Chapter 13: The Man Beneath the Garage
Nobody spoke.
Cole read the message again.
The second prisoner is your grandfather.
He looked at Daniel.
"That's impossible.""
Daniel shook his head slowly.
"I thought Raymond was dead.""
"So did I.""
Sarah took the note from Cole and examined it.
"Who wrote this?""
Mason answered immediately.
"My mom.""
"Are you sure?""
He nodded.
"She made her capital letters look like that. She used to leave notes in my lunchbox.""
Cole looked at the photograph Margaret had given him.
The red toolbox.
The hidden floor panel.
The message.
Something about the entire situation was beginning to make sense, but he couldn't yet see the complete picture.
Daniel approached Margaret.
"Mother, tell us the truth.""
Margaret's eyes filled.
"I should have told you years ago.""
"Is Raymond alive?""
She looked toward the highway.
Then she nodded.
"Yes.""
Cole felt his stomach turn.
"Where?""
"Under the garage.""
Daniel grabbed her arm.
"You knew?""
Margaret nodded.
"Your father discovered Victor's operation before Daniel disappeared. He knew Victor was using his name and moving money through the properties.""
"Then why didn't he leave?"" Cole asked.
"Because he had discovered something worse. Victor wasn't working alone. Robert Collins had been helping him, and several people in the county were involved.""
Sarah closed her eyes.
Margaret continued.
"Raymond tried to gather evidence. Victor found out and attacked him. Your father survived, but he was badly injured. I helped him disappear.""
Cole stared.
"You told everyone he was dead.""
"I had to. Victor was looking for him. If he knew Raymond was alive, he would have killed him.""
Daniel stepped backward.
"Where have you been keeping him?""
Margaret looked directly at Cole.
"In the underground chamber beneath the garage.""
Cole shook his head.
"We searched that basement.""
"You searched the room where Daniel was kept. There is another entrance.""
Mason suddenly raised his head.
"The red toolbox.""
Margaret nodded.
"Your mother knew.""
She explained that Raymond had hidden a second access key inside the toolbox. Rachel discovered it shortly before her death.
But she had never managed to reach the underground chamber.
"Why didn't she tell Daniel?"" Cole asked.
"She tried. Frank intercepted her messages.""
Margaret wiped her eyes.
"After she died, I was too frightened to contact anyone. I thought Victor would find the boys if I moved.""
Daniel looked at her.
"So you let them believe we were dead?""
"I thought I was protecting you.""
Mason stepped forward.
"You let Travis keep me in that garage.""
Margaret lowered her head.
"Yes.""
"You knew I was there?""
"Not until recently.""
Mason's voice broke.
"Everybody knew something. Everybody had a secret. And nobody came to get me.""
Margaret began crying.
Cole placed a hand on Mason's shoulder.
"You're right to be angry.""
He looked at his grandmother.
"Whatever happens now, this boy gets the truth.""
Margaret nodded.
"I understand.""
Sarah received a call from the state investigator.
The garage had been secured, but the investigators had discovered a narrow passage behind the original basement wall.
There were fresh footprints.
And a second metal door.
Cole looked at Daniel.
"We're going back.""
Daniel nodded.
This time, nobody argued.
The convoy returned to the garage under police escort.
The afternoon sun had begun to disappear behind the trees.
Inside the building, the red toolbox sat on the workbench.
Mason opened it.
The legal papers were still there.
He removed the false bottom and found a small brass key taped underneath.
Margaret took it.
"Your father gave this to me.""
She looked at Cole.
"He said that if he ever disappeared, I should give it to you.""
Cole accepted the key.
They descended into the basement.
The first room was empty.
The metal door where Daniel had been imprisoned stood open.
Beyond it was the second room.
The concrete floor was cracked.
A narrow passage extended behind a section of exposed brick.
Cole inserted the brass key into a small lock.
It turned.
A section of the wall clicked.
Then slowly swung inward.
Behind it was a staircase.
Cold air rose from below.
Daniel switched on his flashlight.
"Father?""
Nothing.
They descended.
At the bottom was a small room containing a narrow bed, a wooden table, a water jug, and several filing cabinets.
On the wall hung a calendar.
The most recent date had been marked in red.
Three days earlier.
Cole approached the bed.
A man sat with his back toward them.
His hair was white.
His shoulders were bent.
He wore an old gray sweater.
"Grandfather?"" Cole whispered.
The man slowly turned.
For a moment, Cole couldn't breathe.
Raymond Bennett looked older than the photographs, but unmistakably alive.
His eyes filled when he saw Daniel.
"My boy.""
Daniel stood motionless.
Then he approached.
"You let me believe you were dead.""
Raymond lowered his head.
"I know.""
"You let me believe you abandoned us.""
"I know.""
"You let my son grow up without a father.""
Raymond began crying.
"I know.""
Daniel stopped in front of him.
"Why?""
Raymond looked toward Cole.
"Because Victor threatened to kill every person I loved. I thought disappearing would keep you safe.""
Cole shook his head.
"Did you know Mason was being held here?""
Raymond's expression collapsed.
"No.""
"Did you know Noah had been taken?""
"Yes.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Then how could you do nothing?""
Raymond looked at his son.
"I couldn't reach you. Victor controlled the entrances. He moved me between rooms. I was injured, and I couldn't walk for months.""
He pointed toward a filing cabinet.
"I kept everything I could. Every payment. Every transfer. Every name.""
Sarah opened the cabinet.
Inside were hundreds of documents.
Bank records.
Hospital forms.
Forged death certificates.
Photographs.
And a large black ledger.
She opened it.
The first page carried the names of everyone involved in the operation.
The last page carried one name that made her freeze.
ROBERT COLLINS.
Below it was a handwritten note.
Payment for the second Bennett child.
Sarah looked at the document.
Then at Margaret.
"Why did my father take Noah?""
Raymond answered.
"Because Victor promised him something.""
"What?""
"Control of the entire operation.""
Sarah's eyes filled.
"How much did he get?""
Raymond looked down.
"Enough to buy a house, a new identity, and a future without you.""
Sarah stepped away.
She couldn't speak.
Cole examined the ledger.
Then he noticed a photograph tucked inside the back cover.
It showed Victor standing beside Robert Collins.
Behind them was another man.
Someone Cole recognized.
Frank Dillard.
But Frank was holding a small child.
A child with a crescent-shaped birthmark.
Noah.
The photograph was dated just six months earlier.
Cole looked at the date again.
Then at Raymond.
"Grandfather, what is this?""
Raymond's face went pale.
He leaned forward.
"That's not Noah.""
Cole frowned.
"What?""
Raymond pointed to the child.
"That's the other boy.""
Daniel slowly stepped closer.
"Another boy?""
Raymond nodded.
"Victor didn't take just one child from the hospital.""
He looked at Mason and Noah.
"There were three babies.""
The room went silent.
May you like
And then Raymond said the name of the third child.
"His name is Ethan.""
