The rear door opened onto a narrow alley flooded with rainwater.
Denise went first.
I followed with my son against my chest, keeping his face beneath the edge of the blanket. Dr. Hale stayed close behind me. Margaret walked beside him, one hand gripping his sleeve as though she was afraid that if she let go, another thirty-four years might separate them.
Julian brought up the rear.
Outside, the rain blurred everything.
The three strangers near the black SUV had not seen us yet.
"Keep moving," Denise whispered.
We crossed behind the abandoned clinic and slipped through a service gate. My shoes filled with cold water almost immediately. The baby stirred, and I pressed him closer.
"He's okay," I whispered.
Dr. Hale looked at him.
"He needs warmth."
"He'll have it."
A vehicle engine started behind us.
Julian looked back.
"They're coming."
Denise pointed toward a narrow road.
"There."
We ran.
The road led toward a row of old houses built along the river. Most were dark. A few porch lights glowed through the rain.
We reached Denise's car.
She unlocked it.
"Everyone in."
Julian hesitated.
"You shouldn't take me."
Denise looked at him.
"Get in."
He did.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
The rain hammered the roof.
My son slept.
Margaret sat in the back beside me, staring at him.
Finally she whispered, "He has Daniel's hands."
I looked at her.
"You remember?"
"I remember everything."
She touched the baby's blanket but stopped before touching him.
"When Daniel was born, he curled his fingers around mine exactly like that."
Dr. Hale turned around.
"You remember that?"
"I never forgot."
He looked away.
"Neither did I."
Julian stared through the window.
"Turn left at the bridge."
Denise glanced at him.
"You know the area?"
"I've been there."
"Where are we going?"
"The address in the envelope."
"You said Daniel was there."
"He was."
"Was?"
Julian's jaw tightened.
"He moves."
"Why?"
"Because people look for him."
Denise accelerated.
"Who?"
"My father's associates."
"How many?"
"Enough."
I watched Julian carefully.
"You've been protecting him."
He looked at me.
"I've been trying to."
"Why?"
"Because he is the only person who can expose what my father did."
"That's not protection."
"It is when the alternative is murder."
The word settled heavily in the car.
Dr. Hale turned.
"Did your father kill anyone?"
Julian didn't answer immediately.
"Not personally."
"That wasn't my question."
Julian looked down.
"Yes."
Margaret closed her eyes.
"How many?"
"I don't know."
"Clara?"
Julian's silence answered.
Margaret began to cry.
I felt the baby move against me.
"Did Clara die because of him?"
"I don't know."
"You said you found Daniel three years ago."
"Yes."
"Where?"
Julian gave Denise directions.
"An old farmhouse outside Riverton."
We drove for another forty minutes.
The roads became narrower.
The rain eased.
A single light appeared in the distance.
The house stood behind a line of trees.
No fence.
No cars.
No lights except one upstairs window.
Denise stopped.
Julian stared at the house.
"That's it."
Dr. Hale opened the door.
I grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
He looked at me.
"If Daniel is inside, he may not know who you are."
"I know."
"He may be frightened."
"I know."
"And he may not forgive you."
Dr. Hale swallowed.
"I know."
He stepped out.
Margaret followed.
Julian remained in the car.
"You're not coming?"
He shook his head.
"He won't trust me."
I looked at him.
"You knew him."
"I did."
"What did he call you?"
Julian looked down.
"Brother."
The word hurt him.
I could see it.
Dr. Hale approached the house.
He stopped at the front door.
Raised his hand.
Knocked.
Nothing.
He knocked again.
A light came on downstairs.
The door opened.
A man stood there.
He was in his mid-thirties.
Dark hair.
Lean face.
Hazel eyes.
And in the left eye, a pale green wedge.
Dr. Hale stopped breathing.
The man looked at him.
Then at Margaret.
His face hardened.
"Why are you here?"
Dr. Hale could barely speak.
"Daniel."
The man flinched.
Nobody moved.
Then he said quietly, "Don't call me that."
Dr. Hale's eyes filled.
"I am your father."
Daniel laughed once.
It wasn't amusement.
It was disbelief.
"My father died before I was born."
Margaret stepped forward.
"I lied to you."
Daniel stared at her.
"You knew this day would come."
"I hoped it wouldn't."
He looked past her.
Then he saw me.
His expression changed.
His eyes settled on the baby in my arms.
"Who is that?"
I stepped closer.
"Your grandson."
Daniel went completely still.
The word seemed to reach somewhere deeper than the name.
"My…"
He couldn't finish.
Dr. Hale whispered, "He's your son."
Daniel looked at the baby.
Then at me.
Then back at Dr. Hale.
"No."
The word was barely audible.
"I didn't have children."
"You do."
"How?"
I explained.
Not everything.
Not the entire inheritance.
Not yet.
Only enough.
Daniel listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he turned to Margaret.
"Why?"
She couldn't answer.
"Why did you tell me my father was dead?"
"Because I thought they would kill you."
"Who?"
"Your grandfather."
Daniel stared.
"He's dead."
"Yes."
"And Julian?"
Margaret nodded.
"He's alive."
Daniel's face changed.
"He found me."
Dr. Hale stepped forward.
"He told us where you were."
Daniel looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because he wants to stop what his father started."
Daniel gave a bitter smile.
"Julian doesn't stop anything."
I heard the car door close behind us.
Julian walked toward the house.
Daniel immediately stepped back.
"You."
Julian stopped.
"Daniel."
"Don't."
Julian nodded.
"I won't."
"Why did you tell them?"
"Because I couldn't keep lying."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"That's rich."
Julian accepted it.
"I deserve that."
Daniel looked at me.
"Does he want your child?"
"Yes."
Julian said, "Not like you think."
Daniel turned sharply.
"You threatened her."
"I tried to warn her."
"You tried to control the trust."
"Because if I don't, my father's people will."
Daniel stared at him.
"Then tell them the truth."
"I am."
"No."
Daniel pointed toward the road.
"They're already here."
Everyone turned.
Headlights appeared beyond the trees.
Two vehicles.
Then three.
Julian's face went pale.
"Inside."
Denise locked the car.
Daniel stepped into the doorway.
"How many?"
Julian counted.
"Six. Maybe seven."
Dr. Hale looked at Daniel.
"What do they want?"
"The same thing they've always wanted."
Daniel looked at my baby.
"An heir they can control."
Margaret took my arm.
"There's a cellar."
Daniel nodded.
"Go."
I held my son tighter.
The first vehicle stopped outside.
A door opened.
A man's voice called from the darkness.
"Julian."
Julian closed his eyes.
Then he whispered:
"My father's lawyer."
The same man who had stood in my hospital room.
Grant Pierce.
He had found us.
Click here to continue reading: PART 10: Grant arrived with documents claiming my son belonged to the Vance trust, but Daniel exposed a clause that could destroy the entire inheritance scheme
My newborn son was barely breathing steadily when the doctor saw a mark behind his ear, and my ex-husband arrived with a lawyer before I could ask why
Part 9 of 12
