Chapter 6: The Boy Who Wasn't Supposed to Live
The woman held the photograph between two fingers.
Rain began to fall again, soft at first, ticking against the wooden dock.
I couldn't take my eyes off the image.
My mother's face.
My father's face.
A newborn wrapped in white.
And Arthur standing behind them.
“What do you mean, a death certificate?”” I asked.
Rebecca didn't blink.
“I mean the hospital recorded a different child as having died that night.””
Mom stepped toward her.
“Stop.””
Rebecca turned.
“You don't get to tell me to stop, Rachel.””
“You promised Arthur.””
“I promised Arthur I'd tell Lucas the truth when the time came.””
My stomach twisted.
“You knew my grandfather?””
Rebecca nodded.
“He saved my life.””
I stared at her.
“Who are you?””
“Rebecca Hale.””
The surname hit me.
“Hale?””
She gave a bitter smile.
“Arthur's sister.””
I looked at Mom.
“You never told me he had a sister.””
Mom whispered, “She left before you were born.””
Rebecca laughed quietly.
“No. Arthur sent me away.””
“Why?””
She looked at the river.
“Because someone was trying to kill everyone connected to him.””
A light moved through the trees.
We all ducked.
Another SUV had arrived.
Samuel cursed under his breath.
“There's no time.””
Rebecca grabbed my wrist.
“You need to get off this dock.””
“Not until you explain.””
She stared into my eyes.
“Your mother gave birth to twins.””
The world went silent.
“What?””
Mom's face crumpled.
Rebecca continued.
“One baby was healthy.””
She pointed at the photograph.
“That was you.””
My lips went numb.
“The second baby was born twenty-seven minutes later.””
I looked at Mom.
She was crying.
“Where is the second child?””
Rebecca's eyes filled with grief.
“He died.””
I shook my head.
“You just said the hospital recorded a different child.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because the child who died wasn't your twin.””
The words made no sense.
I stepped backward.
“Then who died?””
Rebecca took a folded document from inside her coat.
She handed it to me.
A hospital record.
Two birth entries.
One under Rachel Hale.
One under an unfamiliar name.
*Mother: Rebecca Morgan.*
I looked up.
“You?””
She nodded.
“My son was born that night.””
I stared at the paper.
“What does this have to do with me?””
Rebecca's voice became quieter.
“Everything.””
Mom suddenly said, “Lucas, listen to me.””
I turned.
She took one trembling step forward.
“When you were born, Elias was already searching for Arthur's heir.””
“I was the heir.””
“Yes.””
She swallowed.
“But not because of money alone.””
“What else?””
“Because your grandmother had left Arthur evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
Mom looked at Rebecca.
Rebecca answered.
“A murder.””
The word struck like a physical blow.
I stared at them.
“Whose murder?””
Rebecca's lips trembled.
“My son’s.””
I didn't understand.
“You said your son died.””
“He did.””
“Then why would someone care about his death twenty-five years later?””
Rebecca looked directly at me.
“Because he didn't die naturally.””
Samuel stepped closer.
“Rebecca.””
She shook her head.
“He was murdered.””
The wind picked up.
Rain swept across the dock.
I looked at the hospital record again.
“Who killed him?””
Rebecca said nothing.
My mother did.
“Elias.””
I felt dizzy.
“Why?””
“Because he needed a body,” Mom whispered.
I stared at her.
“A body for what?””
“To make you disappear.””
I couldn't breathe.
Rebecca took the paper from my hand.
“Arthur knew Elias intended to eliminate you. So he did something that could only work once.””
She pointed toward my birth record.
“He switched the identification.””
My eyes widened.
“You mean—”
“The dead child was listed as Lucas Hale.””
I looked at Mom.
She nodded, tears running down her face.
“For twenty-five years,” she whispered, “on paper, you were dead.””
The rain seemed deafening.
I gripped the railing.
“Then who am I?””
Mom stepped closer.
“You are Lucas Arthur Hale.””
I almost laughed.
“That's not an answer.””
Rebecca spoke softly.
“You were legally erased so Elias couldn't find you.””
Samuel said, “Arthur rebuilt your identity.””
“He lied about my birth.””
“He protected your life.””
I stared at them.
“All those birthdays.””
Mom shook her head.
“We celebrated them quietly.””
“All those school records.””
“Created under sealed documentation.””
“My parents abandoned me.””
“They did,” Rebecca said.
“But not for the reason you thought.””
I turned on her.
“Don't make excuses for them.””
“I’m not.””
Her voice sharpened.
“Your mother chose fear. Your father chose money. Arthur chose you.””
That silenced me.
A vehicle engine roared from across the river.
Someone shouted.
“Lucas!””
