Chapter 10: The Grandmother Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Anna stared at the frozen screen as if the woman in the video had reached through it and grabbed her by the throat.
"My mother is dead," she whispered.
I moved closer.
"Anna, you told me your mother died before you were born.""
"No. Richard told me she died when I was six."" Her voice trembled.
"He said she was sick. He said she left me with him because she didn't want me anymore.""
Michael leaned against the desk, struggling to catch his breath.
"Richard told all of us different stories.""
Anna shook her head violently.
"That woman wore my mother's ring. I remember it. A crescent moon with a tiny diamond in the center. She wore it every day until the night Richard said she disappeared.""
I looked at the laptop.
The message remained on the screen.
*Bring Anna alone. Midnight. Or Lily learns what happened to her grandmother.*
Detective Harris entered the room with two officers.
"What's happened?""
I pointed at the screen.
"My daughter has been kidnapped. Richard wants Anna in exchange for her.""
Harris studied the footage.
"We're not handing anyone over to him.""
"He'll hurt Lily.""
"We'll find her.""
"You said that when Michael disappeared from the hospital. You said it when we found this place. And my daughter is still missing!""
Harris didn't raise his voice.
"Mr. Bennett, I understand you're frightened. But if we rush into a trap without a plan, we could lose both Anna and Lily.""
Michael straightened.
"Richard won't wait until midnight if he thinks we're getting closer.""
"Then tell me where he might take her.""
Michael looked at Anna.
She was still staring at the screen.
"Anna," he said gently.
"Think. Did your mother have any place she used to take you?""
Anna closed her eyes.
For several seconds, the only sound was the crackling fire somewhere beyond the basement walls.
Then she whispered, "The lighthouse.""
I frowned.
"What lighthouse?""
"There's an old lighthouse on the northern coast. My mother took me there when I was little. She told me that if I ever lost my way, I should look for the light.""
Michael's expression changed.
"Richard bought that property years ago.""
Anna turned toward him.
"Why?""
"Because it was where your mother disappeared.""
Harris immediately called the officers upstairs.
"We need the address. Get coastal units moving, and have someone check the property records.""
While he worked, I crouched beside the desk and examined the files.
One folder contained dozens of photographs of Lily at school, in the park, and outside our house. Someone had been following her for months.
Beneath the photographs lay a document titled Guardianship Contingency Plan.
My name appeared at the top.
The document claimed I had voluntarily transferred custody of Lily to Richard because of an alleged history of substance abuse and violent behavior.
My signature sat at the bottom.
Another forgery.
I turned to Vanessa, who had arrived with Officer Cole and was standing in the doorway.
"Did you know about this?""
She shook her head.
"I swear I didn't.""
"How many documents did you sign without reading?""
Her face crumpled.
"Too many.""
She approached the desk and looked at the photographs of Lily.
Then she noticed a smaller envelope tucked beneath the guardianship papers.
Her hands began to shake.
"Mark.""
She opened it.
Inside was a birth certificate bearing Lily's full name and a hospital stamp. Unlike the other documents, this one appeared genuine.
The mother's name was Anna Bennett.
The father's name was blank.
But beneath the certificate was a second sheet, handwritten in blue ink.
*If Richard ever comes for the child, tell her the truth about the night her mother vanished.*
Vanessa pressed the paper against her chest.
"I know what happened that night.""
Anna turned sharply.
"What?""
Vanessa looked at her, tears spilling down her face.
"I was there.""
Silence filled the room.
"You told me you had never met me," Anna said.
"I lied.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard threatened to kill Mark if I ever told anyone.""
I stepped toward my wife.
"What happened?""
Vanessa struggled to speak.
"Seven years ago, Richard called me to the estate. He said Anna had returned and was demanding her baby. When I arrived, Anna was arguing with an older woman in the east garden.""
"Your mother?"" I asked.
Anna nodded slowly.
Vanessa continued.
"Your mother was holding a small bag. She told Richard she had evidence against him. She said she would take Anna and the baby away that night.""
"What did Richard do?""
"He took the bag. Then he ordered his driver to bring the car around.""
Anna gripped the edge of the desk.
"And my mother?""
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"She never came back.""
Anna stumbled backward.
"No.""
"I don't know whether Richard killed her. I only know he told me she had left town. He said Anna had abandoned her child, and that we should raise Lily as our own.""
"Why didn't you tell the police?""
"Because the next morning, Richard showed me photographs of Mark standing beside a dead man at the textile mill. He said Mark had killed Michael and that he'd make sure you both went to prison if I talked.""
Michael's face hardened.
"He used Mark's memory against him.""
Vanessa nodded.
"I believed him.""
Anna wiped her cheeks.
"You let me spend seven years believing my daughter was lost forever.""
"I know.""
"You let me believe my mother abandoned me.""
"I know.""
Anna raised her hand as if she wanted to strike Vanessa, but she stopped herself.
Then she whispered, "I hate what you've done. But I don't want Lily to lose another mother.""
Vanessa broke down completely.
For the first time, I saw the terrible truth: every one of us had been manipulated by Richard, but some of us had also helped him.
Before anyone could respond, Detective Harris's radio crackled.
"Detective, we have a location.""
Harris listened, his expression tightening.
"Repeat that.""
A voice came through the radio.
"The lighthouse property is empty. No sign of the child. But we've found a vehicle registered to Richard Bennett.""
"Where?""
"At the base of the cliff.""
Harris looked at Anna.
"They found blood inside.""
Anna's face went white.
Then another officer spoke over the radio.
"Detective, there's something else. We found a second vehicle parked behind the lighthouse.""
"What kind?""
"A black SUV.""
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A new photograph appeared.
Lily stood beside an elderly woman wearing a crescent moon ring.
The woman had one hand resting on Lily's shoulder.
Beneath the image were four words.
*Your mother remembers everything.*
Anna stared at the screen.
Then she whispered, "That's not my mother.""
I looked at her.
"What do you mean?""
She pointed at the photograph, trembling.
"My mother had a scar on her right hand. She got it saving me from a fire when I was five.""
The woman in the picture had no scar.
Anna stepped away from the desk.
"Richard isn't bringing my mother back.""
May you like
Her eyes met mine.
"He's bringing someone who knows how to impersonate her.""
