Chapter 9: The Blue Room and the Woman Who Never Died
Marcus moved quickly.
He pulled the curtains closed and told Samuel to take Noah upstairs.
Patricia held the boy tightly.
“What's happening?””
Marcus looked through a narrow gap in the curtains.
“Someone is watching the house.””
Danielle read the message again.
“Maybe it's Daniel's men.””
Richard shook his head.
“Daniel is in custody. This is Robert.””
Victoria looked furious.
“Then let's call the police.””
Marcus nodded.
“Already doing it.””
He dialed the emergency number.
But before the call connected, the electricity went out.
The house plunged into darkness.
Noah began crying upstairs.
Patricia whispered, “Oh, God.””
Samuel rushed toward the staircase.
“Stay here!””
A loud bang came from the back door.
Marcus grabbed a heavy flashlight.
Richard reached for his walking stick.
Danielle took Victoria's hand.
Then a woman's voice came from outside.
“Richard! Open the door!””
Richard froze.
Victoria's face drained of color.
She knew that voice.
She had heard it in childhood.
In school hallways.
At family dinners.
In nightmares.
“Mom?”” she whispered.
The voice came again.
“Victoria, sweetheart. I know you're inside.””
Victoria began shaking.
Richard looked at her.
“Don't open it.””
But Victoria was already walking toward the back door.
Marcus caught her wrist.
“Victoria, wait.””
She turned toward him.
“That's my mother.””
“And we don't know why she's here.””
Victoria pulled away.
“I've spent seven years believing she was dead.””
The voice outside became impatient.
“Victoria! Open this door!””
Marcus switched on his flashlight.
He positioned himself beside the entrance.
Then he unlocked it.
A woman stood beneath the porch light.
She was older, with silver hair and a long beige coat.
Her face was thinner than Victoria remembered.
But the eyes were unmistakable.
Evelyn Hayes.
Victoria's mother.
“Hello, darling.””
Victoria stared.
“Why?””
Evelyn stepped inside.
“Because we need to talk.””
Victoria slapped her.
Hard.
Evelyn touched her cheek.
“I understand you're angry.””
“Angry?””
Victoria's voice cracked.
“You let me believe you were dead!””
Evelyn sighed.
“I did what I had to do.””
“You helped Daniel take my baby away!””
“I was trying to protect you.””
Victoria laughed through her tears.
“You call this protection?””
Evelyn looked toward Marcus.
“Hello, Marcus.””
He stood motionless.
“You helped Daniel destroy my life.””
Evelyn removed her gloves.
“Your father and Richard made decisions that forced my hand.””
Richard stepped forward.
“Don't put this on me.””
Evelyn looked at him.
“You were moving stolen money through the company. Robert knew. Daniel knew. Everyone was trying to survive.””
Danielle moved closer.
“Where is my mother's money?””
Evelyn looked at her.
“Your mother made a terrible mistake.””
“She trusted you.””
“She trusted the wrong people.””
Danielle raised the letter.
“My mother knew about the stolen money. She left proof.””
Evelyn's expression changed.
“Where did you get that?””
“From Patricia.””
Evelyn looked toward the stairs.
“Where is the boy?””
Marcus stepped in front of her.
“Stay away from Noah.””
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“You don't understand. Noah is the key to everything.””
Victoria shook her head.
“He's a child.””
“He's an heir.””
Richard looked at her.
“What are you talking about?””
Evelyn reached into her handbag and pulled out a document.
She placed it on the table.
It was a trust agreement.
The beneficiary was Noah Brooks.
The amount listed was $12 million.
Marcus stared.
“My father left twelve million dollars for Noah?””
Richard nodded slowly.
“I created the trust after learning about the boy.””
Evelyn tapped the document.
“And Daniel discovered it. He wanted control of the money.””
Danielle frowned.
“Why would he need Noah's legal mother to be me?””
Evelyn looked directly at her.
“Because the trust required a guardian. Someone with no criminal history and a legitimate connection to the Brooks family.””
Danielle understood.
Daniel had used her name because she was Marcus's wife.
Her identity made the arrangement appear legitimate.
