Chapter 11: The Father Who Stole His Own Grandchildren
Noah sat on the floor of the old maintenance room with a blanket around his shoulders.
Mason stayed beside him.
Daniel knelt in front of both boys, holding their hands.
Cole stood near the doorway.
"Tell me exactly what you mean," he said.
Noah looked at him.
"Raymond raised me.""
Cole shook his head.
"Our father died six years ago.""
Noah nodded.
"I know what they told you.""
"Who told you he was dead?""
"Frank.""
Cole's jaw tightened.
Noah continued.
"When I was little, they told me my real parents had died in an accident. Raymond said he was my grandfather and that he'd adopted me because nobody else wanted me.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
Mason looked horrified.
"They told you Mom was dead?""
Noah nodded.
"Sometimes I asked about her. Raymond said she was dangerous.""
Daniel's voice broke.
"She spent years looking for you.""
Noah began crying.
"I didn't know.""
Daniel pulled him close.
"It's not your fault.""
Cole paced the narrow room.
"How did Raymond survive?""
Noah looked at him.
"Because he wasn't Raymond.""
Cole stopped.
"Explain.""
Noah took a breath.
"The man who raised me called himself Raymond Bennett. He had pictures of your family. He knew stories about your childhood. He even showed me videos of you and Daniel when you were young.""
Cole felt cold.
"But?""
"But I saw him take off his face.""
Nobody spoke.
Noah continued.
"He wore something that looked like skin. A mask. I was twelve when I saw it happen.""
Sarah leaned forward.
"Was it Victor?""
Noah nodded.
"I think so.""
Daniel stared at the floor.
"Victor Dillard.""
Noah explained that Victor had used Raymond's identity to move money, control properties, and keep the stolen vehicle operation running.
The real Raymond had died years earlier.
Victor had continued using his name.
The man buried at the family cemetery was Raymond Bennett.
The man who had visited Cole at family gatherings, called him on holidays, and supposedly died six years ago had been Victor.
Cole felt sick.
He remembered the last Christmas dinner.
The last conversation.
The last time that man had hugged him.
All of it had been a lie.
"Why did you never tell anyone?"" Sarah asked.
Noah looked down.
"Because they said they'd hurt my brother.""
Mason squeezed his hand.
Noah continued.
"Frank told me that if I ever tried to escape, they'd find Mason. They showed me pictures of him.""
Mason looked at him.
"You knew about me?""
"Yes. I saw you in photographs.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Noah's face crumpled.
"I didn't know how.""
Daniel pulled both boys close.
Cole turned toward the tunnel entrance.
"We need to find Victor.""
Sarah nodded.
"The state police are searching the property.""
She checked her phone.
Then her face changed.
"What?""
Cole asked.
"The old Bennett house has been cleared.""
"Where's Victor?""
"Not there.""
Daniel stood.
"Then he's going to the storage facility.""
Cole looked at the necklace.
"Locker 417.""
Sarah nodded.
"Exactly.""
She called the state investigator.
The response was immediate.
A team was already heading toward Conway.
But before they could leave, Noah reached into his pocket.
"Wait.""
He pulled out a small memory card.
"I took this from Raymond's office.""
Cole stared.
"What's on it?""
"Videos. Documents. Recordings.""
"Why didn't you give it to the police?""
Noah looked toward Sarah.
"Because I heard him talking about a sheriff.""
Sarah nodded slowly.
"You're right to be careful.""
She placed the memory card inside an evidence envelope.
"We'll have the state investigators examine it.""
Noah shook his head.
"There's one more thing.""
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded photograph.
It showed a hospital room.
A young Rachel sat on a bed, holding two newborn babies.
Daniel stood beside her.
Behind them was a man wearing a white shirt.
Cole recognized him.
Frank Dillard.
But someone else was standing beside Frank.
A woman.
Sarah stared.
"That's my mother.""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
Sarah's face went pale.
"My mother died when I was seventeen.""
"She was involved too," Daniel said.
Sarah looked at him.
"Why?""
"She was trying to help Rachel get the babies away from Raymond.""
Sarah sat down.
Noah continued.
"My grandmother told me something before she disappeared.""
"Your grandmother?"" Cole asked.
"Raymond's wife.""
Cole frowned.
Their grandmother had died when he was a teenager.
Noah shook his head.
"She didn't die. She went into hiding.""
Daniel stared.
"Margaret?""
Noah nodded.
"She was the one who told me Victor wasn't my grandfather.""
Cole looked at the photograph.
"Where is she?""
Noah hesitated.
"She told me to find the storage locker.""
Sarah stood.
"Then we need to get there.""
They exited through the tunnel.
The state police vehicles were waiting near the road.
Mason and Noah were placed under protection in a secure vehicle.
Daniel insisted on accompanying them.
Cole rode with Sarah.
As they approached the highway, Cole's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A familiar voice spoke.
"Hello, son.""
Cole went rigid.
"Victor.""
The man chuckled.
"I always liked that name. Raymond sounded too old for me.""
"Where are you?""
"Somewhere you should have looked years ago.""
Cole tightened his grip on the phone.
"You stole my brother's children.""
"I gave them opportunities.""
"You imprisoned Daniel.""
"I protected the family.""
"You murdered my father.""
A pause.
Then Victor replied:
"Your father died because he refused to understand the world he was living in.""
Cole looked at Sarah.
She was recording the call.
Victor continued.
"You have the boys now. That's wonderful. But you don't have the documents.""
"We're getting them.""
"No, Cole. You're not.""
A faint clicking sound came through the phone.
Then Victor spoke again.
"Because I'm standing in the storage facility right now.""
Cole looked at Sarah.
"He's at the locker.""
Victor laughed.
"And I've just opened it.""
A second voice spoke in the background.
An older woman's voice.
"Put those papers down, Victor.""
Cole stopped breathing.
Victor's tone changed.
"Margaret?""
The voice answered.
"I've waited fourteen years to see you again.""
May you like
Then a gunshot exploded through the phone.
The call ended.
