Chapter 13 - THE BOY WHO DISAPPEARED
Grace reached Daniel's house in less than fifteen minutes.
Police vehicles surrounded the property.
Daniel stood in the driveway barefoot, his shirt torn at the collar.
When he saw Grace, he ran toward her.
"I'm sorry."
She pushed him.
"Where is Noah?"
"I don't know."
"You were supposed to protect him."
"I did."
"Then where is he?"
Daniel's face collapsed.
"He was asleep."
"Where?"
"His bedroom."
"And?"
"I heard the window break."
Grace froze.
"Window?"
Daniel nodded.
"I ran upstairs."
"What did you see?"
"Nothing."
"How long?"
"Maybe thirty seconds."
Grace looked at the detective.
"Security cameras?"
"All disabled."
Her heart sank.
"Who did this?"
The detective shook his head.
"We're investigating."
Grace turned toward Daniel.
"You called me immediately?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because they left something."
Daniel pulled a small envelope from his pocket.
Grace opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Noah.
Sleeping.
Taken from inside the bedroom.
On the back were four words.
THE DEBT BELONGS TO YOU.
Grace stared.
Her father arrived behind her.
Daniel saw him.
His face went pale.
"Who is that?"
Grace didn't answer.
Richard stepped forward.
"I'm her father."
Daniel stared.
"Your father is dead."
Richard looked at him.
"That's what they wanted you to believe."
Daniel's expression changed.
"Grace..."
She interrupted.
"Not now."
The detective approached.
"We found something."
They followed him inside.
A hidden camera had been discovered beneath Noah's crib.
Grace's blood turned cold.
Someone had been watching Noah for weeks.
Then the detective showed them the recording.
A masked man entered the nursery at 2:13 a.m.
He didn't touch Noah.
Instead, he stood beside the crib.
He looked directly into the camera.
Then removed his mask.
Grace gasped.
Daniel stumbled backward.
Richard went completely still.
The man on the screen was Adrian Cross.
But Adrian was standing beside them.
Grace turned.
Adrian looked at the screen.
"That's not me."
Grace stared.
The man on the screen had the same face.
Same scar.
Same height.
Same voice.
Adrian whispered:
"I have a brother."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"I thought he was dead."
"Apparently not."
The recording continued.
The second Adrian leaned toward Noah.
He whispered something.
The audio was enhanced.
One sentence.
"Your grandfather sends his love."
Grace's face went white.
Richard stepped backward.
"No."
She turned toward him.
"What?"
He looked terrified.
"Your grandfather wasn't the only person who knew about the trust."
Grace's voice dropped.
"Who else?"
Richard didn't answer.
Daniel suddenly pointed toward the television.
"Look."
A second figure had entered the room.
A woman.
She removed her hood.
Grace stopped breathing.
Rachel.
Her sister.
Alive.
Standing beside Noah's crib.
Grace whispered:
"No."
Daniel looked at her.
"Rachel is working with them."
Grace shook her head.
"She was arrested."
"No."
Daniel's voice trembled.
"The woman in the footage is Rachel."
The screen froze.
Grace stared at her sister's face.
Then the image changed.
A live video replaced the recording.
Rachel looked directly into the camera.
"Grace."
Grace stepped closer.
Rachel's eyes were filled with tears.
"I'm sorry."
Grace screamed:
"WHERE IS MY SON?"
Rachel swallowed.
"He isn't hurt."
"Where is he?"
Rachel hesitated.
Then whispered:
"He's with your father."
May you like
Grace turned.
Richard was gone.
