Chapter 8: The Twin They Stole
The silver key in Natalie’s hand caught the weak hallway light.
*12.*
My father stared at it as though it were a loaded gun.
“Where did you get that?”” he asked.
Natalie’s fingers closed around the key.
“I found it.””
“Where?””
“At the hospital.””
Dad’s face hardened.
“You're lying.””
“I’m not.””
“You were never supposed to have that key.””
I looked at my wife.
“What does it open?””
She didn't answer.
My father did.
“Room Twelve.””
A cold wind seemed to move through the abandoned building.
“You told me not to let Natalie take me there,” I said.
Dad shook his head.
“I said not to let her take you there alone.””
That distinction hit me.
“Why?””
He looked toward the hallway.
“Because Room Twelve isn't a room anymore.””
“What is it?””
“A doorway.””
“To what?””
He grabbed my wrist.
“We don't have time.””
A heavy crash came from the front entrance.
Elliot.
Dad moved surprisingly fast for a man who had supposedly just survived emergency surgery.
“Laundry room,” he said.
We followed him down the corridor.
Natalie stayed close behind me.
I could hear her breathing.
I could also hear something else.
Footsteps.
Coming closer.
“Grant,” Natalie whispered.
I kept walking.
“What?””
“I need to tell you something.””
“You've had plenty of chances.””
“I know.””
“Then tell me now.””
She grabbed my sleeve.
“The key wasn't for me.””
I stopped.
“Who was it for?””
“You.””
I turned.
“Why?””
“Because Raymond knew you'd eventually come back here.””
My father called from ahead.
“Keep moving!””
We entered the laundry room.
Old industrial washers lined the walls, their metal doors rusted shut. A narrow service exit stood at the far end.
Dad pushed it open.
Rain poured into the passage outside.
He stepped through.
I followed, then turned to Natalie.
“You said the key was for me.””
She nodded.
“What does it open?””
“It opens the floor panel beneath Room Twelve.””
My stomach dropped.
“There’s a basement?””
She whispered, “There was.””
I looked at Dad.
He had stopped in the rain.
He closed his eyes.
Then he said, “They kept records underneath this building.””
“What kind of records?””
“Every child who came through.””
“And Daniel?””
Dad looked at me.
“Especially Daniel.””
We moved behind the building and crossed a narrow strip of broken pavement.
Evelyn caught up with us.
“Raymond, we have to leave.””
Dad shook his head.
“Not without it.””
“Without what?””
“The ledger.””
Evelyn stared at him.
“You never got it?””
“No.””
“Then Elliot has it.””
Dad looked toward the building.
“That’s why he's here.””
My mind raced.
“What is the ledger?””
Dad answered without looking at me.
“The original records.””
“Of what?””
“Of every child they moved.””
“And mine?””
He nodded.
“Yours too.””
I felt something tighten in my chest.
“You said my records were changed when I was six.””
“They were.””
“Why?””
Dad finally looked at me.
“Because after the fire, there were two boys with the same face.””
I stared at him.
“What fire?””
He said nothing.
Evelyn did.
“The fire at St. Matthew’s.””
I looked back at the building.
“You never told me there was a fire.””
“You were six,” Dad said.
“What happened?””
“You were supposed to die.””
The words struck me harder than anything else that night.
Natalie covered her mouth.
I shook my head.
“No.””
Dad stepped closer.
“There was a fire in the east wing. Someone locked the doors from the outside.””
“Why?””
“Because they needed to destroy the evidence.””
“And Daniel?””
Dad’s eyes filled with tears.
“I got you out.””
“What about him?””
“I went back.””
My father’s voice cracked.
“I went back for your brother.””
“Did you find him?””
“Yes.””
My heart stopped.
“What happened?””
“He was alive.””
I stepped closer.
“Then where is he?””
Dad looked away.
“I lost him.””
“How?””
“Someone took him from me.””
“Who?””
He didn't answer.
I grabbed his arm.
“Dad!””
He looked at me.
“Elliot.””
The name landed with brutal simplicity.
“He took Daniel.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel wasn't the child they wanted to keep.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Dad swallowed.
“They wanted you.””
“Why me?””
“Because you remembered.””
“Remembered what?””
“You saw who was moving the children.””
My mind flashed again.
White walls.
A red emergency light.
A man carrying a clipboard.
A little boy crying.
My own hand gripping a woman's fingers.
I stumbled.
Dad caught me.
“You're remembering.””
I pressed a hand against my forehead.
“There was a man.””
“Yes.””
“He had a scar.””
Dad nodded.
“On his left hand.””
I looked at him.
“Elliot?””
“No.””
“Then who?””
Dad went pale.
“You were never supposed to remember him.””
A voice came from behind us.
“Neither was your father.””
We turned.
Elliot stood at the corner of the building.
He wasn't alone.
Two men stood behind him.
One held a flashlight.
The other had something tucked beneath his jacket.
A gun.
Elliot looked almost ordinary.
Gray coat.
