Chapter 7 - THE BLUE HOUSE
Marcus drove like a man possessed.
He called the police.
Then Tom.
Then every security officer he knew.
But the only thought in his head was Ben.
His three-year-old son.
Taken from his own home.
Pia's voice kept replaying in his mind.
They took Ben.
Marcus reached the coastal road.
The blue house was twenty minutes away.
Victoria's old dream.
A place they had visited once.
Marcus had almost forgotten it.
Almost.
He arrived at sunset.
The house was empty.
The front door was unlocked.
“Victoria?”
Nothing.
He entered.
Dust covered the furniture.
Then he saw a photograph.
His family.
Marcus.
Victoria.
Ben.
Taken before Ben was born.
Behind it was a note.
You finally came.
Marcus's heart stopped.
A sound came from upstairs.
He ran.
The bedroom door opened.
Victoria stood there.
Alive.
Older.
Thinner.
Her hair was shorter.
But it was her.
Marcus stopped breathing.
Neither spoke.
Then he crossed the room.
Victoria covered her mouth.
Marcus pulled her into his arms.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Marcus whispered:
“I buried you.”
“I know.”
“I watched them lower the coffin.”
“It wasn't me.”
“What?”
“They used another body.”
Marcus pulled back.
“Why?”
“To make everyone believe I was dead.”
“Who helped you?”
“Rose.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Pia's mother.”
Victoria nodded.
“She saved me.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
“Because I was being watched.”
“By whom?”
Victoria looked toward the window.
“Your uncle.”
Marcus's face hardened.
“Who is he?”
“His name is Richard Delgado.”
Marcus shook his head.
“My uncle Richard died twenty years ago.”
“He disappeared.”
“Why?”
“Because your father discovered what he was doing.”
Victoria sat down.
Marcus remained standing.
“What was he doing?”
“Your father built the company.”
Victoria took a breath.
“Richard believed he deserved half.”
“And?”
“Your father refused.”
Richard started stealing money.
When your father discovered it, he threatened to expose him.
Richard hired someone to silence him.
Marcus felt sick.
“And my mother?”
“She knew.”
“She helped him?”
“Initially.”
Victoria looked down.
“But when your father died, she regretted it.”
Marcus stared.
“So she helped hide Richard?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard threatened you.”
Marcus felt the room spinning.
“What happened eight months ago?”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“I discovered the money trail.”
“And Richard?”
“He discovered that I knew.”
“So he caused the accident.”
“Yes.”
Marcus's hands trembled.
“Why didn't he kill you?”
“He tried.”
Victoria touched her side.
“I survived.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Ben?”
Victoria's face changed.
“Where is he?”
“They took him.”
She stood immediately.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Pia?”
“She's alive.”
“Thank God.”
Marcus's phone rang.
A video arrived.
He opened it.
Ben was sitting in a dark room.
His hands weren't tied.
But he looked terrified.
A man sat beside him.
Marcus recognized him from the old photograph.
Richard.
The man smiled at the camera.
“Hello, Marcus.”
Marcus's blood turned cold.
Richard continued.
“You've been searching for answers.”
Marcus whispered:
“Where is my son?”
“Safe.”
“Let him go.”
“Not yet.”
Victoria stepped closer to the phone.
“Richard!”
The man's smile disappeared.
“Victoria.”
Marcus looked at her.
Richard continued.
“You should have stayed dead.”
“You killed enough people.”
“I protected the family.”
Marcus shouted:
“You murdered my father!”
Richard laughed.
“Your father betrayed me.”
“You tried to kill Victoria.”
“She betrayed me.”
“And Ben?”
Richard's expression hardened.
“Ben is leverage.”
Marcus clenched his fists.
“What do you want?”
“The company.”
“You can have it.”
Victoria looked at Marcus.
“No.”
Marcus continued.
“You want the money? Fine.”
Richard smiled.
“I want more than money.”
“What?”
“I want the Delgado name.”
Marcus didn't understand.
Then Richard said:
“I want Ben to become my heir.”
Victoria stepped forward.
“You will never touch my son.”
Richard smiled.
“Then bring me the evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“The flash drive.”
Marcus froze.
Richard knew about it.
“The one Victoria left.”
Marcus looked at Victoria.
Richard continued.
“Bring it to the old warehouse by midnight.”
“Or?”
Richard looked at Ben.
“Then the boy disappears.”
The screen went black.
Marcus turned toward Victoria.
She was shaking.
“What do we do?”
Marcus took her hand.
For eight months, he had believed he had lost everything.
Now his wife was alive.
His son was missing.
And a man from his family's past was demanding the one thing Marcus had never understood.
The truth.
Marcus looked at Victoria.
“We get our son back.”
May you like
Victoria nodded.
“And this time,” Marcus said, “we finish it.”
