Chapter 7: The Other Bennett Child
Cole stared at the photograph in Deputy Sarah Collins's hand.
A baby.
A blue blanket.
A date from fourteen years earlier.
And four words that made absolutely no sense.
THE OTHER BENNETT CHILD.
"What is this?"" Cole demanded.
Sarah looked toward the basement staircase before answering.
"I found it in my father's belongings after he died. It was inside a locked metal case with his old police badges.""
"Why didn't you report it?""
"Because I didn't know what it meant.""
"You didn't recognize the Bennett name?""
"I did. But I thought it was connected to your brother's disappearance.""
Cole took the photograph.
The baby had a small crescent-shaped birthmark near the right ear.
He turned it over.
There was another message written in faded ink.
If Daniel's son is ever found, make sure he knows he wasn't the only one.
Cole looked up.
"How many children did my brother have?""
Sarah shook her head.
"That's what I was hoping you'd tell me.""
Mason stood between them, listening.
"Wait.""
Cole turned.
"What is it, son?""
Mason touched the necklace beneath his shirt.
"My mom told me I had a brother.""
The garage went silent.
Cole crouched.
"She told you that?""
"Not exactly. She said there was another baby. She said I shouldn't look for him until I knew who I could trust.""
Sarah slowly sat on a wooden crate.
"Did she give you a name?""
Mason shook his head.
"She only said he was taken before I was born.""
Cole looked again at the photograph.
Daniel had disappeared fourteen years earlier.
Mason was thirteen.
The dates were close enough to make the possibility terrifying.
"Sarah," Cole said, "who is the baby in this photograph?""
"I don't know.""
"Where did you get it?""
"From my father's safe.""
"Was there anything else?""
Sarah hesitated.
Then she reached into her jacket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper.
"There was this.""
It was a hospital record.
The top corner carried the name of a medical center in Little Rock.
The date was fourteen years earlier.
Cole scanned the document.
Two male infants had been delivered that night.
One was listed as Daniel Bennett's child.
The other was listed under an unidentified father's name.
Both records had been amended three days later.
One child had been discharged to Rachel Bennett.
The second had been transferred to a private medical facility.
Cole looked up.
"Who authorized the transfer?""
Sarah pointed to the bottom.
A signature.
Raymond Bennett.
Cole's father.
His stomach tightened.
"My father signed this?""
Sarah nodded.
"And my father witnessed it.""
Before Cole could respond, a loud bang came from the basement.
Everyone turned.
Daniel was striking the metal door with both fists.
Cole rushed to the inspection window.
"Daniel! What's happening?""
Daniel pointed toward the ceiling.
Then he pointed toward Mason.
He mouthed something.
They know.
Cole leaned closer.
"Who knows?""
Daniel shook his head.
Then he pointed toward the second set of footsteps.
The footsteps that had disappeared after the mysterious woman spoke.
A woman's face appeared behind the glass.
This time, she wasn't smiling.
"Get the boy away from here," she whispered.
Mason moved closer.
"Who are you?""
The woman pressed both hands against the window.
"My name is Rachel. I'm your mother's sister.""
Mason stared.
"My mother never told me she had a sister.""
The woman's eyes filled with tears.
"She had to keep me hidden.""
Cole looked at Sarah.
"Can we open this door?""
Sarah examined the electronic lock.
"Not without power to the control panel or a key.""
Jace pointed toward the far wall.
"There.""
A small electrical cabinet sat beside the stairs.
The cover was secured with two screws.
Jace removed them.
Inside were several wires and a small battery backup.
He studied the arrangement.
"Someone installed this recently.""
Cole frowned.
"Why?""
"So the door could stay locked even if the building lost power.""
Sarah looked at the mechanism.
"Can you disable it?""
"Maybe. But I need a minute.""
Mason pressed his face against the window.
"Are you really my aunt?""
The woman nodded.
"Your mother's name was Rachel. Mine is Rebecca.""
Mason's eyes filled.
"Where have you been?""
Rebecca closed her eyes.
"Trying to find you.""
"Why didn't you come?""
"Because the people who took your father were watching every person who knew about him.""
Mason stepped back.
"You let me stay here?""
Rebecca shook her head desperately.
"No. I didn't know they had moved you here until two weeks ago.""
Cole's expression hardened.
"Who moved him?""
Rebecca looked toward Travis.
"Frank Dillard.""
Travis, who had been sitting under Duke's watch, suddenly began laughing.
"You're all still missing the point.""
Cole turned.
"What point?""
Travis looked directly at Mason.
"The money wasn't the reason we kept him here.""
Mason's face tightened.
"Then what was?""
Travis leaned forward.
"Because your mother left something much more valuable than two hundred thousand dollars.""
Cole stepped toward him.
"What?""
Travis smiled.
"Ask your father.""
A sudden electrical spark snapped inside the control cabinet.
The lights flickered.
Jace jumped backward.
"Everybody clear!""
The electronic lock clicked.
Then the metal door began opening.
Cole grabbed the handle and pulled.
A wave of cold air rushed out.
Daniel stumbled forward.
He was thinner than Cole remembered from old photographs. His hair was almost completely gray, his beard uneven, and his clothes hung loosely from his body.
But he was alive.
Cole caught him.
For a moment, the brothers simply stared at each other.
Then Daniel grabbed Cole's shoulders.
"You're real.""
Cole laughed through tears.
"So are you.""
Daniel pulled him into a fierce embrace.
Fourteen years disappeared in a single moment.
Then Daniel looked past his brother.
His eyes landed on Mason.
The boy stood completely still.
"Son?""
Mason's face crumpled.
"Dad?""
Daniel dropped to his knees.
Mason ran.
The father and son collided in the middle of the room.
Daniel held him as if he were afraid the boy might disappear.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"I'm so sorry.""
Mason buried his face against his father's shoulder.
"I thought you were dead.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I know.""
"Mom said you were coming back.""
"I tried, buddy. I tried every day.""
Cole turned away.
He needed a moment.
But Sarah's voice stopped him.
"Daniel?""
Daniel looked up.
She held out the hospital photograph.
His expression changed.
"Where did you get that?""
"From my father's safe.""
Daniel stared at the baby in the blue blanket.
Then he looked toward Mason.
"That's not your brother.""
Mason frowned.
"Then who is it?""
Daniel slowly stood.
His eyes moved to Cole.
"That's the child your father took from us.""
Cole felt the air leave his lungs.
Daniel pointed at the photograph.
"That's my first son.""
May you like
Then he looked directly at Mason.
"And he's still alive.""
