Chapter 6: The Threat Against My Son
Sarah ended the call with trembling fingers.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
The library's quiet hum suddenly seemed unbearable. Somewhere nearby, a printer whirred. A child laughed in the reading area. Outside, cars rolled past as though nothing in my life had just been turned upside down.
I leaned toward Sarah.
“Did he know where Caleb was?””
“I don't know.””
“Has he threatened you before?””
“Not like this.””
I stood and called David.
“Daniel just threatened Caleb. We need to get him somewhere safe.””
My attorney's voice sharpened immediately.
“Where are you?””
“At the library. Sarah Bennett is with me.””
“Stay there. I'm contacting the police. Don't go looking for Daniel.””
I glanced at Sarah.
“What about Emily? She may be at that clinic tomorrow.””
“Michael, we're not sending you into an unknown situation without protection. We'll coordinate with the authorities and establish what we can.””
I ended the call.
Sarah was already packing the papers into her envelope.
“I need to leave.””
“No.””
She looked at me sharply.
“Michael—”
“You've spent years helping my wife. You know more than you've told me, and Daniel has just threatened my child. I'm not letting you disappear before we understand what we're dealing with.””
“I am not disappearing.””
“Then tell me where Emily is.””
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know her current address. I haven't seen her in person for months.””
“Months?””
“She changed locations after someone followed her. She contacts me through a secure mailbox, and I pass messages along when I can.””
“Why didn't you tell me that earlier?””
“Because I needed to know whether you were still being watched.””
I stared at her.
“You could have told me the truth.””
“And if Daniel had access to your phone? Your emails? Your home cameras? Would you still be sitting here with me?””
I thought of Melissa's kitchen, the photographs, and the man on the speakerphone.
I couldn't answer.
Sarah pulled a small flash drive from her purse.
“This contains copies of the records Emily gathered. Some of them connect Daniel to the people who threatened her. Others may help establish what happened at the hospital.””
I took the drive.
“Why give it to me now?””
“Because Emily told me that if Daniel ever threatened Caleb directly, I had to stop protecting the secret and start protecting the boy.””
My phone buzzed.
A message from Robert.
*Caleb is safe. Someone called the house asking for him by name. I didn't answer their questions.*
I immediately called him.
“Robert, lock the doors. Don't let anyone in unless you verify who they are.””
“Already done,” he replied.
“Caleb's upstairs with the television on. He doesn't know anything about the call.””
“I'm coming home.””
“Michael, listen. There was a black SUV parked across the street when I arrived this morning. It drove away when I stepped outside.””
My stomach tightened.
“Did you see who was inside?””
“No.””
I ended the call and turned to Sarah.
“I'm taking Caleb somewhere else.””
She nodded.
“That's wise.””
We left through separate exits. David met me outside, and I gave him the flash drive before getting into my car.
“Make copies,” I said.
“Send them to someone who can investigate the financial records.””
“I'll handle it,” he replied.
“But don't go to Savannah tomorrow without coordinating with law enforcement.””
I promised I wouldn't.
Then I drove straight to Robert's house.
The black SUV was gone, but I noticed fresh tire marks along the curb. Robert stood in the doorway with his phone in his hand.
“Did you call the police?”” I asked.
“Yes. They took a report and told us to call immediately if the vehicle returns.””
“Good.””
I went upstairs.
Caleb sat on the bed, watching cartoons. His stuffed dinosaur rested beside him, and a plate containing half a sandwich sat on the nightstand.
When he saw me, he smiled.
“Daddy! Uncle Robert let me have two sandwiches.””
“Two?””
He nodded proudly.
“I was still hungry.””
I sat beside him.
“Then you can have another one whenever you're hungry, buddy.””
He studied my face.
“Even at night?””
“Even at night.””
“Even if Mommy Melissa says no?””
I felt anger rise, but I kept my voice gentle.
“Especially if someone tells you that you don't deserve food. You always deserve to eat.””
Caleb looked down at his hands.
“Can I ask you something?””
“Anything.””
“If Mommy Emily is alive, will she want me back?””
