
It was an acknowledgment letter.
Richard had written:
I understand the information. I have no intention of changing my plans. Emily is the only way to secure the trust.
I felt the room spinning.
Detective Harris quietly took the documents.
"These will need to be authenticated.""
I looked at the letter again.
Then I whispered, "He knew who I was.""
Michael nodded.
"Yes.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Richard.
We need to talk. I know what Michael showed you.
Another message followed.
You still don't know the worst part.
Then a photograph appeared.
It showed Lily standing outside her preschool.
And beside her was Richard.
May you like
The message underneath contained only one sentence.
Tell Eleanor I know where her granddaughter sleeps.
