The tape stopped.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The basement seemed to hold its breath around us. The old cassette player clicked softly, the reels still turning even though the voice had disappeared.
I looked at my mother.
“What did he mean?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying.”
Her face crumpled.
“I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“You knew there was another child.”
“No.”
“You knew something.”
She backed against the wall.
Daniel stepped between us.
“Let her speak.”
I looked at him.
“My daughter has been kidnapped.”
“I know.”
“My father left a recording saying my mother transferred the money, Lily was named as the heir, and Michael had another child.”
“I know.”
“Then I think I’ve earned the truth.”
My mother closed her eyes.
“There was another baby.”
The words were barely audible.
“When?”
“Before Lily.”
I stared.
“Michael had another child?”
She nodded.
“A son.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't know?”
“He was taken.”
“By whom?”
My mother looked toward the cassette player.
“Your grandfather.”
The answer struck me harder than I expected.
“Why?”
“Because he believed the boy was dangerous.”
“How could a baby be dangerous?”
“He wasn't. Michael was.”
I waited.
My mother continued.
“Michael discovered your grandfather was moving money through accounts that weren't in the company records. He threatened to expose him. Your grandfather threatened to take Michael's son.”
“Did he?”
“Yes.”
I felt sick.
“What happened to the boy?”
“He disappeared.”
“His name?”
My mother hesitated.
“Daniel.”
My attorney looked up sharply.
“Daniel?”
She nodded.
“Daniel Vance.”
My attorney stared at her.
“That isn't possible.”
“Why?”
He looked pale.
“Because I know that name.”
I waited.
He swallowed.
“I was assigned to an estate case years ago. The beneficiary was listed as Daniel Vance.”
My mother covered her mouth.
“Where?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I never met him.”
“But you knew the name.”
“Yes.”
I turned toward the ledger.
“Is his name in there?”
We searched the pages.
There were hundreds of entries.
Transfers.
Initials.
Account numbers.
Dates.
Then I found it.
D. Vance.
My finger stopped.
Next to the name was a date.
The same date my mother had given birth to Michael’s first child.
Underneath was an account number.
Daniel photographed the page.
“This is evidence,” he said.
“Can you trace it?”
“Not without access.”
Detective Morris had already called for financial investigators.
My mother sat on an old wooden crate.
“I thought the boy was dead.”
“Why?”
“Your grandfather told me he had been sent away.”
“Where?”
“I never knew.”
“Did Michael know?”
“He suspected.”
“Then that's why he came back.”
She nodded.
“He wanted both children.”
I looked at Lily’s photograph in my mind.
Then at the ledger.
“Where is the second child now?”
My mother shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Daniel looked at the cassette player.
“Your father said your mother transferred the money before the accident.”
“What money?”
“The money tied to the ledger.”
I turned toward her.
“Where did you transfer it?”
She whispered, “Into a trust.”
“For Lily?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Fifteen years ago.”
My heart tightened.
“The day she was born?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew Michael might return.”
“You knew he was alive?”
“No.”
“Then why prepare for him?”
She looked down.
“Because I knew your father had lied about the bridge.”
I stared.
“What lie?”
“He told everyone Michael died.”
“But he didn't.”
“No.”
“Who knew he survived?”
“Your father. Me. Michael.”
“And maybe Evan.”
She shook her head.
“Evan learned later.”
I thought of my brother unconscious in the ambulance.
“Did Evan know about Lily?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He found the trust documents.”
“And then?”
“He tried to confront your father.”
My phone rang.
Detective Morris answered it.
His expression changed.
“It's the hospital.”
He put the call on speaker.
A nurse spoke quickly.
“Evan is awake.”
I stood.
“What happened?”
“He's asking for you.”
We left immediately.
At the hospital, Evan looked terrible.
A bandage covered the back of his head.
One eye was swollen.
When he saw me, he tried to sit up.
“Where's Lily?”
