Chapter 14: The Third Son
Mason stared at Raymond.
"There's another brother?""
Raymond nodded.
"Your mother knew about him.""
Daniel looked stunned.
"Rachel knew?""
"She found out shortly before she died.""
Cole examined the photograph again.
The child looked about six months old.
The crescent-shaped birthmark was visible near his ear.
Three children.
Three lives manipulated by the same group of people.
"Where is Ethan now?"" Sarah asked.
Raymond opened another drawer.
He removed a thin folder.
Inside was a hospital record and a photograph of a woman holding a newborn.
The woman was young, with dark hair and a tired smile.
On the back of the photograph were two words.
Ethan's mother.
Daniel looked at the name on the hospital record.
Then he froze.
"That's Rebecca.""
Mason's aunt.
The woman who had been locked in the basement with Daniel.
Cole looked at Daniel.
"You're saying Rebecca had another child?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Rachel told me Rebecca had been pregnant years ago. She never explained what happened.""
Raymond opened the folder.
"Rebecca gave birth to Ethan after Victor took Noah. She believed the baby had died during delivery.""
Sarah scanned the paperwork.
"But this says the child was transferred to a private family.""
Raymond nodded.
"Victor arranged it.""
Mason looked at Daniel.
"So Rebecca is his mother?""
"Yes.""
Cole looked at the photograph.
"Then why did she never tell us?""
Raymond answered quietly.
"Because she didn't know.""
He explained that Victor had arranged for the baby to be transferred through the same medical facility that handled Noah's records.
Rebecca was told that Ethan had died.
Rachel later discovered evidence that both children were alive.
She had tried to contact Rebecca, but Victor intercepted her letters.
"Where is Ethan?"" Cole asked again.
Raymond pointed to a handwritten address.
"That's where he was last registered.""
Sarah copied it into her phone.
"It's in Missouri.""
"How old would he be now?"" Mason asked.
"Thirteen," Daniel answered.
Mason looked at Noah.
"Another brother our age.""
Noah nodded.
"Maybe he knows about us.""
Raymond shook his head.
"He probably doesn't.""
Cole turned toward the old man.
"Why didn't you tell anyone sooner?""
Raymond looked at his grandson.
"Because I was waiting for the right moment.""
Cole laughed bitterly.
"Fourteen years?""
"I was afraid.""
"Of Victor?""
"Of what would happen if the truth came out.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"You allowed innocent people to suffer because you were afraid.""
Raymond lowered his head.
"Yes.""
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Sarah's phone rang.
The caller ID showed an unknown number.
She answered.
"Deputy Collins.""
A young male voice spoke.
"Is this Sarah?""
"Yes. Who is this?""
"My name is Ethan.""
Sarah looked at Cole.
The voice continued.
"I found your number in a file my mother kept. She told me to call if anyone ever asked about the Bennett family.""
Cole stepped closer.
"Can you tell us where you are?""
There was a pause.
"I'm in Missouri. But I think somebody followed me.""
Sarah straightened.
"Are you safe?""
"I don't know.""
"What's happening?""
Ethan's voice dropped.
"There's a man outside my house. He keeps saying he knows my real father.""
Cole felt his stomach tighten.
"What's the man's name?""
"I don't know.""
A loud knock came through the phone.
Ethan gasped.
Then a man's voice shouted in the background.
"Open the door!""
Sarah motioned for the others to stay quiet.
"Ethan, listen to me. Do not open that door.""
The boy began breathing rapidly.
"He's saying he has my birth certificate.""
"Stay away from the door.""
Then the man outside shouted again.
"Tell them you know who I am!""
A crash sounded.
Ethan screamed.
The call ended.
Sarah immediately contacted the Missouri State Police.
Cole looked at Daniel.
"We have to get him.""
Daniel nodded.
"He's our son.""
Mason stepped forward.
"I'm coming.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not this time.""
Mason looked hurt.
"Why?""
"Because you and Noah have already been through too much.""
Noah put a hand on Mason's shoulder.
"We'll stay together.""
Sarah received another message.
The Missouri officers had reached the address.
The front door was damaged.
The house was empty.
There was no sign of Ethan.
But someone had left a note on the kitchen table.
Sarah read it aloud.
Three sons were promised to three different families. One was returned. One was imprisoned. The last belongs to me.
Beneath the message was a photograph.
Ethan stood beside an older man.
The man had his arm around the boy's shoulders.
His face was visible.
It was Frank Dillard.
Cole stared.
"Frank was supposed to be in custody.""
Sarah checked her phone.
"He escaped during transport.""
Raymond closed his eyes.
"Then Victor has already started the final part of his plan.""
Cole turned.
"What plan?""
Raymond opened the black ledger to its final section.
There was a document titled THE BENNETT SUCCESSION AGREEMENT.
It listed three children.
Mason.
Noah.
Ethan.
Beside each name was a different property, trust, and financial account.
The total value was far greater than two hundred thousand dollars.
There were several million dollars in assets.
Raymond explained that Victor had used the stolen identities of the children to transfer properties and investments into their names.
Once the boys were legally declared dead or abandoned, he planned to claim control through forged guardianship documents.
But there was one final condition.
All three boys had to sign a legal agreement when they turned eighteen.
Without those signatures, Victor couldn't permanently take control of the remaining assets.
Cole looked at the papers.
"So he needs the boys alive.""
Raymond nodded.
"That's why he kept them.""
Sarah looked toward the garage entrance.
"Then we have to find Frank before he gets to Ethan.""
A message appeared on her phone.
A photograph.
It showed an abandoned church in Missouri.
Ethan was sitting in the front pew.
Frank stood behind him.
A second man was beside the altar.
Victor.
Below the photograph were five words.
Bring the original ledger. Alone.
Cole stared at the image.
Then another message arrived.
And bring the old man. We have unfinished business.
Raymond slowly stood.
His legs trembled, but his voice was steady.
"I'm going.""
Daniel shook his head.
"No.""
Raymond looked at his son.
"I owe you that much.""
"You owe us fourteen years.""
"I know.""
Raymond picked up the ledger.
"Then let me help you bring them home.""
Sarah looked at Cole.
"We'll coordinate with Missouri law enforcement. Nobody goes in alone.""
Cole nodded.
But as they prepared to leave, Mason approached him.
"Uncle Cole?""
"Yes, buddy?""
Mason looked at the photograph of Ethan.
"There's something strange.""
"What?""
"Why does Frank look exactly like the man in Mom's last photograph?""
Cole frowned.
"What photograph?""
Mason reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a tiny picture that had been folded into the lining of the red toolbox.
It showed Rachel holding a newborn baby.
Beside her stood a young man.
Not Daniel.
Not Raymond.
Not Victor.
A man with Cole's exact face.
Cole stared.
His heart began pounding.
The date on the photograph was thirteen years earlier.
May you like
And written beneath it were the words:
My fourth son.
