Chapter 8: The Child Who Knew My Name
"Daddy?## Chapter 8: The Child Who Knew My Name
"Daddy? Are you finally here?""
I froze.
The voice came from the other Are you finally here?""
I froze.
The voice came from the other side of the metal door.
It was small, exhausted, and unmistakably frightened.
I rushed toward it.
"Yes! I'm here! What's your name?""
There side of the metal door.
It was small, exhausted, and unmistakably frightened.
I rushed toward it.
"Yes! I'm here! What's your name?""
There was a pause.
Then the child answered.
"No was a pause.
Then the child answered.
"Noah.""
My heart slammed against my ribs.
I grabbed the handle.
It wouldn't move.
"Daniel! Help me open this door!""
Daniel rushed forward and pulled at the handle.
"It's locked from the outside.""
I slammed my shoulder against the metal.
Nothing.
Behindah.""
My heart slammed against my ribs.
I grabbed the handle.
It wouldn't move.
"Daniel! Help me open this door!""
Daniel rushed forward and pulled at the handle.
"It's locked from the outside.""
I slammed my shoulder against the metal.
Nothing.
Behind me, the cassette recorder continued playing static.
Then I heard another sound.
A series of heavy footsteps above us.
Someone was moving through the bedroom.
"Officer Miller!"" I shouted.
"We need help down here!""
There was no response.
Daniel me, the cassette recorder continued playing static.
Then I heard another sound.
A series of heavy footsteps above us.
Someone was moving through the bedroom.
"Officer Miller!"" I shouted.
"We need help down here!""
There was no response.
Daniel examined the lock.
"There's another release mechanism.""
"Then find it!""
He ran his fingers along the wall.
I crouched beside the door.
"Noah? Can you hear me?""
"Yes.""
"Are you hurt?""
"I'm examined the lock.
"There's another release mechanism.""
"Then find it!""
He ran his fingers along the wall.
I crouched beside the door.
"Noah? Can you hear me?""
"Yes.""
"Are you hurt?""
"I'm cold.""
I closed my eyes.
Six years.
My little boy had spent six years somewhere in this house.
I took off my jacket and pushed it through the narrow opening beneath the door.
"Can you reach that?""
A tiny hand appeared.
It grabbed the sleeve.
"Thank you cold.""
I closed my eyes.
Six years.
My little boy had spent six years somewhere in this house.
I took off my jacket and pushed it through the narrow opening beneath the door.
"Can you reach that?""
A tiny hand appeared.
It grabbed the sleeve.
"Thank you, Daddy.""
I swallowed hard.
"You're welcome, buddy.""
Then he asked a question that nearly destroyed me.
"Are you mad at me?""
I leaned closer.
, Daddy.""
I swallowed hard.
"You're welcome, buddy.""
Then he asked a question that nearly destroyed me.
"Are you mad at me?""
I leaned closer.
"Why would I be mad at you?""
"Because Grandpa said you didn't want me.""
My throat tightened.
"Noah, listen to me. I didn't know you were here. I swear I didn't.""
"Grandpa said Mommy"Why would I be mad at you?""
"Because Grandpa said you didn't want me.""
My throat tightened.
"Noah, listen to me. I didn't know you were here. I swear I didn't.""
"Grandpa said Mommy tried to take me, but you told her not to.""
I felt something inside me snap.
"That's not true.""
There was a small silence.
Then Noah whispered, "Okay.""
tried to take me, but you told her not to.""
I felt something inside me snap.
"That's not true.""
There was a small silence.
Then Noah whispered, "Okay.""
Daniel finally found a concealed switch.
He pressed it.
A mechanical click sounded.
The door opened.
Daniel finally found a concealed switch.
He pressed it.
A mechanical click sounded.
The door opened.
I dropped to my knees.
A tiny boy stood on the other side.
He wore an oversized blue sweatshirt and gray trousers. His hair was tangled, his cheeks pale, and his bare feet were covered in dust.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
My eyes.
He stared at me.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Is he really my daddy?""
I nodded.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
Noah slowly reached toward myI dropped to my knees.
A tiny boy stood on the other side.
He wore an oversized blue sweatshirt and gray trousers. His hair was tangled, his cheeks pale, and his bare feet were covered in dust.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
My eyes.
He stared at me.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Is he really my daddy?""
I nodded.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
Noah slowly reached toward my face.
His fingers touched my cheek.
Then he began crying.
Not loudly.
Just quiet, exhausted sobs, like a child who had been waiting so long that he had forgotten how to ask for face.
His fingers touched my cheek.
Then he began crying.
Not loudly.
Just quiet, exhausted sobs, like a child who had been waiting so long that he had forgotten how to ask for help.
I pulled him into my arms.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"I'm so sorry.""
He buried his face in my neck.
"You're warm.""
I held him tighter.
Above help.
I pulled him into my arms.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"I'm so sorry.""
He buried his face in my neck.
"You're warm.""
I held him tighter.
Above us, someone screamed.
