Chapter 5: The Empty Cradle
“OLIVER!””
Nia's scream echoed through the house.
I rushed into the bedroom.
Olivia was still in her lounger, crying so hard that her tiny face had turned red.
But Oliver was gone.
The blanket was lying on the floor.
The bedroom window was open.
“Where is he?”” I shouted.
Nia shook her head violently.
“I was holding both of them. I swear I was holding both!””
Officer Harris immediately checked the window.
“Someone went outside.””
Officer Bennett called for assistance.
I ran toward the staircase.
“Close every exit!””
Adrian grabbed my arm.
“Marcus, don't do anything stupid.””
I turned and shoved his hand away.
“Get away from me!””
He raised both hands.
“I'm trying to help.””
“You were hiding in my study while someone stole a newborn!””
Adrian's expression changed.
“I didn't take that baby.””
“Then who did?””
He looked toward Eleanor.
My wife was standing near the bed.
Her face had become strangely calm.
“Eleanor?””
She didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“Where is Oliver?””
She looked at me.
“I don't know.””
“Did you arrange this?””
“No.””
“Then why aren't you panicking?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I know where he is.””
Everyone went silent.
I stared at her.
“What?””
Eleanor looked toward the open window.
“He wasn't supposed to be taken tonight.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who took him?””
She shook her head.
“Marcus, please. You need to understand.””
“WHERE IS MY SON?””
The word escaped before I could stop it.
My son.
Eleanor looked at me with something resembling triumph.
Then she whispered, “You finally said it.””
I felt a wave of disgust.
“This isn't a game.””
“No,” she replied.
“It's a family matter.””
Officer Bennett stepped forward.
“Mrs. Bennett, I need you to explain what you mean.””
Eleanor wiped her cheek.
“Oliver was supposed to go to a private residence. Someone was going to collect him after Marcus had signed the necessary documents.””
“What documents?”” I demanded.
She looked at Daniel.
My lawyer had become unusually quiet.
I turned toward him.
“Daniel?””
He didn't meet my eyes.
“Marcus, I can explain.””
“Not another word until you tell me where my baby is.””
Daniel took a slow breath.
“The custody transfer papers were prepared last week.””
I stared at him.
“By whom?””
“Eleanor.””
“And you?””
“I reviewed them.””
The room seemed to shrink.
“You reviewed documents transferring my newborn son to someone else?””
“I believed the arrangement was legal.””
“Without my consent?””
Daniel looked down.
“I was told you would sign.””
I wanted to hit him.
Instead, I walked toward the bed and picked up Olivia.
She was warm against my chest.
Her tiny hand curled around my shirt.
For the first time since entering the room, I felt something other than anger.
Fear.
A newborn baby was missing.
And every person who should have protected her brother seemed to have a secret.
Officer Harris approached me.
“Mr. Bennett, we need to take Olivia somewhere secure while we search the property.””
I nodded.
Then I noticed something beneath the blanket in the empty lounger.
A small folded piece of paper.
I carefully opened it.
Four words were written in black ink.
*ASK ELEANOR ABOUT THE FIRE.*
My breath caught.
The fire.
Seven years earlier, the accident that supposedly killed Sophie had been described as a vehicle fire on a country road.
The police had identified the remains through dental records.
At least, that was what Eleanor had told me.
I turned toward her.
“What fire?””
She stared at the paper.
Then she closed her eyes.
“Where did you find that?””
“Answer me.””
Adrian suddenly stepped forward.
“That's enough.””
I turned.
“Stay out of this.””
He looked at Eleanor.
“You promised me this wouldn't come up.””
Eleanor's face went pale.
Officer Bennett immediately approached Adrian.
“What fire are you referring to?””
Adrian laughed nervously.
“Nothing.””
I held up the paper.
“Someone left this for me.””
Adrian looked toward the hallway.
Then he ran.
Officer Bennett chased him.
I heard a crash downstairs, followed by shouting.
Officer Harris remained with us.
Eleanor began crying.
“Marcus, please don't listen to him.””
I lowered my voice.
“Tell me what happened seven years ago.””
She shook her head.
“Your sister was in trouble.””
“What kind of trouble?””
“She was involved with someone dangerous.””
“Who?””
Eleanor looked toward the empty lounger.
“Adrian.””
I frowned.
“Your brother?””
She nodded.
“They were together before you married me. Sophie was pregnant.””
My chest tightened.
“That makes no sense.””
“She was young. She didn't know what to do. Adrian promised to marry her, then disappeared.””
I looked at the hospital photograph.
Adrian standing beside Sophie.
The same photograph he had shown me.
“You're telling me he was the father seven years ago?””
Eleanor nodded.
“And when Sophie tried to expose him, he threatened her.””
I felt sick.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Adrian was my brother. I thought I could handle it.””
“By faking her death?””
Eleanor covered her mouth.
For the first time, she looked genuinely terrified.
“I didn't arrange the fire.””
“But you knew Sophie was alive.””
“Yes.””
“Who arranged the accident?””
She whispered something.
I leaned closer.
“Say it again.””
“Your father.””
The words struck me harder than anything else that night.
My father had died four years earlier.
I had always believed he was the one person in my family who would never lie to me.
Eleanor continued.
“He found out Sophie was pregnant. He was furious. He said she would destroy the family.””
I looked at the inheritance documents.
My father's trust.
The money.
The babies.
Suddenly, the pieces began connecting in ways I didn't want to understand.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice whispered.
“Marcus?””
I stopped breathing.
“Sophie?””
“Listen to me. I have Oliver.””
My knees nearly gave way.
“Where are you?””
“Don't tell Eleanor.””
“Where is my son?””
“I'm safe. He's safe. But you need to get away from that house.””
I looked at Eleanor.
She was watching me.
“Sophie, tell me what happened.””
My sister began crying.
“Marcus, the second baby wasn't an accident.””
I tightened my grip on Olivia.
“What do you mean?””
“Sophie, I need you to explain—”
Then I heard a man's voice in the background.
A voice I recognized.
My father's old business partner.
And he said:
May you like
“Give me the phone. It's time he knew what his father really did.””
The call disconnected.