Silver hair.
Calm face.
No weapon visible.
That somehow made him more frightening.
“Raymond,” he said.
Dad stepped in front of me.
“You're too late.””
Elliot smiled.
“I'm exactly on time.””
His eyes moved to me.
“Grant.””
I didn't answer.
He tilted his head.
“You look just like Daniel.””
“Where is he?””
For the first time, Elliot's expression changed.
Something like amusement.
“Your father never told you?””
“Tell me.””
“He's alive.””
My knees nearly gave out.
Dad closed his eyes.
Elliot continued.
“He's been alive this entire time.””
I turned to my father.
“Is that true?””
Dad didn't speak.
“Dad?””
His silence was enough.
I looked back at Elliot.
“Where?””
Elliot smiled.
“Closer than you think.””
Natalie suddenly stepped forward.
“Stop.””
Everyone looked at her.
She held out the silver key.
“Take it.””
I stared at her.
“What are you doing?””
She didn't look at me.
“Take the key.””
Elliot studied her.
“I was wondering how long it would take.””
Dad whispered, “Natalie, no.””
She turned toward him.
“I did what you asked.””
“You weren't supposed to give it to him.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I can't keep lying.””
I felt something cold settle over me.
“Lying about what?””
She looked at me.
“About Daniel.””
“What?””
“I found him.””
Dad shut his eyes.
Evelyn whispered, “No.””
I took a step toward Natalie.
“When?””
“Eight years ago.””
The rain seemed to stop around me.
“You found my brother eight years ago?””
She nodded.
“Where?””
“Chicago.””
“And you never told me?””
“I was told if I did, they would kill him.””
“Who told you?””
She looked toward Elliot.
He smiled.
I stared at him.
“You threatened her.””
“I offered her a choice.””
Natalie’s voice broke.
“He had Daniel.””
I looked at Elliot.
“You had him?””
“For a while.””
“Where is he now?””
Elliot's smile faded.
“That's the question your father has spent twenty-nine years trying to answer.””
Dad stepped forward.
“Don't listen to him.””
Elliot laughed softly.
“You still think you're protecting your son.””
“He's not your concern.””
“He became my concern the night you stole him.””
Dad's face twisted with anger.
“I didn't steal Grant.””
“No,” Elliot said.
“You stole both.””
The words made me freeze.
Elliot continued.
“You took the boys and ran.””
“My boys.””
“Your sons,” Elliot corrected.
Then he looked at me.
“One of whom wasn't supposed to survive.””
I couldn't breathe.
“Which one?””
Elliot's gaze lingered on me.
“That depends on which name you were given.””
My father suddenly lunged.
One of the men raised his weapon.
I shouted, “Dad!””
A gunshot cracked through the rain.
Everything happened at once.
Evelyn pulled me down.
Natalie screamed.
My father collapsed.
I crawled toward him.
“Dad!””
Blood spread across his side.
His eyes fluttered.
“Grant…”
I pressed my hands against the wound.
“Stay with me.””
His fingers closed around mine.
“Room Twelve…”
“What?””
“Under the floor…”
He coughed.
“The ledger…”
I looked toward the building.
Elliot had disappeared.
So had the two men.
I heard an engine roar.
They were leaving.
Natalie dropped beside me.
“Grant.””
“Call an ambulance.””
“I am.””
My father grabbed my shirt.
“No hospital.””
“You need a doctor.””
“No.””
He pulled me close.
“Listen.””
I leaned down.
His breath was weak.
“The ledger isn't the evidence.””
“What is it?””
He looked at Natalie.
Then at me.
“The ledger tells you where Daniel is.””
My heart pounded.
“Where?””
Dad struggled to speak.
“He isn't in Chicago.””
“Then where?””
His eyes fixed on mine.
“Home.””
I felt confused.
“Where's home?””
He whispered the address of the house where I had spent my childhood.
Our old house.
The house my parents had sold when I was nineteen.
The house I had not seen in more than a decade.
I stared at him.
“Why would Daniel be there?””
Dad's grip loosened.
“Because he's been living there.””
My mouth went dry.
“Dad…”
He looked at Natalie.
“She knows.””
Natalie began crying.
“She does.””
“What does she know?””
She slowly shook her head.
“You're not ready.””
I stood.
“I'm ready.””
“No.””
“You kept my brother from me for eight years.””
“I was trying to keep him alive.””
“You knew where he was?””
She looked at me.
“Yes.””
“Then we're going there.””
She grabbed my hand.
“Grant, you don't understand.””
“Then make me understand.””
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“Because Daniel isn't the only person living in that house.””
My phone rang.
A number I knew.
My old childhood home.
I answered.
Nobody spoke.
I could hear breathing.
Then a young man's voice came through.
My voice.
Exactly.
“Hello, Grant.””
I couldn't move.
He spoke again.
“Dad told you not to come home.””
May you like
The call ended.
And for the first time in my life, I heard my own voice coming from someone who wasn't me.