The question nearly broke me.
I pulled him close.
“Your mother has always loved you. Nothing that's happened changes that.””
“But if she's been gone for a long time, maybe she has another family.””
I kissed the top of his head.
“I don't know what we'll discover, sweetheart. But I know you don't have to earn anyone's love. Not mine.
Not hers. Nobody's.””
He hugged me tightly.
Then he whispered, “I want to meet her.””
“So do I.””
That afternoon, David called with an update.
“The flash drive contains enough material to justify a formal investigation,” he said.
“There are suspicious payments, altered records, and communications involving Daniel. We're forwarding everything to the authorities.””
“What about the hospital records?””
“Some documents appear inconsistent, but we need the original files before drawing conclusions. I've also requested the official death-investigation records through the proper channels.””
“And tomorrow?””
“If Emily is planning to meet someone at Grace Harbor Clinic, we need to verify it. Don't assume she'll be there just because the note says so.””
I agreed.
For the rest of the day, I stayed with Caleb. We ordered dinner, watched a movie, and built a crooked tower out of his old blocks.
For the first time in months, he laughed without looking over his shoulder.
Then, at 8:43 p.m., my phone rang.
Melissa.
I let it ring twice before answering.
“Michael,” she said, her voice ragged.
“Please don't hang up.””
“What do you want?””
“I need to tell you something about Daniel.””
“I'm listening.””
“He called me an hour ago. He said you found Sarah.””
“How does he know that?””
“I don't know. But he told me to get Caleb back before tomorrow morning.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Why?””
“He said the meeting in Savannah can't happen.””
“What meeting?””
Melissa began crying.
“I swear I didn't know Emily was going to be there. I thought Daniel was bluffing about her being alive.””
“Melissa, stop lying. You have photographs of her.””
“I know!””
Her voice cracked.
“He told me those photographs were proof that Emily had been involved in the fraud. He said if I helped him get custody of Caleb, he'd protect my daughters and make sure nobody blamed me.””
“And you believed him?””
“I was afraid.””
“You keep saying that as if fear excuses what you did to my son.””
“I know it doesn't.”” She took a shaky breath.
“Michael, there's something I haven't told you. Daniel didn't choose me randomly. He knew who I was before we met.””
I went still.
“What do you mean?””
“He approached me through a mutual friend. He knew I had two daughters. He knew you were a widower. He knew Caleb was vulnerable.””
My mouth went dry.
“Are you saying you married me because Daniel arranged it?””
“I don't know if he arranged the marriage, but he introduced me to someone who knew you. He told me you were a good man who needed help raising a child.””
I closed my eyes.
Every memory of our early relationship suddenly felt contaminated.
“What else?””
Melissa hesitated.
“Daniel said Emily had left something with Caleb before she disappeared. Something that could expose everyone involved.””
I looked toward the bedroom, where Caleb slept.
“What thing?””
“He didn't tell me. He said it might be hidden in one of Emily's old belongings.””
I remembered the birthday card, the handwriting, the phone number.
And the letter Sarah had given me.
“Why are you telling me this now?””
“Because Daniel said if I didn't get Caleb to Savannah by six tomorrow morning, he'd make sure my daughters never saw me again.””
I stared at the wall.
“You're not taking Caleb anywhere.””
“I know.””
For the first time, Melissa sounded as though she understood the consequences of what she'd done.
“I know,” she repeated.
“That's why I'm calling you.””
“Then tell me exactly what Daniel wants.””
She whispered, “He wants Caleb to sign another document. One that gives him temporary guardianship until the investigation is over.””
“He's not getting my son.””
“I know. But Michael, there's something else. Daniel said Emily won't come alone tomorrow.””
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
“Who is she bringing?””
Melissa's answer was barely audible.
“Someone from the hospital. Someone who knows what really happened the night she supposedly died.””
Then the call abruptly ended.
A second later, a message appeared on my screen from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Caleb sleeping in Robert's guest room.
May you like
Below it were nine words.
*Bring the boy to Savannah, or Emily dies tomorrow.*
