Chapter 12: The Woman Who Took My Son
I didn't remember running.
I only remembered the elevator doors closing, my father shouting into his phone, and Marcus repeatedly calling someone named Lawson.
My son was missing.
Again.
Six years earlier, someone had taken him from a hospital nursery for eleven minutes.
Now someone had taken him from a building surrounded by security officers.
I could barely breathe.
"Where did she go?"" I demanded.
The security supervisor checked his tablet.
"She left through the underground parking entrance.""
"Get the license plate.""
"We have it.""
"Then call the police!""
"My team has already contacted them.""
Marcus approached me.
"Nia, listen. We'll find him.""
I turned on him.
"Don't tell me to listen. My child is missing.""
He stepped back.
I immediately regretted shouting, but I couldn't stop shaking.
My father took my shoulders.
"Look at me.""
I looked at him.
"We're going to get Leo back.""
"How?""
"By staying calm enough to think.""
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I took a breath.
Then another.
Rebecca stood near the doorway, sobbing.
"My sister wouldn't hurt him.""
I turned toward her.
"What's her name?""
"Laura.""
"Where does she live?""
"Connecticut.""
"Does she have a car?""
"Yes. A black SUV.""
The security supervisor checked the registration.
"Matches the vehicle in our parking footage.""
Margaret arrived with her phone.
"The police are tracing the vehicle. We also have a location from the building's access system.""
"Where?""
"An exit road leading toward the interstate.""
I looked at Rebecca.
"Call your sister.""
She immediately dialed.
No answer.
Again.
Still nothing.
Then a message appeared.
Rebecca read it.
Her knees nearly buckled.
"What does it say?"" I demanded.
She turned the phone toward me.
*Laura: I have the boy. Don't involve the police. You know what happens if you do.*
My father swore under his breath.
I took the phone.
I typed a response.
*Who are you? What do you want?*
The reply came almost immediately.
*Laura: I want what your mother promised me.*
I stared at the screen.
"My mother?""
Rebecca shook her head.
"That's impossible.""
I typed again.
*What did my mother promise you?*
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Finally, a photograph arrived.
It showed Leo sitting in the back of a car.
His face was wet with tears.
He was holding his dinosaur.
Underneath the picture was a message.
*Laura: Bring the original trust agreement to the old Whitmore estate. Come alone.*
I felt something break inside me.
Marcus took the phone.
"Absolutely not. We're not sending you anywhere alone.""
"Then what do you suggest?""
"We let the police handle it.""
I stared at him.
"How long will that take?""
He had no answer.
Rebecca stepped forward.
"I know where Laura will go.""
Everyone turned.
"Where?""
"There's an old property outside Hartford. It belonged to my parents. Vanessa used it when she needed somewhere private to meet people.""
My father looked at Margaret.
"Can we verify that?""
Margaret nodded.
"We can.""
Rebecca looked at me.
"Laura has a key.""
I grabbed my coat.
"We're going.""
The police agreed to coordinate a controlled operation, but they warned us not to approach the property until officers were in position.
I barely heard them.
All I could think about was Leo sitting alone in a car, wondering where his mother was.
During the drive, Marcus sat beside me.
He reached for my hand.
I moved away.
"Not now.""
He nodded.
"I understand.""
I stared out the window.
"Did you know your mother was capable of this?""
"No.""
"Did you know she had been paying your father's former employees to hide a child?""
"No.""
"Did you know about the hospital records?""
"No.""
I turned toward him.
"Then what exactly did you know, Marcus?""
He looked down.
"That my mother was trying to control the company. That she was frightened of the original trust. And that she wanted you to sign documents you didn't understand.""
I laughed bitterly.
"That was enough to make you suspicious.""
"Yes.""
"But not enough to make you tell me.""
He closed his eyes.
"I know.""
We reached the property shortly before sunset.
It was an old stone house surrounded by bare trees and a rusted iron fence.
