Chapter 5: The Family Who Was Supposed to Take My Son
I drove straight to Robert's office with Noah sitting beside me.
He held his backpack in his lap, gripping the straps so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Every few minutes, he looked through the rear window.
"Are we going somewhere else?"" he asked.
"No, buddy. We're going to talk to someone who can help us.""
"Will Vanessa come?""
"Not unless we decide that's necessary.""
He looked down.
"She said you always believe her.""
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
"I should have listened to you sooner.""
He didn't answer.
That silence hurt more than anything Vanessa had said.
At Robert's office, I placed the bus itinerary, bank statements, and camera recordings on his desk.
He studied everything carefully.
"Michael, I want you to understand something. We have two separate issues here. The unauthorized movement of trust funds and the possibility that Vanessa is attempting to arrange Noah's placement somewhere without your consent.""
"Can she do that?""
"Not simply because she wants to. You're Noah's biological father and legal guardian. But we need to understand exactly what she's filed.""
Robert opened the custody document Daniel had dropped.
His expression changed.
"Interesting.""
"What?""
"This petition references a family assessment supposedly completed by a licensed counselor.""
"Who?""
Robert turned the page.
"Dr. Patricia Monroe.""
I recognized the name.
Vanessa had mentioned her several times.
She claimed Dr. Monroe was a family counselor who helped children adjust to blended families.
"Have you heard of her?"" Robert asked.
"Vanessa said she was helping Noah with behavioral issues.""
Robert looked up.
"Did you ever take him to an appointment?""
"No.""
"Did you sign a consent form?""
"No.""
He leaned back.
"Then we need to verify whether this assessment is legitimate.""
He picked up his phone and made a call.
While he spoke, Noah sat beside me drawing small circles on a notepad.
I glanced down.
He had drawn three stick figures.
A tall man.
A little boy.
And a woman with long hair.
The woman had a heart above her head.
"Is that your mom?"" I asked softly.
He nodded.
"I drew her because I miss her.""
I swallowed.
"Me too, buddy.""
He turned the paper toward me.
"Do you think Mom would be mad that I didn't tell you sooner?""
I put an arm around him.
"Your mom would never be mad at you for being scared.""
He leaned against me.
Robert ended his call.
"There's no record of that counselor at the clinic Vanessa listed.""
"What?""
"The office address belongs to a private business suite. The receptionist confirmed they've never employed anyone by that name.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"So the assessment was fake?""
"Possibly. We're requesting verification.""
Robert examined the bus itinerary again.
"Did you recognize the destination?""
"No. Asheville.""
He searched the name of the supposed receiving family listed on the back of the document.
A few seconds later, he frowned.
"Michael, I think you should see this.""
He turned his monitor toward me.
The address belonged to a residential property outside Asheville.
The property was registered to a woman named Elaine Carter.
Vanessa's mother.
I stared at the screen.
"Her mother?""
Robert nodded.
"Apparently.""
"Why would she send Noah to her mother's house?""
"That is exactly what we need to establish.""
Noah had been listening.
He suddenly looked up.
"I know Grandma Elaine.""
I turned toward him.
"What do you mean?""
"She came here last month.""
"Did she say anything to you?""
He nodded slowly.
"She asked if I wanted to see a room with a big window.""
My heart began pounding.
"What room?""
"At her house. She said it had a bed and a desk. She said I could stay there when Dad got too busy.""
Robert leaned forward.
"Did she tell you when?""
Noah looked at me.
"She said after the paperwork was finished.""
I felt my hands go cold.
Robert made several notes.
"Michael, don't confront them. We need to secure the financial records and get the appropriate authorities involved.""
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered and put it on speaker.
"Where are you?"" she demanded.
"With Noah.""
"Bring him home.""
"No.""
A sharp silence followed.
"Michael, don't make this difficult.""
"You booked a bus ticket for my son.""
She laughed nervously.
"That's ridiculous. It was just an option.""
"An option you arranged without telling me?""
"He needs a break from all this drama.""
"He's eleven. He doesn't need to be sent away because you don't like him.""
Her voice dropped.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
"Then explain the custody paperwork.""
She went quiet.
I continued.
"And explain why your mother is preparing a bedroom for him.""
Vanessa's breathing became audible.
Then she said:
"Fine. You want the truth? Your son is not the only person who deserves a future.""
I stared at the phone.
"Nobody said he was.""
"Then stop acting like his money is the only money that matters!""
Robert raised his hand, silently telling me to let her continue.
Vanessa took a breath.
"Daniel and I have been trying to protect this family.""
"By stealing from a child?""
"By making sure your son doesn't destroy everything.""
The call ended.
Robert looked at me.
"That sounded like an admission worth preserving.""
But before we could discuss it, my phone received a new message.
It was from an unknown number.
There was a photograph attached.
It showed Noah's bedroom.
His mattress had been removed.
His clothes were packed into black garbage bags.
May you like
And someone had written on a piece of cardboard placed on his pillow:
*HE WON'T BE COMING BACK.*