Then came a crash.
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
"We need to get out.""
I picked Noah up.
"What's happening?""
"Richard.""
We rushed toward the staircase.
When we reached the bedroom, us, someone screamed.
Then came a crash.
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
"We need to get out.""
I picked Noah up.
"What's happening?""
"Richard.""
We rushed toward the staircase.
When we reached the bedroom, the room was empty.
The closet doors hung open.
A chair had been knocked over.
Officer Miller's radio lay on the floor.
I grabbed it.
"Officer Miller, respond!""
Static.
Then a faint voice.
"Mitchell... get the children... leave the house...""
"Where the room was empty.
The closet doors hung open.
A chair had been knocked over.
Officer Miller's radio lay on the floor.
I grabbed it.
"Officer Miller, respond!""
Static.
Then a faint voice.
"Mitchell... get the children... leave the house...""
"Where are you?""
A crash interrupted her.
Then silence.
Daniel looked through the bedroom window.
The black SUV was gone.
I turned toward the hallway.
"Where's are you?""
A crash interrupted her.
Then silence.
Daniel looked through the bedroom window.
The black SUV was gone.
I turned toward the hallway.
"Where's Vanessa?""
Noah suddenly gripped my shirt.
"Grandpa took Mommy.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"What?""
He nodded.
"She came down here yesterday Vanessa?""
Noah suddenly gripped my shirt.
"Grandpa took Mommy.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"What?""
He nodded.
"She came down here yesterday. She told me to be brave. Then Grandpa said she had to come with him.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Yesterday?""
Daniel shook his head.
"That's impossible. Vanessa was here.""
Noah. She told me to be brave. Then Grandpa said she had to come with him.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Yesterday?""
Daniel shook his head.
"That's impossible. Vanessa was here.""
Noah looked confused.
"Not that Mommy.""
I crouched.
"Which mommy, sweetheart?""
He pointed toward the staircase.
"The other one.""
The looked confused.
"Not that Mommy.""
I crouched.
"Which mommy, sweetheart?""
He pointed toward the staircase.
"The other one.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I looked at the photograph again.
The woman holding the newborn baby.
My mother.
But she had supposedly disappeared six years earlier.
I turned toward Daniel.
"Who was with Noah yesterday?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Your mother.""
I couldn't breathe.
"She's room seemed to tilt.
I looked at the photograph again.
The woman holding the newborn baby.
My mother.
But she had supposedly disappeared six years earlier.
I turned toward Daniel.
"Who was with Noah yesterday?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Your mother.""
I couldn't breathe.
"She's alive?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
I stumbled backward.
All those years.
All those explanations.
The hospital.
The funeral.
The stories about her death.
They had all been lies.
I grabbed Daniel's jacket.
"Where is she?""
"I don't know.""
"You're telling me you knew my mother was alive?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
I stumbled backward.
All those years.
All those explanations.
The hospital.
The funeral.
The stories about her death.
They had all been lies.
I grabbed Daniel's jacket.
"Where is she?""
"I don't know.""
"You're telling me you knew my mother was alive and you didn't tell me?""
"I was trying to find her.""
I shoved him away.
"You're all the same! Every one of you has spent years deciding what I deserve to know!""
Noah began crying.
I immediately turned toward him.
"Hey. It's okay.""
alive and you didn't tell me?""
"I was trying to find her.""
I shoved him away.
"You're all the same! Every one of you has spent years deciding what I deserve to know!""
Noah began crying.
I immediately turned toward him.
"Hey. It's okay.""
He looked up at me.
"Are Emily and Sophie here?""
I nodded.
"They're safe.""
His face brightened.
"My sisters?""
"Yes.""
He reached for my hand.
"Can I see them?""
I picked him up.
"Absolutely.""
We hurried downstairs.
Emily andHe looked up at me.
"Are Emily and Sophie here?""
I nodded.
"They're safe.""
His face brightened.
"My sisters?""
"Yes.""
He reached for my hand.
"Can I see them?""
I picked him up.
"Absolutely.""
We hurried downstairs.
Emily and Sophie were sitting beside the sofa with a paramedic who had arrived with the additional officers.
The moment Noah appeared, Emily screamed.
"NOAH!""
She ran toward us.
Sophie followed.
The three children collided in a tight embrace Sophie were sitting beside the sofa with a paramedic who had arrived with the additional officers.
The moment Noah appeared, Emily screamed.
"NOAH!""
She ran toward us.
Sophie followed.
The three children collided in a tight embrace.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Noah started laughing.
A small, beautiful sound.
Emily touched his hair.
"You got bigger.""
.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Noah started laughing.
A small, beautiful sound.
Emily touched his hair.
"You got bigger.""
Noah grinned.
"You're still shorter than me.""
Sophie began crying.
"We thought you were gone.""
Noah looked at her.
"Grandpa said you were bad.""
Emily shook herNoah grinned.
"You're still shorter than me.""
Sophie began crying.
"We thought you were gone.""