Two police vehicles were already positioned down the road.
An officer approached our car.
"Ms. Hayes, we need you to remain here until we confirm the building is secure.""
I looked at the house.
One upstairs window was illuminated.
Then I saw something move behind the curtain.
A small hand.
Leo.
I opened the car door.
My father caught my arm.
"Nia, wait.""
"That's my son.""
The officer spoke urgently.
"We have personnel moving toward the rear entrance.""
I couldn't stand there.
I stepped onto the road.
Then a phone rang.
Rebecca's.
She answered with shaking hands.
"Laura?""
A woman's voice came through.
"You're all outside, aren't you?""
Rebecca began crying.
"Please. Let him go.""
"You promised me the money.""
"I never promised you anything.""
"You said the boy would inherit the trust. You said Vanessa would make sure of it.""
Rebecca looked at me.
I took the phone.
"This is Nia. What do you want?""
The woman laughed.
"Your mother's money.""
"My mother is dead.""
"Her agreement isn't.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What agreement?""
"Ask Daniel.""
I looked toward my father.
"Put Leo on the phone.""
"No.""
"Please. Let me hear his voice.""
There was a pause.
Then I heard something.
"Mommy?""
My knees nearly gave way.
"Leo!""
"Mommy, I want to come home.""
"I'm coming, sweetheart. Stay with me.""
A sharp voice interrupted.
"Tell her what your grandmother said.""
Leo began crying.
"I don't want to.""
The woman snapped.
"Tell her!""
Then I heard my son's trembling voice.
"She said I have to choose which family I belong to.""
I covered my mouth.
"Leo, listen to me. You don't have to choose anything. You're my son. I love you.""
A door slammed.
The phone went silent.
The police officer approached.
"We've located the woman inside. We're moving in.""
Then a gunshot echoed from the house.
I screamed.
Marcus grabbed me as officers rushed toward the entrance.
My father shouted my name.
A second later, the front door flew open.
Two officers emerged carrying a woman between them.
It wasn't Laura.
It was Vanessa.
Her hair was disheveled, and one sleeve of her coat was torn.
She was shouting as they escorted her down the steps.
"Get your hands off me! You have no idea who I am!""
I ran toward her.
"Where is my son?""
Vanessa looked at me.
Then she smiled.
A terrible, satisfied smile.
"You're too late.""
I grabbed her arm.
"Where is Leo?""
She leaned closer.
"Ask Daniel what happened to the original baby.""
The officers pulled her away.
Behind her, another figure appeared in the doorway.
Laura Cole.
She was holding a small black suitcase.
But there was no sign of Leo.
I ran toward her.
"Where is my son?""
Laura began shaking.
"I didn't hurt him.""
"WHERE IS HE?""
She dropped the suitcase.
Then she pointed toward the back of the house.
"He was here when I arrived. Vanessa took him.""
My heart stopped.
"Where?""
Laura began crying.
"She said she was taking him to the person who had the original birth records.""
I stepped closer.
"Who?""
Laura looked toward Daniel, who had just arrived with the police.
Then she whispered:
"Your uncle.""
Everyone turned.
Daniel froze.
Laura continued.
"He told Vanessa that if Leo was going to inherit the company, he had to disappear before tomorrow's board vote.""
My father moved toward Daniel.
"Tell me she's lying.""
Daniel said nothing.
I stared at the man who had once been my mother's closest confidant.
"Where is my son?""
He slowly lowered his eyes.
Then he said:
"I know exactly where he is.""
I stepped forward.
"Take me to him.""
Daniel looked at me.
"I will. But first, you need to understand something.""
"What?""
His voice broke.
"Leo isn't the only child who disappeared that night.""
He glanced toward Marcus.
"There's another boy. And he's been living under Marcus's name for the last six years.""
Marcus went completely still.
May you like
Then Daniel delivered the final blow.
"Marcus Whitmore isn't Edward's biological son.""
