Chapter 4 - THE MAN IN THE SHADOWSArthur drove for three hours before finding the town.
He did not tell Claire the full plan.
He only said they needed answers.
The address led to a small mechanic's shop.
A man in his late thirties stood beneath a raised car hood.
He looked up.
Arthur stopped.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Thomas wiped his hands on a rag.
“You shouldn't have come.”
Arthur stared at him.
“You called me.”
“I warned you.”
“You threatened my family.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Arthur stepped closer.
“You're my brother.”
Thomas looked away.
“That word doesn't mean anything to me.”
“It should.”
“No.”
Thomas closed the hood.
“Your mother made sure of that.”
Arthur's voice softened.
“Tell me what happened.”
Thomas laughed bitterly.
“You want the short version?”
“Yes.”
“She lied.”
“About everything?”
“Almost.”
Thomas walked into the office.
Arthur followed.
Thomas opened a drawer.
Inside were dozens of documents.
“I spent my entire life being told my father abandoned me.”
Arthur shook his head.
“He didn't.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“Because he found me.”
Arthur stopped.
“When?”
“Five years ago.”
“What did he tell you?”
Thomas's eyes became wet.
“He told me he loved me.”
Arthur swallowed.
“What happened?”
“Margaret found out.”
Thomas handed him a photograph.
Richard was standing beside Thomas.
Father and son.
Arthur stared at his father's face.
It was the happiest he had ever seen him.
“He wanted to take me away from her.”
“Why didn't he?”
“Because she threatened you.”
Arthur looked up.
“Me?”
“She told him she'd destroy your life.”
Thomas continued.
“She had people ready to accuse your father of financial crimes. She said if he fought her, she'd make sure you went to prison.”
Arthur felt sick.
“She controlled him.”
“Yes.”
“What happened next?”
Thomas stared at the photograph.
“Your father gave me evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“Proof that Margaret and Victor had been stealing money.”
Arthur nodded.
“I have some of it.”
Thomas looked surprised.
“Then you don't have much time.”
“Why?”
“Because Margaret knows.”
Arthur's phone rang.
Claire.
He answered.
“Claire?”
Her voice was trembling.
“Arthur, come home.”
“What happened?”
“Noah is missing.”
Arthur froze.
“What?”
“I left him with the nurse for ten minutes.”
“Where is she?”
“She doesn't know.”
Arthur's blood turned cold.
“Call the police.”
“I already did.”
Thomas grabbed his coat.
“I'm coming.”
Arthur stared at him.
“You don't have to.”
Thomas looked at him.
“He's my nephew.”
They drove back.
The house was surrounded by police.
Claire ran toward Arthur.
She was crying.
“They took him.”
Arthur held her.
“We'll find him.”
The detective approached.
“We found something.”
He handed Arthur a white envelope.
Inside was a photograph of Noah.
On the back:
THE TRUST DOCUMENTS. MIDNIGHT.
Arthur's face hardened.
Thomas looked at the photograph.
“Margaret.”
Arthur nodded.
The detective asked,
“Who is Margaret?”
Arthur looked at him.
“My mother.”
The detective's expression changed.
“She kidnapped the baby?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have proof?”
Arthur handed him the photograph.
The detective looked at it.
“We'll issue an alert.”
Arthur shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if we move too quickly, she could hurt him.”
The detective frowned.
“What do you suggest?”
Arthur looked at Thomas.
Thomas understood.
“Give her what she wants.”
Claire stared.
“You can't.”
Arthur took her hands.
“We'll get Noah back first.”
“And then?”
“Then we make sure she can never hurt anyone again.”
At eleven forty-five, Arthur arrived at the family mansion.
The house was dark.
He entered alone.
“Mom!”
A light came on upstairs.
Margaret stood at the top of the stairs.
She was holding Noah.
Arthur's heart stopped.
“Give him to me.”
Margaret smiled.
“You came.”
“Where are the documents?”
“I want proof that you brought them.”
Arthur held up a folder.
Margaret descended slowly.
“You really chose Claire.”
Arthur stared at his mother.
“You made me choose.”
She stopped.
“No. She stole you from me.”
“You attacked her.”
“She was destroying my family.”
“She was protecting our son.”
Margaret looked at Noah.
“Your father would have understood.”
Arthur's voice became cold.
“Don't talk about Dad.”
Margaret smiled.
“He knew the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That you were never supposed to inherit.”
Arthur froze.
“What?”
Margaret walked closer.
“Your father intended to leave everything to Thomas.”
Thomas stepped out of the shadows.
Margaret's face went white.
“You.”
Thomas looked at her.
“Hello, Mother.”
Noah began crying.
Margaret backed away.
Arthur moved.
Thomas moved too.
The police burst through the doors.
Margaret dropped to her knees.
Noah was safe.
Arthur grabbed his son.
Claire ran into the room.
She took Noah and held him tightly.
Margaret stared at Thomas.
“You should have stayed hidden.”
Thomas answered quietly.
“So should you.”
Margaret was arrested.
But Arthur knew the arrest was only the beginning.
Because the documents Margaret had demanded were not about money.
They contained the evidence of his father's murder.
May you like
And now someone else would do anything to destroy them.
===
Related Stories