“We’re looking for her.”
He closed his eyes.
“Michael took her.”
“You know that?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I saw him.”
“When?”
“Before the crash.”
I moved closer.
“Tell me everything.”
Evan looked toward Daniel.
“He was at Dad’s house.”
“When?”
“Yesterday afternoon.”
“What did he want?”
“The ledger.”
“Did you give it to him?”
“No.”
“Then why did he leave?”
“Because he already knew where it was.”
I looked at my mother.
She stared at the floor.
Evan continued.
“Dad told me to find the ledger before Michael did.”
“Why?”
“He said if Michael found it, Lily would never be safe.”
I sat down.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Dad threatened me.”
“With what?”
“He said he would accuse me of stealing company money.”
I stared at him.
“Did you take the jacket?”
“No.”
“Your keychain?”
“No.”
“Then someone planted them.”
Evan nodded.
“I think Michael did.”
“Why frame you?”
“To keep me away from Lily.”
That made sense.
Or at least enough of it did.
“Did you help Michael?”
Evan looked offended.
“No.”
“Did you know he was alive?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Six months.”
I stared.
“Six months?”
“I found him through an old contact.”
“Why?”
“To prove Dad had lied.”
“And did Michael tell you about Lily?”
“Yes.”
“What else?”
Evan swallowed.
“He said Mom had another secret.”
“What secret?”
“He said Lily wasn't the only heir.”
I looked at Daniel.
The hospital monitor beeped steadily.
“Who is the other heir?”
Evan looked directly at me.
“Daniel.”
My attorney froze.
“Daniel Vance.”
The same name.
The same initials.
The same account.
Daniel stepped backward.
“I need to leave.”
Detective Morris blocked the doorway.
“Not yet.”
Daniel’s face had gone white.
“I had nothing to do with this.”
“Then stay.”
Daniel looked at me.
“I swear I didn't know.”
I believed him.
At least, I wanted to.
My mother suddenly whispered, “His name wasn't Daniel.”
Everyone turned.
“What?”
“When Michael's son was born, he was called Daniel.”
She looked at my attorney.
“But your grandfather changed his name.”
“To what?”
She didn't answer.
Daniel stared at her.
“What was it?”
My mother looked directly at him.
“David.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“No.”
She nodded.
“David Vance.”
He sat down slowly.
“My parents told me I was adopted.”
My blood ran cold.
“You're Michael’s son.”
He shook his head.
“That’s impossible.”
My mother whispered, “It isn't.”
Detective Morris looked between them.
“So the second child has been here this entire time.”
Nobody spoke.
Daniel stood.
“I need proof.”
“You'll get it.”
He looked at me.
“And Lily?”
“We bring her home.”
A nurse appeared at the door.
“Detective?”
He stepped outside.
When he returned, his face was grim.
“We received another message.”
I knew before he spoke.
“From Michael?”
“Yes.”
He handed me the phone.
A photograph showed Lily sitting inside a dim room.
She looked frightened but unharmed.
Beside her was a table.
On it sat a small black ledger.
The same ledger we had just found.
I looked at the one in our hands.
Then at the photograph.
“They're identical.”
Detective Morris shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed.
The ledger beside Lily had a different clasp.
My stomach tightened.
“There are two ledgers.”
My mother whispered, “No.”
I turned.
“What?”
She looked terrified.
“There was only supposed to be one.”
Michael had sent another message.
You found the decoy.
Bring me the real one.
Then another appeared.
And bring David.
My eyes moved slowly toward Daniel.
Michael didn't just want the ledger.
He wanted his son.
Click here to continue reading: PART 10: The Second Ledger Was Hidden in Plain Sight, and Michael’s Demand Forced Us to Choose Between Recovering the Money and Saving Lily
The Police Said My Daughter Drove the Car, but One Detail About Her Locked Bedroom Made Their Entire Story Impossible
Part 9 of 15
