Chapter 14 - THE BOY WHO WAS TAKEN
I couldn't breathe.
Noah was gone.
My mother was gone.
My father had warned me.
I looked at Victoria.
"Call your father."
"My father is dead."
"Richard."
She called.
No answer.
I called my mother.
Straight to voicemail.
Then my father's number.
Nothing.
I ran outside.
Victoria followed.
We drove toward the safe house.
I called Noah again.
No answer.
My hands shook on the steering wheel.
"Claire."
"Don't."
"Listen."
"I said don't."
"You're going to crash."
I slammed the brakes.
The car stopped.
I looked at her.
"He's my son."
"I know."
"No."
I shook my head.
"You don't know."
She said nothing.
I looked toward the road.
Then I saw something.
A small blue backpack.
Noah's backpack.
Lying beside the road.
I ran toward it.
Inside was his notebook.
His water bottle.
And a folded piece of paper.
I opened it.
Four words.
MOM, DON'T TRUST DAD.
I stared at the handwriting.
It was Noah's.
Then another line.
HE'S NOT THE ONE WHO TOOK ME.
My heart stopped.
I looked at Victoria.
"What does this mean?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
I read the final sentence.
GRANDPA KNOWS.
My father.
I called him again.
This time he answered.
"Where are you?"
"Where is Noah?"
Silence.
"Where is my son?"
"I don't know."
I screamed.
"You're lying!"
"I swear."
"Then why did he write that you know?"
My father took a breath.
"Because I do."
I froze.
"What?"
"He was taken to the old warehouse."
"By Richard?"
"No."
"Then who?"
My father's voice became quiet.
"By me."
I couldn't speak.
"What?"
"I took Noah."
"Why?"
"Because Richard was coming."
"You kidnapped your own grandson?"
"I saved him."
"Where is he?"
"Safe."
"Let me talk to him."
Silence.
"Let me talk to my son!"
Finally, I heard Noah's voice.
"Mom?"
I nearly collapsed.
"Noah!"
"I'm okay."
"Where are you?"
"With Grandpa."
"Why did he take you?"
Noah was quiet.
Then:
"Because Dad came here."
My heart stopped.
"Julian?"
"Yes."
"Is he there?"
"Yes."
I looked at Victoria.
She covered her mouth.
Noah continued:
"Dad said he didn't want to hurt us."
I closed my eyes.
"What else?"
"He said Grandpa started everything."
I looked at Victoria.
Noah whispered:
"And Mom..."
"Yes?"
"Dad said Grandma isn't my real grandmother."
I froze.
"What?"
He continued.
"He said Grandpa isn't my real grandfather either."
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Victoria looked at me.
"What did he say?"
I couldn't answer.
Then the phone rang again.
This time it was Julian.
I answered.
"Claire."
"Where is my son?"
"He's safe."
"Why did you say my father isn't my father?"
Silence.
Then Julian said:
"Because it's true."
I felt the ground disappear beneath me.
"What?"
"Claire, your entire childhood was built on a lie."
I closed my eyes.
"Who am I?"
Julian's voice shook.
"I don't know."
"Then who does?"
A long silence.
Finally:
"Grant Hale."
I looked at Victoria.
She went completely white.
"Grant is alive."
Julian whispered:
May you like
"And he's Noah's real grandfather."
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