Evelyn continued.
“But when you began asking questions about the money, Daniel became worried.””
Danielle stared at her.
“What questions?””
Evelyn looked uncomfortable.
“Your mother had already taught you how to recognize financial fraud. You were beginning to notice inconsistencies in your business accounts.””
Danielle remembered.
Six months earlier, she'd questioned several unexplained payments.
Daniel had told her not to worry.
He had said Marcus handled the finances.
She had believed him.
Evelyn leaned closer.
“Daniel needed you to look guilty before you discovered everything.””
Marcus's expression darkened.
“Where is Robert?””
Evelyn glanced at the door.
“Waiting.””
Marcus moved toward her.
“Where?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
Instead, she took a small remote control from her handbag.
She pressed a button.
A television in the living room turned on.
The screen showed a live camera feed.
Patricia was upstairs.
Noah was beside her.
And a man stood behind them.
He was holding a gun.
Danielle screamed.
Marcus lunged toward the staircase.
Evelyn blocked his path.
“Don't.””
Marcus grabbed her arm.
“Turn it off!””
Evelyn looked at him.
“Bring me the original trust documents.””
Richard stepped forward.
“Evelyn, don't do this.””
She shook her head.
“I'm tired of being the only person who pays for everyone else's mistakes.””
Victoria stared at her mother.
“You're threatening a child?””
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“I've spent my entire life cleaning up after this family.””
Marcus pulled out his phone.
Evelyn immediately pressed another button.
The television screen went black.
A loud crash came from upstairs.
Marcus ran.
Danielle followed.
They reached the second floor just as Samuel emerged from Noah's bedroom.
His face was covered in blood.
“Where's the boy?”” Marcus shouted.
Samuel pointed toward the open window.
“Someone took him.””
Patricia was on the floor, crying.
Victoria rushed to her.
“Where's Noah?””
Patricia could barely speak.
“Two men... they came through the balcony.””
Marcus looked out the window.
A black van was speeding away from the street.
He ran downstairs.
Evelyn was gone.
So was Richard.
Danielle found an envelope on the table.
Inside was a photograph of the old Brooks family estate.
A red circle marked one location.
The blue room.
On the back was a handwritten message:
*ONE CHILD FOR ONE DOCUMENT.*
Marcus called the police again.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Robert's voice came through.
“Hello, nephew.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“Where's Noah?””
“Safe. For now.””
“Touch him and I'll kill you.””
Robert laughed.
“You sound like your father.””
Marcus looked at Danielle.
“What do you want?””
“The original trust documents. Bring them to the blue room at midnight.””
“Why?””
“Because that's where your mother kept the original recording.””
Marcus glanced at the photograph.
“And if I bring them?””
“You get the boy.””
“And if I don't?””
Robert paused.
“Then perhaps Noah will grow up wondering why his father never came looking for him.””
Marcus ended the call.
Danielle grabbed his arm.
“We can't let him do this.””
Marcus nodded.
“We won't.””
He turned toward Victoria.
“Do you know the blue room?””
Victoria shook her head.
“No. But I know someone who does.””
“Who?””
Victoria looked at the photograph.
“Your mother.””
Marcus frowned.
“My mother died twelve years ago.””
Victoria shook her head.
“That's what Daniel wanted everyone to believe.””
Richard suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs.
His face was pale.
“She's right.””
Marcus turned.
“What are you talking about?””
Richard walked slowly into the room.
“Your mother is alive.””
Marcus stared at him.
Richard took a breath.
“She's been living under another name for twelve years.””
Danielle whispered, “Where?””
Richard looked toward the photograph.
“Inside the old family estate.””
Then he added:
“And she's the only person who knows where the original trust documents are hidden.””
Marcus stared at his father.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Richard lowered his eyes.
“Because your mother asked me to keep you away from her.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Why?””
Richard looked toward the front door.
“Because she was the one who started this entire scheme.””
The clock on the wall read 10:47 p.m.
May you like
They had just over an hour before midnight.
And somewhere inside the old Brooks estate, a woman who had been declared dead was waiting for her son.
