Chapter 4: Storage Unit 214
Thomas's warning followed me all the way out of the church.
Don't open that door.
I had spent twenty years wondering why my husband stopped answering my letters. I had spent twenty years believing my youngest child was dead. And now, standing beside Roy Bennett in the church parking lot, I was beginning to understand that the truth had been deliberately buried.
Roy opened the passenger door of his truck.
"Come on, Margaret. We're going to that storage facility.""
I hesitated.
"Shouldn't we wait until tomorrow?""
Roy shook his head.
"If your husband went through all this trouble to leave you a key, I wouldn't wait.""
Curtis approached carrying my bouquet.
"You okay, ma'am?""
I managed a small nod.
"I think I've been afraid for twenty years. I'm tired of being afraid.""
Roy smiled faintly.
"Then let's find out what Henry was trying to show you.""
The four bikers followed us in their motorcycles.
Twenty-five minutes later, we reached a storage facility surrounded by a chain-link fence. Rows of metal doors stretched beneath the afternoon sun.
The manager, a thin man with a baseball cap, approached our truck.
"Can I help you?""
I showed him the brass key and Henry's letter.
His expression changed.
"You're Mrs. Dawson?""
"Yes.""
He studied my face for several seconds.
"Your husband told me you might come.""
My stomach tightened.
"When?""
"About two months ago. He visited twice. The second time, he asked me to make sure nobody else opened Unit 214.""
Roy folded his arms.
"Did anyone try?""
The manager hesitated.
"Actually, yes.""
"Who?""
"A man who said he was Henry's son.""
I didn't need to ask.
"Thomas.""
The manager nodded.
"He came here three weeks ago. He wanted access to the unit. I refused because his name wasn't on the agreement.""
Roy looked toward the motorcycles.
"Did he get angry?""
The manager gave a nervous laugh.
"He threatened to have me fired.""
We followed him down the narrow concrete corridor.
Unit 214 stood at the very end.
The manager unlocked the exterior latch, then stepped aside.
"Your key should open the second lock.""
My fingers shook as I inserted it.
The lock clicked.
Roy pulled the metal door upward.
Inside, everything was covered with white sheets.
There were cardboard boxes, a wooden cabinet, several framed photographs, and a small child's bicycle with faded red handlebars.
I stopped breathing.
I knew that bicycle.
Daniel had ridden it in our backyard when he was five.
One afternoon, he had fallen into the flowerbed and cried because he thought the roses were hurt.
I covered my mouth.
"Oh, my baby.""
Roy gently touched my shoulder.
"Take your time.""
I walked inside.
On top of the cabinet sat a framed family photograph. Henry stood behind me, smiling. Thomas stood beside his father, while little Daniel held my hand.
We had looked so happy.
I picked up the photograph.
"Why would Henry keep all this?""
Roy opened a nearby box.
Inside were birthday cards, school drawings, Christmas ornaments, and dozens of photographs.
Then Curtis found something underneath a folded blanket.
"Roy?""
He pulled out a small wooden box.
My name was engraved across its lid.
MARGARET.
I opened it.
Inside lay my wedding ring, a silver bracelet Henry had given me on our tenth anniversary, and a stack of letters tied with blue ribbon.
Every letter was addressed to me.
I recognized Henry's handwriting immediately.
The first envelope was dated twenty years earlier.
I opened it.
Margaret,
Thomas says you have chosen to leave us. I cannot understand why you would do this, but he insists he has proof.
I have tried calling your sister. She says you never arrived.
If you receive this, please tell me where you are.
My knees weakened.
Roy caught my elbow.
"What's wrong?""
I handed him the letter.
He read it slowly.
"Your husband thought you disappeared.""
I shook my head.
"I didn't disappear. Thomas's father-in-law drove me to the bus station that night. He said Henry had asked him to take me somewhere safe.""
Roy's eyes narrowed.
"Did you ever speak to Henry afterward?""
"I tried. Thomas answered the telephone. He said Henry didn't want me calling anymore.""
I reached for the next letter.
This one was written six months later.
I found out Daniel's school records were transferred. Thomas says the boy was sent away because you wanted a fresh start.
My fingers went numb.
"Henry thought I had taken Daniel.""
Roy stared at the page.
"Who actually took him?""
I couldn't answer.
Curtis continued searching the cabinet.
"There's something else here.""
He pulled out a thick manila folder.
Inside were medical records, bank statements, and a document bearing Henry's signature.
Roy examined the first page.
Then his expression hardened.
"Margaret, I think you need to see this.""
The document was a guardianship agreement.
It stated that Henry had temporarily transferred Daniel's care to another family.
But the signature beneath the agreement wasn't Henry's.
It was mine.
I stared at it.
"I never signed this.""
Roy looked at the date.
"Neither did Henry, according to what he told the attorney who prepared the document.""
A strange silence filled the unit.
Then I noticed a photograph tucked into the back of the folder.
It showed Thomas standing outside a hospital.
Beside him was a woman I recognized immediately.
Evelyn Dawson.
Thomas's wife.
On the back, Henry had written:
The person who helped Thomas take Daniel.
My hands began shaking again.
Roy looked at the photograph.
"Why would Henry's daughter-in-law be involved?""
Before I could answer, the manager appeared at the doorway.
"Ma'am?""
I turned.
He looked frightened.
"There's a car outside. A black SUV.""
Roy stepped toward the entrance.
"What's unusual about that?""
The manager swallowed.
"The driver has been sitting there for twenty minutes.""
May you like
Then he pointed toward the photograph in my hand.
"And I think he's waiting for you.""
