Chapter 8: The Woman in the Photograph
Marcus couldn't move.
The woman stood beneath the fluorescent lights, older than she had been in the photograph but unmistakably the same.
Dark hair.
Pale face.
A thin scar above her left eyebrow.
She looked at Liam.
Tears filled her eyes.
“I'm sorry.””
Marcus stepped in front of his son.
“Who are you?””
The woman swallowed.
“My name is Elena.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
“No.””
Elena looked at her.
“You knew I'd come back.””
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
“You know her?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I thought she was dead.””
Elena laughed softly.
“So did everyone.””
Daniel stood behind her.
Marcus looked at him.
“Let Liam go.””
Daniel smiled.
“You're still thinking this is about the boy.””
“It is.””
“No.””
Daniel's eyes moved toward the black box.
“It's about what your father hid.””
Marcus held the box behind him.
“You murdered him for it.””
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“You don't know what you're talking about.””
“I know enough.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You know what Marcus?””
Marcus stared.
Daniel continued.
“Your father wasn't protecting Liam from me.””
“Then who?””
“He was protecting Liam from himself.””
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked at Elena.
“She knows.””
Elena shook her head.
“No.””
Daniel smiled.
“Tell him.””
She remained silent.
Daniel turned to Marcus.
“Ask her why your father paid her to disappear.””
Marcus looked at Elena.
“You disappeared?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She stared at Liam.
“Because I was told he would be killed if I stayed.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“By whom?””
Elena looked toward Daniel.
“By him.””
Daniel laughed.
“She always was dramatic.””
Marcus stepped toward Daniel.
“You kidnapped my son.””
“I moved him.””
“You threatened him.””
“I gave him answers.””
“You're going to prison.””
Daniel smiled.
“Maybe.””
Then he pulled out his phone.
He tapped the screen.
A bank account appeared.
Marcus's eyes widened.
The account was his.
Money had been transferred from his personal account.
$4.2 million.
“What did you do?””
Daniel held up the phone.
“You transferred four million dollars to a company controlled by me.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“I didn't.””
“You did.””
“I never authorized that.””
Daniel smiled.
“That's the problem with electronic signatures.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“You forged his authorization.””
Daniel looked at him.
“And now we have a witness.””
Ethan's expression changed.
Daniel smiled.
“You should have stayed gone.””
Marcus understood.
“This was never about Liam.””
Daniel nodded.
“Finally.””
“You want me to look guilty.””
“Yes.””
“Money laundering.””
“Yes.””
“Fraud.””
“Yes.””
“Then why kidnap my son?””
Daniel's eyes moved to Liam.
“Because Liam was the only person who could prove you weren't responsible.””
Marcus froze.
Daniel continued.
“The trust requires biometric confirmation from its beneficiary.””
Marcus looked at Liam.
“You needed his fingerprint.””
“Correct.””
“Why?””
“To access the original trust.””
Marcus looked at the black box.
“You already have the documents.””
“Copies.””
Daniel's smile widened.
“The real documents are inside the trust vault.””
Marcus understood.
“And Liam is the key.””
Daniel nodded.
“His fingerprint. His DNA. His legal identity.””
Marcus glanced at Elena.
“And she?””
Daniel's expression changed.
“She is the problem.””
Elena stepped forward.
“My name was removed from the birth records.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because your father believed I would be killed.””
“Who are you to Liam?””
Elena looked directly at the boy.
“I'm his mother.””
Liam stared.
Marcus felt the room spin.
Vanessa whispered:
“I'm sorry.””
Marcus turned.
“You knew.””
“I knew she gave birth to him.””
“Then why did you pretend he was yours?””
“Because Elena couldn't protect him.””
Elena's voice broke.
“I was being hunted.””
Marcus looked between them.
“And Ethan?””
Ethan looked down.
“I was there the night Liam was born.””
Marcus turned sharply.
“You knew Elena?””
“Yes.””
“Were you the father?””
“No.””
Ethan looked at Liam.
“I was his protector.””
Marcus stared.
“So all these years…”
“Your father created the story.””
Marcus shook his head.
“What story?””
Ethan answered.
“That Liam was Vanessa's son and Ethan's child.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why?””
“Because Daniel knew Vanessa had influence over you.””
Elena interrupted.
“And because he believed if Liam looked like part of the family, Daniel would stop searching.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“And the money?””
She swallowed.
“Some of it went to security.””
“Some?””
“Some went to Elena.””
Marcus stared.
“You paid her?””
“She was hiding.””
“Then why the designer clothes?””
Vanessa looked down.
“Because Daniel needed to see them.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You made Liam suffer so Daniel would believe he was irrelevant.””
“I thought it was the only way.””
Liam quietly spoke.
“I thought Mom hated me.””
Vanessa broke down.
She walked toward him.
“Liam…”
He stepped backward.
She stopped.
“I never hated you.””
“You made me wear old shoes.””
“I know.””
“You told me I ruined everything.””
“I know.””
“You bought Brandon everything.””
“I know.””
Liam's voice cracked.
“Why?””
Vanessa couldn't answer.
Elena approached him slowly.
“Because she was afraid.””
Liam looked at her.
“Are you my mom?””
Elena nodded.
“Yes.””
He stared at her.
Then at Vanessa.
Marcus crouched beside him.
“You don't have to choose anyone.””
Liam's eyes filled.
“I just want to go home.””
Marcus pulled him close.
“You're going home.””
Daniel suddenly raised his gun.
“No one is going anywhere.””
Ethan moved first.
He tackled Daniel.
The gun fired.
The bullet struck the ceiling.
Marcus grabbed Liam.
“Run!””
Elena grabbed Vanessa.
They rushed down the corridor.
Behind them came the sound of fists striking metal.
Then a shout.
Then silence.
Marcus reached the exit.
A police siren sounded outside.
He stopped.
“Who called them?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“I did.””
Marcus stared.
“When?””
“Before we came.””
A police cruiser stopped outside.
Two officers emerged.
Marcus relaxed for half a second.
Then Elena grabbed his arm.
“Don't trust them.””
Marcus looked at the officers.
“What?””
She whispered:
“Your father warned me about this.””
The officers entered.
One of them smiled.
“Marcus Cole?””
“Yes.””
“You're under arrest.””
Marcus froze.
“For what?””
The officer pulled out handcuffs.
“Fraud.””
Marcus looked at his phone.
The $4.2 million transfer.
Then at Daniel.
Then at Elena.
Something suddenly made sense.
Daniel hadn't needed the trust.
He needed Marcus arrested.
Because once Marcus was in custody, someone else could take control of Liam.
The second officer reached for the boy.
Marcus shoved Liam behind him.
“Don't touch him.””
The officer's expression hardened.
“Sir, step aside.””
Marcus stared at the badge.
Then noticed the name.
*S. VOSS.*
His blood went cold.
Dr. Samuel Voss.
The name on Liam's birth certificate.
The man supposedly working in the hospital twelve years ago.
The man standing in front of him now.
Marcus whispered:
“You're not a cop.””
The officer smiled.
“No.””
He drew his weapon.
“I never was.””
A gunshot exploded.
May you like
Marcus fell backward.
And Liam screamed.
