Chapter 8 - THE ROOM NO ONE KNEW EXISTED
Sarah disappeared into the darkness.
Richard wanted to follow her.
Eleanor stopped him.
"Wait."
"She's walking into his hands."
"That's what he wants."
Richard looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
"David knows Sarah is loyal to Rebecca."
"So?"
"So he'll expect her to lead him to the records."
Richard understood.
"You think she's lying."
Eleanor nodded.
"Sarah knows where Rebecca hid the real evidence."
They waited.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Then the lights came back on.
Sarah walked into the room.
Alone.
Richard stared.
"Where is David?"
"Gone."
"What happened?"
Sarah held up a key.
"Rebecca left this for me."
"What does it open?"
"The room beneath the old hospital."
Richard froze.
"Hospital?"
"The hospital where the boys were born."
They drove there before sunrise.
The building had been abandoned for years.
Richard walked through the ruined maternity wing.
Everything felt strangely familiar.
Eleanor followed.
"This is where I first held them."
Richard looked at her.
"You really gave birth to three of them?"
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes."
"And Thomas?"
Eleanor's eyes filled.
"I held him too."
They reached an old storage room.
Sarah inserted the key.
The door opened.
Inside were boxes.
Photographs.
Medical files.
Video tapes.
Rebecca had been collecting evidence for years.
Richard opened the first box.
He found hospital records.
Four births.
Four mothers.
Four separate rooms.
Richard's hands shook.
"These boys weren't born together."
"No," Eleanor whispered.
"They were brought together."
Richard looked at Sarah.
"Why?"
Sarah pulled out a videotape.
They watched it.
A doctor appeared on the screen.
"We were instructed to transfer four newborns into one family unit."
Richard's face went pale.
"By whom?"
The doctor looked terrified.
"I cannot say."
The recording ended.
Then another began.
This time Rebecca appeared.
"If you're watching this, I've probably been silenced."
Sarah covered her mouth.
Rebecca continued.
"The four children were selected because of their genetic connections."
Richard leaned closer.
"Marcus was connected to a political family."
"Liam was connected to an international banking family."
"Daniel was connected to an American technology dynasty."
"Thomas was my son."
Richard stared at the screen.
Rebecca continued:
"They were brought together because someone wanted one family to control all four bloodlines."
Richard whispered:
"David."
Rebecca nodded on the recording.
"David Mercer was the broker."
Sarah began sobbing.
"But why would he need Richard?"
Rebecca looked directly into the camera.
"Because Richard was the perfect father."
Richard froze.
"He had money."
"Influence."
"Security."
"And most importantly, he would protect the boys with his life."
Richard stepped backward.
He understood.
David had never wanted to steal the boys.
He wanted Richard to raise them.
Because Richard's wealth protected them.
And someone else had been waiting.
For three years.
Suddenly, the recording changed.
Rebecca looked frightened.
"There is one more thing."
She paused.
"One of the four boys knows more than he realizes."
Richard turned toward the boys.
All four were watching.
Marcus.
Liam.
Daniel.
Thomas.
"Which one?" Richard whispered.
Rebecca's recording ended.
The screen went black.
Then a small voice came from behind them.
"I know."
Everyone turned.
Daniel was standing in the doorway.
Richard stared.
"Know what?"
Daniel looked terrified.
"Who took Mommy."
Silence.
Richard crouched.
"What do you mean?"
Daniel whispered:
"I saw him."
"Who?"
Daniel pointed toward the hallway.
"Uncle David."
Richard's heart stopped.
"When?"
"The night Mommy left."
Eleanor covered her mouth.
Daniel continued.
"He told her to get in the car."
Richard stared.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"Because he said he'd hurt Thomas."
Richard pulled Daniel into his arms.
But then Daniel whispered the words that changed everything.
"Mommy didn't leave us."
May you like
Richard closed his eyes.
"She was taken."