Noah looked at her.
"Grandpa said you were bad.""
Emily shook her head.
"Grandpa lies.""
I watched them hold each other.
Three children.
Three little lives stolen from me.
A paramedic approached.
"Mr. Mitchell, we need to take the children to the hospital.""
I nodded.
"All three together.""
"Of course.""
Then head.
"Grandpa lies.""
I watched them hold each other.
Three children.
Three little lives stolen from me.
A paramedic approached.
"Mr. Mitchell, we need to take the children to the hospital.""
I nodded.
"All three together.""
"Of course.""
Then I looked around.
"Where's Officer Miller?""
A younger officer approached.
"She's been taken to the hospital. She was struck while trying to stop a suspect from leaving the property.""
My stomach tightened.
"Is she alive?""
"Yes. She's conscious.""
I exhaled.
"Where is I looked around.
"Where's Officer Miller?""
A younger officer approached.
"She's been taken to the hospital. She was struck while trying to stop a suspect from leaving the property.""
My stomach tightened.
"Is she alive?""
"Yes. She's conscious.""
I exhaled.
"Where is Richard?""
The officer hesitated.
"He escaped.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"He's heading to Cincinnati.""
I turned.
"How do you know?""
Daniel reached into his pocket and Richard?""
The officer hesitated.
"He escaped.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"He's heading to Cincinnati.""
I turned.
"How do you know?""
Daniel reached into his pocket and showed me his phone.
There was a message from an unknown number.
The final meeting is tonight. Bring the original documents. Come alone.
I looked at him.
"Who's that?""
He shook his head.
"Someone who's been controlling everything.""
"Richard?""
"No showed me his phone.
There was a message from an unknown number.
The final meeting is tonight. Bring the original documents. Come alone.
I looked at him.
"Who's that?""
He shook his head.
"Someone who's been controlling everything.""
"Richard?""
"No.""
He enlarged the message.
At the bottom was a location.
An abandoned private hospital outside Cincinnati.
Then another message appeared.
If you want your mother back, bring your son.
I looked down.""
He enlarged the message.
At the bottom was a location.
An abandoned private hospital outside Cincinnati.
Then another message appeared.
If you want your mother back, bring your son.
I looked down at Noah.
His little hand tightened around mine.
I felt sick.
"They want him.""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
He stared at the message.
"Because Noah is the only person who can identify the woman who helped Richard arrange the children's disappearance.""
I looked toward at Noah.
His little hand tightened around mine.
I felt sick.
"They want him.""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
He stared at the message.
"Because Noah is the only person who can identify the woman who helped Richard arrange the children's disappearance.""
I looked toward the ambulance.
Emily and Sophie were being examined.
Noah stood beside me, holding my hand.
"Who is that woman?"" I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
"Your mother.""
I shook my head.
"That makes the ambulance.
Emily and Sophie were being examined.
Noah stood beside me, holding my hand.
"Who is that woman?"" I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
"Your mother.""
I shook my head.
"That makes no sense.""
"She wasn't working with Richard. She was pretending to help him.""
"Why?""
Daniel took a long breath.
"Because she discovered that someone had replaced the original hospital records. She spent no sense.""
"She wasn't working with Richard. She was pretending to help him.""
"Why?""
Daniel took a long breath.
"Because she discovered that someone had replaced the original hospital records. She spent years pretending to cooperate while secretly collecting evidence.""
I looked at the message again.
Then another notification appeared.
This time, it was a photograph.
My mother was sitting in a chair inside a years pretending to cooperate while secretly collecting evidence.""
I looked at the message again.
Then another notification appeared.
This time, it was a photograph.
My mother was sitting in a chair inside a dark room.
Her hair was white.
Her face was thinner.
But she was alive.
Underneath the photograph were seven words.
Come alone, or your mother dies tonight.
Noah looked up at me.
"Daddy?""
I knelt.
"Yes, buddy?""
He touched dark room.
Her hair was white.
Her face was thinner.
But she was alive.
Underneath the photograph were seven words.
Come alone, or your mother dies tonight.
Noah looked up at me.
"Daddy?""
I knelt.
"Yes, buddy?""
He touched my face.
"Grandpa said you would come for us.""
I pulled him into my arms.
"He's right about one thing.""
I looked at the photograph.
"I'm coming.""
But as the ambulance doors closed behind my children, my phone rang.
The caller my face.
"Grandpa said you would come for us.""
I pulled him into my arms.
"He's right about one thing.""
I looked at the photograph.
"I'm coming.""
But as the ambulance doors closed behind my children, my phone rang.
The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
"Ryan, don't go to that hospital.""
I froze.
"Who is this?""
She breathed shakily.
Then she said:
"I'm your mother. ID showed an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
"Ryan, don't go to that hospital.""
I froze.
"Who is this?""
She breathed shakily.
Then she said:
"I'm your mother. And the man who sent you that photograph isn't Richard.""
May you like
A pause.
"It's the person you've been calling your father.""
