Chapter 5: The Woman Who Helped Him
Roy stepped outside first.
I followed him, holding Henry's photograph against my chest.
A black SUV was parked near the entrance. Its windows were tinted, but the engine was running.
Curtis moved toward the passenger side while Leon stood near the exit.
The driver's door opened.
Evelyn Dawson stepped out.
She wore a cream-colored coat, dark sunglasses, and expensive leather boots. Her hair was pulled into a perfect bun.
She looked nothing like the frightened young woman I remembered from twenty years earlier.
"Margaret," she said.
My stomach tightened.
"Evelyn.""
She glanced at the bikers.
"Could we speak privately?""
Roy laughed.
"After showing up here without warning? I don't think so.""
Evelyn removed her sunglasses.
"This is a family matter.""
I looked directly at her.
"Then why did you help Thomas take my son?""
Her face went still.
Roy turned toward me.
"You know her?""
"She married Thomas three years before I disappeared.""
Evelyn sighed.
"I knew you would eventually find out.""
"Find out what?""
She looked toward the storage unit.
"That Henry made a terrible mistake.""
I stepped closer.
"Tell me where Daniel is.""
Evelyn's eyes flickered.
"Daniel is safe.""
The words struck me harder than a slap.
"He's alive?""
She looked away.
"Yes.""
I grabbed her sleeve.
"Where is my child?""
Roy gently separated us.
"Easy, Margaret.""
Evelyn straightened her coat.
"Thomas never wanted this to happen.""
I stared at her.
"Twenty years of lies, and you're telling me Thomas never wanted this?""
"He was twelve when Daniel came into the family. He was already struggling with the divorce between his parents. Then Henry started treating Daniel like his own son.""
"Daniel was Henry's son.""
Evelyn shook her head.
"That's not what I mean. Henry began changing everything. The house, the inheritance, the business. He wanted Daniel to have an equal share.""
Roy frowned.
"That sounds like a father treating his children equally.""
"Not when one child has been promised everything.""
I looked at her.
"Thomas told me Daniel was dead.""
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
"Thomas thought that would be easier.""
"Easier for whom?""
She didn't answer.
I took the photograph from my handbag and held it in front of her.
"Henry wrote your name on the back. He knew you were involved.""
Evelyn stared at the image.
For the first time, her carefully controlled expression cracked.
"He shouldn't have kept that.""
"Why?""
"Because it proves nothing.""
"Then explain the forged guardianship agreement.""
She looked at Roy.
"Where did you find that?""
"Inside the storage unit," I replied.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
"Thomas told me Henry had signed everything.""
"But he hadn't.""
"I didn't know.""
"Did you know I never abandoned my family?""
She looked directly at me.
"Yes.""
The answer came so quietly that I almost didn't hear it.
I felt the ground shift beneath my feet.
"You knew?""
Evelyn nodded.
"I saw the letters Thomas intercepted. I saw the ones he threw away. I even saw the envelope Henry sent to your sister.""
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Thomas threatened to leave me if I interfered.""
I stared at her in disbelief.
"So you watched me spend twenty years believing my husband hated me?""
Evelyn's eyes filled.
"I was afraid.""
I laughed once, bitterly.
"And I wasn't?""
She looked down.
Roy stepped closer.
"Where is Daniel?""
Evelyn rubbed her forehead.
"I don't know his exact address.""
"That's convenient.""
"I haven't seen him in years.""
"Then how do you know he's safe?""
She hesitated.
"Because someone has been paying for his apartment and medical insurance.""
My heart began racing.
"Who?""
Evelyn looked at me.
"Henry.""
The name caught in my throat.
"My husband supported him?""
"Every month. Even after Thomas found out.""
I remembered the line in Henry's letter.
You deserve the truth. So does the other boy.
I looked at Evelyn.
"Why didn't Henry come to me sooner?""
"Because Thomas had something over him.""
"What?""
Evelyn glanced toward the SUV.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Twenty years ago, Thomas discovered that Daniel wasn't the only secret Henry had kept.""
Roy folded his arms.
"What other secret?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"That's not mine to tell.""
I stepped closer.
"You have already stolen twenty years from me. Don't steal another minute.""
She looked at me for a long time.
Then she opened her handbag and removed a small white envelope.
"I was supposed to destroy this after Henry died.""
She handed it to me.
Inside was a photograph of a young man standing outside a hospital.
He looked about twenty-five.
He had Henry's eyes.
And he was wearing a hospital identification bracelet.
On the back, someone had written:
Daniel Dawson. Emergency contact: Margaret Dawson.
I began crying.
"Where was this taken?""
"St. Mary's Hospital. Four years ago.""
"Was he sick?""
Evelyn nodded.
"He had been in an accident.""
My knees weakened.
"What happened?""
She looked toward the storage unit.
"Thomas knows.""
Before I could ask another question, a phone rang inside Evelyn's handbag.
She glanced at the screen.
Her face drained of color.
"Thomas?""
She answered.
I heard his voice immediately.
"Where are you?""
Evelyn looked at me.
"At the storage facility.""
There was a pause.
Then Thomas shouted so loudly that I heard every word.
"You stupid woman! I told you not to let her find the hospital records!""
Evelyn closed her eyes.
And Thomas continued.
"Get out of there. Now. Before she finds out what happened the night Daniel disappeared!""
The call ended.
I stared at Evelyn.
"What happened that night?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, she looked at Roy and whispered:
"Thomas didn't just arrange for Daniel to be taken away.""
May you like
Her voice broke.
"He made sure Daniel would never remember who his mother was.""
