Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER NO ONE KNEWArthur spent the entire morning trying to prove the notebook was wrong.
He searched old family records.
Nothing.
He searched hospital databases.
Nothing.
He called the cemetery where his mother had supposedly buried Thomas.
There was no record.
No grave.
No death certificate.
Nothing.
It was as if Thomas Vance had never existed.
But the notebook said otherwise.
Claire sat beside him at the kitchen table.
“Maybe your father made a mistake.”
Arthur shook his head.
“Dad never made mistakes with records.”
“Then why would your mother say the baby died?”
“I don't know.”
He looked toward the nursery.
“Noah.”
Claire followed his gaze.
Arthur suddenly understood.
Margaret had been obsessed with Noah's inheritance.
But perhaps the obsession had started decades earlier.
Maybe she had done the same thing before.
Arthur called Samuel.
The attorney answered immediately.
“Did you find the notebook?”
“Yes.”
Samuel became silent.
“You know about Thomas.”
“I knew your father believed Thomas was alive.”
Arthur stood.
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Who does?”
“Evelyn.”
Arthur remembered the photograph.
“Where is she?”
Samuel gave him an address.
It was a small house near the coast.
Arthur and Claire drove there that afternoon.
An elderly woman opened the door.
The moment she saw Arthur, she began to cry.
“You look exactly like him.”
Arthur stared.
“You knew my father?”
“Yes.”
“You knew Thomas?”
Evelyn stepped aside.
“Come in.”
The house was filled with old photographs.
Arthur noticed one immediately.
His father was standing beside Evelyn.
A little boy was between them.
Thomas.
Arthur stared.
“Where is he?”
Evelyn sat down.
“He was taken away.”
“By whom?”
“Margaret.”
Arthur's fists tightened.
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“You have to know.”
Evelyn looked at Claire.
“Your mother-in-law was terrified that Thomas would inherit everything.”
“But why?”
“Because Richard loved that boy.”
Arthur frowned.
“He loved me too.”
“I know.”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“But Thomas was born with a medical condition.”
Arthur's expression changed.
“What condition?”
“Nothing that made him incapable of living a normal life. But Margaret used it against him.”
“She called him unstable.”
“Yes.”
“She lied.”
“Yes.”
Arthur walked toward the window.
“What happened to him?”
Evelyn stood.
“Your father tried to take custody.”
“And?”
“Margaret disappeared with the boy.”
“For how long?”
“Years.”
Arthur looked at her.
“Did Dad find them?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Shortly before his death.”
Arthur's heart pounded.
“Where?”
Evelyn opened an old box.
Inside was a letter.
Your father planned to expose Margaret.
He had evidence.
But he never got the chance.
Arthur read the letter.
Claire stood beside him.
“Who stopped him?”
Evelyn whispered,
“Your mother wasn't alone.”
Arthur looked up.
“Who helped her?”
Evelyn's answer came slowly.
“Victor Hale.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
The name appeared again.
Then Evelyn handed him another photograph.
It showed Margaret standing outside a private hospital.
Beside her was Victor.
And behind them was a teenage boy.
Arthur stared.
“Is that Thomas?”
“Yes.”
“When was this taken?”
“Five years ago.”
Arthur's heart stopped.
“Thomas is alive.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Very much alive.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“Then who does?”
Evelyn looked toward the door.
Before she could answer, the glass window shattered.
Arthur grabbed Claire and pulled her to the floor.
A bullet struck the wall.
Claire screamed.
Arthur crawled toward the window.
A car sped away outside.
Evelyn was shaking.
“They found us.”
Arthur stood.
“Who?”
Evelyn looked terrified.
“Margaret.”
Arthur turned.
“Why would she shoot at us?”
“Because she knows you are close.”
“To Thomas?”
Evelyn nodded.
Arthur grabbed the photograph.
“We're finding him.”
That night, Arthur returned home.
He placed the photograph beside his father's notebook.
Then he noticed something he had missed.
On the back of the photograph was an address.
A rehabilitation center.
Arthur searched the name.
The center had closed six years earlier.
But the director was still alive.
Arthur called.
The director agreed to meet.
The next morning, Arthur and Claire sat across from an elderly doctor.
The doctor studied Arthur.
“You look like your father.”
Arthur had heard those words too many times.
“Did Thomas stay here?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“For almost four years.”
“Where did he go?”
The doctor sighed.
“He left voluntarily.”
“Why?”
“He was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Your mother.”
Arthur's jaw tightened.
“What did she do?”
The doctor lowered his voice.
“She told Thomas that if he ever contacted his father, someone would die.”
Arthur froze.
“Who?”
“Richard.”
Arthur looked at Claire.
“She threatened him with Dad.”
The doctor nodded.
“Thomas believed her.”
Arthur leaned forward.
“Where is he now?”
The doctor looked at a file.
“I haven't spoken to him in years.”
“Please.”
The doctor finally gave him a location.
A small town several hours away.
Arthur thanked him.
As he left, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice said,
“Stop looking for me.”
Arthur froze.
“Thomas?”
Silence.
Then:
“If you want your wife and son alive, forget my name.”
The line went dead.
Arthur stared at the phone.
Claire whispered,
“Who was it?”
Arthur looked at her.
May you like
“My brother.”
===
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