Chapter 11 - The Original Recording
Claire wanted to call the police.
Richard stopped her.
“No.”
She slapped his hand away.
“My son is missing.”
“If you call them, he'll disappear.”
“He's already gone.”
Richard looked broken.
“I know where they took him.”
Claire stared.
“Where?”
“The old Bennett estate.”
The house had been abandoned for years.
Claire drove there with Richard, Maria, Evelyn, and Pamela.
The gates were open.
Inside, the mansion looked untouched.
They entered.
A voice came from the speakers.
“Claire.”
She froze.
“Your father trusted the wrong people.”
Richard looked around.
“Dad!”
The voice laughed.
“You still call me that.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Where is Mateo?”
“Safe.”
“Let me speak to him.”
A pause.
Then Mateo's voice came through the speaker.
“Mom.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“I'm here.”
“Don't give him the recording.”
Richard looked at Claire.
The voice returned.
“Smart boy.”
Claire demanded:
“What do you want?”
“The original recording.”
“I don't have it.”
“You do.”
Claire realized.
The hidden file.
The recording her father had mentioned.
The one protected by the trust.
The older man wanted it.
Richard whispered:
“Don't.”
Claire looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because if he gets it, he controls everything.”
Pamela stepped forward.
“He already controls too much.”
A screen turned on.
It showed the room where Mateo was being held.
He was sitting in a chair.
Evelyn began crying.
The older man's voice came again.
“Bring me the recording.”
Claire looked at Richard.
“You're coming with me.”
Richard nodded.
They entered a hidden room.
Claire found an old safe.
Inside was a cassette.
The original recording.
She picked it up.
Richard stared at it.
“What does it prove?”
Claire looked at him.
“I don't know.”
“Then don't give it to him.”
Suddenly Evelyn spoke.
“I know.”
Claire turned.
Evelyn looked exhausted.
“That recording proves Richard's father ordered the first attempt to silence Mateo.”
Richard stared at his mother.
“You knew?”
“I heard everything.”
Claire stepped closer.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Evelyn cried.
“Because I was afraid.”
Claire's voice hardened.
“And now?”
Evelyn looked toward the door.
“Now I'm more afraid of what happens if you don't.”
They returned to the main room.
Claire held the cassette.
The speakers came alive.
“Bring it to the observatory.”
Claire frowned.
“Why there?”
May you like
The older man's voice answered:
“Because that is where this began.”
