Chapter 14 - The Second Child
Nora felt the world stop.
Second child?
Her grandfather looked at Evelyn.
She knows.
Evelyn stepped out of the car.
Her face was wet with tears.
Nora turned toward her.
Mom.
Evelyn looked at her father.
You shouldn't have come back.
He smiled.
Neither should you.
Nora stepped between them.
What second child?
Nobody answered.
She raised her voice.
What second child?
Her grandfather finally spoke.
You had a brother.
Nora stared.
No.
You were four years old when he disappeared.
I don't have a brother.
You were told that.
Who was he?
Your father called him Daniel.
Evelyn shook her head.
His name wasn't Daniel.
What was his name?
Evelyn looked toward Charles.
Charles whispered.
Michael.
Nora felt dizzy.
Where is he?
Her grandfather said nothing.
Where is my brother?
A voice answered from behind her.
I've been here the whole time.
Nora turned.
A man stood near the cemetery entrance.
He looked almost exactly like her.
Same eyes.
Same jawline.
Same expression.
He was perhaps thirty-one.
Nora stared.
The man walked closer.
My name is Michael.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Charles stepped backward.
Michael looked at him.
Hello, Charles.
Charles whispered.
You shouldn't be alive.
Michael smiled.
Neither should you.
Nora looked at her grandfather.
What is happening?
Her grandfather's face was filled with regret.
Michael was taken the night of the shooting.
By whom?
Silas.
Why?
Because Michael had the same inheritance rights as you.
Nora stared at Michael.
Where have you been?
Hidden.
All these years?
Yes.
Why come back now?
Michael looked at the pendant.
Because the ledger is finally moving.
Nora touched the pendant.
Do you know where it is?
Michael nodded.
I know where it has always been.
Where?
He looked at Evelyn.
Your mother knows.
Evelyn shook her head.
No.
Michael stepped closer.
You gave it to me.
Nora stared at her mother.
Mom?
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
I was trying to protect both of you.
From who?
Evelyn looked toward Charles.
From him.
Charles closed his eyes.
Nora stepped toward her father.
What did you do?
Charles said nothing.
Michael spoke.
He made a deal.
What deal?
Michael's voice became cold.
He gave Silas one child.
And kept the other.
Nora's face went pale.
You gave me away?
Charles looked at her.
I thought I was saving you.
Nora shook her head.
Then why did you keep me?
Charles whispered:
Because your mother asked me to.
Nora looked at Evelyn.
Her mother was crying.
And Nora suddenly understood that every person standing around her had been protecting one secret from another.
Then Michael reached into his coat.
He pulled out a black ledger.
Nora stared.
The ledger.
Michael nodded.
This is only the first one.
Nora's eyes widened.
First?
Michael looked toward the darkness beyond the cemetery.
There are two.
Before anyone could ask where the second was, headlights appeared on the road.
Several vehicles.
Dozens of them.
Her grandfather's face changed.
They're here.
David drew his weapon.
Who?
May you like
The old man looked at Nora.
The people who don't want the second ledger found.