My father's voice.
Again.
But now I knew he had escaped.
I looked toward the opposite bank.
A figure stood beside a truck.
Jonathan.
He raised something over his head.
A folder.
“Your grandfather lied to you!””
I shouted back.
“You sold me!””
He shook his head.
“No!””
Mom grabbed my shoulder.
“Don't listen to him.””
Jonathan's voice carried over the river.
“Arthur stole your real inheritance!””
I looked at Rebecca.
“What is he talking about?””
She closed her eyes.
“He doesn't know the whole story.””
Jonathan shouted again.
“You were never supposed to inherit the company!””
I felt anger replace confusion.
“What company?””
“The one your grandfather built from stolen assets!””
Rebecca stepped forward.
“That's not true.””
Jonathan laughed.
“Ask her what happened in 2003!””
Rebecca froze.
I looked at her.
“What happened?””
She said nothing.
“Rebecca.””
She stared at the water.
“In 2003, Arthur discovered the original ledger.””
“What ledger?””
“The ledger proving Elias had ordered the murder.””
My heartbeat accelerated.
“Then where is it?””
Rebecca looked at me.
“Arthur hid it.””
“Where?””
She hesitated.
“Inside the house.””
I almost laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
“Because it's true.””
“Where?””
Rebecca pulled out an old photograph.
Not the hospital this time.
A picture of Arthur standing beside the fireplace.
He was smiling.
Beside him was a large wooden clock.
I stared.
“That's in the house.””
“Yes.””
“What am I looking for?””
Rebecca turned the photograph over.
Three words were written on the back.
*Not above. Beneath.*
My mind raced.
The fireplace.
The clock.
The hidden room.
The wall safe.
Arthur's obsession with things being beneath other things.
Then I remembered the first night I'd found the secret office.
The desk.
The map.
The blue circle.
A location I'd never opened.
I looked at Samuel.
“The old cellar.””
He nodded.
“Exactly.””
A shot cracked across the water.
The wooden railing splintered.
Everyone dropped.
Jonathan disappeared behind the truck.
Mom dragged me toward the SUVs.
“Get in!””
“No.””
“What?””
“I’m going back.””
“Lucas, you're not going back to the house.””
“I need the ledger.””
Rebecca grabbed my arm.
“Not without me.””
Samuel shook his head.
“We'll all go.””
We rushed into the nearest SUV.
The driver peeled away from the river.
For several minutes, no one spoke.
Then Claire called.
I answered.
“Claire?””
Her voice was shaking.
“Lucas, where are you?””
“On my way home.””
“Don't.””
“Why?””
“I found something in Dad's office.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
She was crying.
“A letter from Arthur.””
“Read it.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because it has my name on it.””
I looked at Rebecca.
Then at Mom.
“Read it.””
Claire took a breath.
“The letter says…”
She stopped.
“Claire?””
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“It says I wasn't their first child.””
Silence.
Rebecca closed her eyes.
Mom covered her mouth.
I felt a terrible realization approaching.
“What does it say about you?””
Claire sobbed.
“It says Arthur knew I was going to be used against you.””
My blood ran cold.
“By who?””
Before she could answer, the call ended.
I called back.
No response.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a message appeared.
A photo.
Claire was sitting in Arthur's kitchen.
Her wrists were tied.
My mother leaned forward.
“That's impossible.””
Another message appeared beneath the picture.
*Come home.*
Then:
*Bring Rebecca.*
Then a final message.
*Or your sister dies before your thirtieth birthday.*
I stared at the screen.
My birthday was less than an hour away.
Rebecca leaned over.
She saw the picture.
Her face turned pale.
“That's Elias's handwriting.””
I looked at her.
“He was arrested.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
Her eyes fixed on the photograph.
“That message isn't from Elias.””
“Then who?””
Rebecca whispered the name that made my mother gasp.
“Arthur.””
I stared at her.
“My grandfather is dead.””
“I know.””
“Then how could he send a message?””
Rebecca looked at me with absolute terror.
“He couldn't.””
She pointed at the photograph.
“Because that kitchen clock is stopped at 6:00.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Rebecca's voice dropped.
“Arthur's dead-man switch.””
The SUV sped through the rain.
Behind us, headlights appeared.
Three black SUVs.
They were following.
Rebecca looked at me.
“Your grandfather didn't leave you a secret.””
“What did he leave me?””
“A test.””
“What kind?””
She swallowed.
“One that only begins when everyone who betrayed him comes together.””
The clock on my dashboard clicked over.
11:59 p.m.
May you like
My thirtieth birthday was one minute away.
And somewhere inside my house, my sister was waiting for me beside a stopped clock that had not moved in twenty-five years.
