Chapter 13: The Man Behind the Blackwood Name
"That's not Thomas.""
My mother's words echoed through the hospital corridor.
Agent Brooks stared at the photograph on his phone.
"Are you absolutely certain?""
My mother nodded.
"I would recognize Thomas anywhere. The man you arrested has his face, but look at his left hand.""
Brooks enlarged the image.
There was a small scar across the man's thumb.
"Thomas lost two fingers on his left hand in a boating accident when he was twenty-six," my mother explained.
"The man in your custody has all ten.""
My father sank against the wall.
"Then who have we arrested?""
My mother looked at him.
"Samuel.""
I stared at the photograph again.
The little girl standing beside the man looked about seven years old. She had dark hair, a pink coat, and a small backpack.
Something about her face seemed familiar.
"Who is that child?"" I asked.
My mother began crying.
"Her name is Lily.""
"Do you know her?""
She nodded.
"She's Samuel's daughter.""
Emma stepped forward.
"Why would Samuel bring his daughter into this?""
My mother looked at the floor.
"Because Lily is the only person Samuel has ever genuinely loved.""
I frowned.
"Then why is he using her?""
"Because he knows I would do anything to protect her.""
Agent Brooks immediately called his team.
"Get units to the Blackwood mansion. We have a possible hostage situation.""
I grabbed my jacket.
"I'm coming.""
"No," Brooks replied.
"You're not.""
"That's my home.""
"And there's an armed suspect potentially holding a child.""
"My niece is out there.""
Emma took my hand.
"Adrian, we're going together.""
Brooks shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
My mother stepped between us.
"Daniel, listen to me. Samuel won't hurt Lily. He wants the inheritance, and he believes she gives him leverage.""
"That's still a dangerous situation.""
"I know. That's why you need to let Adrian come.""
Brooks studied her face.
Finally, he nodded.
"But you follow my instructions.""
Twenty-five minutes later, our vehicles entered the mansion's driveway.
The front gates stood open.
The security lights were on, but the house was strangely quiet.
A single lamp illuminated the entrance.
Samuel stood on the front steps.
He wore a dark suit and held Lily's hand.
When he saw us, he smiled.
"Well, look at that. The whole family has arrived.""
I stepped out of the vehicle.
"Let the girl go.""
Samuel laughed.
"You're still giving orders, Adrian?""
"She's a child. She has nothing to do with this.""
"She's my daughter.""
"Then act like her father.""
His smile disappeared.
"Don't lecture me about family.""
Lily looked up at him.
"Daddy, why are these people here?""
Samuel crouched beside her.
"They're people who took something that belonged to us.""
My mother stepped forward.
"Samuel.""
He turned.
For a moment, his expression softened.
"Margaret.""
She began crying.
"I raised you as my own.""
"No. You raised me as a reminder of my father's mistake.""
"That isn't true.""
"Your husband stole my inheritance. Your children inherited everything while I was told to be grateful for a bedroom.""
Richard stepped forward.
"Samuel, your grandfather left you nothing because he knew what you were becoming.""
Samuel laughed bitterly.
"Of course you'd say that.""
I looked at him.
"Your father was my grandfather. That doesn't make us enemies.""
Samuel's eyes hardened.
"You have no idea what it feels like to watch another man inherit your future.""
"I know what it feels like to wake up unable to walk because someone tried to kill me.""
He stared at my legs.
Then he looked toward my mother.
"You told them everything?""
"Enough," she replied.
Samuel pulled a folded document from his jacket.
"Then perhaps they should know the rest.""
He held it up.
It was the original trust agreement.
My father stepped forward.
"Where did you get that?""
"From the person who was supposed to protect it.""
Samuel looked directly at Eleanor Hayes.
She had arrived with us but remained near the vehicles.
Her face went white.
"Samuel," she whispered.
He smiled.
"Hello, Mother.""
Emma gasped.
I looked at Eleanor.
"What?""
Eleanor began shaking.
Samuel continued.
"She knew everything. She knew who my father was. She knew the inheritance belonged to me. And she helped your mother hide the truth.""
Eleanor approached slowly.
"Samuel, I wanted to protect you.""
"You gave me away.""
"Your father was dead.""
"Because your family wanted him gone!""
Richard interrupted.
"That's enough. Your father died in a plane crash.""
Samuel laughed.
"That's what you were told.""
He pointed toward my mother.
"Ask her who was supposed to be on that plane.""
My mother closed her eyes.
I felt the room shift around me.
"Mom?""
She looked at me.
"Your grandfather had another son besides Samuel's father. A man named Robert. He was supposed to testify about the fraudulent inheritance documents.""
"Was he on the plane?""
She nodded.
"But Samuel's father wasn't.""
Samuel smiled.
"Exactly.""
He stepped backward toward the doorway.
"Now you understand. The man everyone believed was dead was never the man who mattered.""
Agent Brooks raised his weapon.
"Samuel Hayes, put the document down.""
Samuel looked at Lily.
Then at the agents.
"Not until I get what belongs to me.""
Lily began crying.
"Daddy, I want to go home.""
His expression changed.
He crouched and kissed her forehead.
"Everything will be fine.""
My mother stepped forward.
"Samuel, give her to me.""
He hesitated.
Then he did something unexpected.
He released Lily's hand.
The little girl ran straight toward my mother.
But Samuel suddenly pulled a small remote control from his pocket.
"Nobody move.""
Brooks lowered his weapon slightly.
"What is that?""
Samuel smiled.
"Insurance.""
My father looked toward the mansion.
Then he whispered:
"Oh, God.""
I followed his gaze.
The security system's control panel was glowing red.
And beneath the staircase, a digital countdown had appeared.
*00:09:58.*
Samuel looked at me.
"Your grandfather built this house with more secrets than rooms, Adrian.""
May you like
He pressed the remote.
"Let's see whether the Blackwoods can survive losing everything.""
