Chapter 7: The Man Who Claimed to Be Caleb’s Grandfather
“He wants to take custody of my son?””
I repeated the question because the alternative was believing that the last few hours had somehow become even more insane.
Thomas Reed nodded.
“Richard Evans claims he is Caleb’s maternal grandfather. He has provided documents establishing his identity and says he has been trying to protect Caleb for years.””
I looked toward Daniel.
My brother sat between two officers, his face gray, his hands trembling. When he heard Richard’s name, he stared at the floor.
“You knew he was alive,” I said.
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes.””
“How long?””
He hesitated.
“Since before Sarah died.””
The words struck me harder than his confession about the accident.
“You let me bury my wife believing her father was dead.””
“I didn’t know how to explain it.””
“You could have started by telling me the truth!””
An officer touched Daniel’s shoulder, signaling him to remain seated.
Daniel looked at me desperately.
“Michael, Sarah was terrified of Richard. She changed her name after she left home. She told everyone he had died because she wanted him out of her life.””
“Then why would he want custody of Caleb?””
Daniel rubbed his face.
“Because Caleb is the last connection he has to her.””
Thomas interrupted.
“Mr. Carter, we cannot establish anyone’s intentions based on family history alone. Richard has requested an emergency custody hearing, but that does not mean he will receive custody.””
“Does he have any right to my son?””
“That will depend on the evidence and the court.””
I looked down at Caleb.
He had been sitting beside me, clutching the sleeve of my jacket. When he heard the word grandfather, he lifted his head.
“Is he the man Mom used to talk about?””
My heart stopped.
“What do you mean, buddy?””
Caleb glanced at Melissa.
She had been sitting across the room with another investigator, giving a statement. Her face was streaked with tears, but when she heard Caleb speak, she suddenly became alert.
“Caleb,” she said, “don't.””
He shrank against me.
I put my arm around him.
“You can tell me anything.””
He swallowed.
“Mom said there was a man who wanted to take me away before Daddy married her. She said if I ever met him, I should hide.””
Thomas crouched in front of Caleb.
“Did your mother tell you his name?””
Caleb nodded.
“Richard.””
Melissa stood abruptly.
“I never told him that!””
The investigator beside her immediately guided her back into her chair.
Thomas remained focused on Caleb.
“Did you ever see this man?””
Caleb shook his head.
“Not his face.””
“What does that mean?””
“Sometimes a black car waited outside school. Mom said the man inside was watching me. She told me never to wave at him.””
My skin prickled.
“How long has that been happening?”” I asked.
Caleb looked uncertain.
“Since last Christmas, I think.””
Thomas wrote something in his notebook.
“Did anyone ever approach you?””
Caleb hesitated.
Then he whispered, “One time, he gave me a present.””
“What kind of present?””
“A dinosaur.””
I remembered the plastic dinosaur sitting on Caleb’s bedroom shelf. He'd told me he'd found it at school, but I'd never questioned him.
“Where is it now?””
“At home.””
Thomas exchanged a look with the other investigator.
“Can you describe the man?””
Caleb shook his head.
“I couldn't see his face. But he knew my name.””
The officers arranged for Caleb and me to leave the house while they continued collecting evidence. Lily and Brooke were taken to a separate room so investigators could speak with them without their mother's presence.
Before I left, Lily approached me.
“Michael?””
I turned.
She held out her phone. Melissa had returned it to her after the officers arrived.
“I recorded something last night,” Lily whispered.
“I didn't know if it mattered.””
My pulse quickened.
“What did you record?””
“Mom talking to someone on the phone. She thought everyone was asleep.””
She handed me the device.
The recording was only four minutes long.
I pressed play.
At first, I heard footsteps and the hum of the refrigerator. Then Melissa's voice came through, low and hurried.
“I did everything you asked. I took the pictures. I made him repeat the statement. I even made sure the basement looked the way you wanted.””
A man's voice answered.
“You were supposed to keep him there until the investigator returned.””
“I couldn't. Michael came home early.””
A pause.
Then the man said, “If the father takes Caleb away, the agreement is finished. You understand what that means?””
Melissa began crying.
“I need the money.””
“You'll get nothing if the boy talks.””
The recording ended with a sharp click.
I played it again.
The man's voice was unfamiliar, but there was something unsettling about the way he spoke. He sounded less like someone threatening a woman and more like someone reminding an employee that she'd failed to complete an assignment.
Thomas listened twice.
“Do you recognize that voice?”” he asked.
I shook my head.
“No.””
He took the phone and saved a copy of the recording.
“This could be important. We'll have it examined.””
As we walked toward the front door, I glanced back at Melissa.
She was staring at me.
For the first time, she didn't look angry or defensive.
She looked terrified.
“Michael,” she called.
I stopped but didn't approach her.
“Please don't let him get Caleb.””
I stared at her.
“You've spent months making my son afraid of me. You stole his money, locked him in a basement, and helped someone accuse me of abusing him. Why should I believe anything you say?””
She began sobbing.
“Because Richard isn't what he claims to be.””
Thomas turned toward her.
“What do you know about Richard Evans?””
Melissa looked at the investigators, then at me.
“He told me he was Caleb's grandfather. He said he wanted to make sure the boy was safe. He promised me money if I helped him prove Michael was an unfit father.””
“And you agreed?””
“I thought it was just a custody dispute!””
“You made a child sleep on concrete.””
“I know!””
Her voice broke.
“I know what I did. But you don't understand what he threatened to do if I refused.””
“What did he threaten?””
She shook her head.
Then she looked directly at Caleb.
“He said if I didn't cooperate, he'd tell everyone what happened to Sarah.””
The hallway went silent.
I felt Caleb's fingers tighten around mine.
Thomas stepped closer.
“What happened to Sarah?””
Melissa's lips trembled.
“I don't know everything. But Richard told me that Sarah didn't die because of an accident.””
I stared at her.
“Daniel already admitted he clipped her car.””
She shook her head violently.
“No. He told me he followed her because Richard ordered him to. He said they were supposed to scare her into handing over the documents.””
Daniel suddenly rose from his chair.
“That's enough!””
Two officers restrained him.
Melissa flinched.
Then she whispered, “Daniel wasn't the only one in that car.””
My blood turned cold.
“Who else was there?””
She looked at me with tears streaming down her face.
“Richard.””
Before I could ask another question, Thomas's phone rang.
He listened, his expression growing more troubled with every passing second.
When he hung up, he looked at me.
“Richard Evans has left the county building.””
“Where did he go?””
Thomas's jaw tightened.
“He requested a meeting with Caleb at your home.””
I looked down at my son.
Caleb was staring at the front door.
Then he whispered something that made every adult in the hallway turn toward him.
“Daddy, I know that man's voice.””
I knelt beside him.
“From the recording?””
May you like
Caleb nodded.
“It's the man who calls Mom when she locks me downstairs.””
