Chapter 4 - Blackthorn House
The first thing Claire noticed about Blackthorn House was the silence.
No birds.
No traffic.
No voices.
Only rain falling through the pine trees.
The police vehicles stopped half a mile from the property.
Detective Hayes stepped out.
Claire followed.
He turned.
"You're staying here."
She looked at him.
"My daughter is inside."
"I understand."
"No, you don't."
Hayes held her gaze.
"Mrs. Bennett, if Margaret sees you coming, she'll use Lily to control you."
Claire swallowed.
"Then don't let her see me."
Hayes stared.
Claire continued.
"She's expecting me to come alone."
"Exactly."
"She isn't expecting the police."
Hayes nodded.
"That's the advantage I'd like to keep."
Claire looked toward the house.
Then back at him.
"Bring her out."
"I intend to."
Inside Blackthorn House, Lily sat beside a window.
Her grandmother was speaking to a man in a dark coat.
Lily couldn't hear every word.
But she heard enough.
"The boy stays where he is," Margaret said.
The man shook his head.
"He's asking questions."
"Then stop answering them."
"He knows his father is alive."
Margaret's expression hardened.
"That was your mistake."
Lily looked toward the hallway.
A door stood slightly open.
Beyond it was a staircase.
She remembered the secret number game.
Four.
Look behind me.
Mommy would know.
She hoped Mommy would know.
Margaret turned.
"Lily."
The little girl jumped.
"Yes, Grandma?"
"Come here."
Lily slid off the chair.
Margaret crouched.
Her smile was warm.
Too warm.
"Are you having a nice visit?"
Lily nodded.
"Yes, Grandma."
"Good."
Margaret brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.
"Then let's not make things difficult."
Lily swallowed.
"Can I call Mommy?"
"Later."
"Daddy?"
"Later."
Lily looked down.
Margaret lifted her chin.
"Sweetheart, you know Grandma loves you."
Lily nodded.
"Then why are you scared?"
Lily's eyes filled.
Margaret sighed.
"Your mother has been telling you terrible stories."
Lily shook her head.
"Mommy doesn't lie."
Margaret's smile vanished.
"Everyone lies, Lily."
The little girl stared.
"Even you?"
For one brief moment, Margaret looked genuinely surprised.
Then she stood.
"Go upstairs."
Lily didn't move.
"Now."
The little girl ran.
Margaret watched her disappear.
Then turned to the man.
"Move the boy before Daniel gets here."
At the police command post, Hayes received confirmation that Blackthorn House had two active vehicles on the property.
One belonged to Margaret.
The other was registered to a medical transport company.
Claire studied the photograph.
"That's the same company listed on Lily's neonatal transfer."
Hayes looked up.
"Are you certain?"
She handed him the birth record.
The company name matched.
NORTHSTAR MEDICAL TRANSPORT.
Hayes stared.
"That gives us a connection between the present abduction and the old medical records."
Claire nodded.
"Margaret uses the same network."
Hayes called for additional units.
Then a sharp sound echoed from the house.
A gunshot.
Claire went rigid.
"Lily."
Hayes shouted into his radio.
"All units, move!"
Claire ran before anyone could stop her.
She reached the side entrance as officers surrounded the building.
A woman screamed upstairs.
Claire froze.
Then she heard Lily.
"MOMMY!"
Claire ran toward the sound.
A police officer caught her arm.
"Ma'am!"
"That's my daughter!"
The officer looked toward the staircase.
Then toward Hayes entering behind them.
Hayes gave a quick nod.
"Stay behind us."
They climbed.
The hallway was lined with old family portraits.
Claire recognized one.
Her mother.
Elaine Morgan stood beside a younger Margaret Bennett at a charity event.
Claire stopped.
Her mother had known Margaret for decades.
Before Daniel.
Before the wedding.
Before everything.
Then Lily screamed again.
Claire ran toward the final room.
The door was open.
Inside, Lily stood beside a bed.
A man lay on the floor.
Blood stained his shoulder.
He was conscious.
An officer was securing a handgun.
Margaret was nowhere to be seen.
Claire dropped to her knees.
"LILY!"
Her daughter ran into her arms.
"Mommy!"
Claire held her so tightly that Lily squeaked.
"I'm here."
Lily began sobbing.
"Grandma ran away."
Claire kissed her hair.
"You're safe."
Lily shook her head.
"Sam isn't."
Claire looked up.
"What?"
Lily pointed toward the floor.
"He's under the house."
Hayes turned toward the officers.
"Search the lower level."
Lily grabbed Claire's hand.
"Mommy."
Claire looked down.
The little girl pulled a folded piece of paper from inside her sneaker.
"I saved it."
Claire opened it.
A map.
Drawn in pencil.
It showed a staircase.
A hallway.
Three rooms.
And a large X beside one door.
At the bottom, in a child's handwriting, were two words.
SAM'S ROOM.
Claire stared.
"Who gave you this?"
Lily wiped her eyes.
"Sam."
"When?"
"When Grandma let me see him."
Claire looked toward Hayes.
"We have a way in."
The basement was empty.
Room after room.
No Samuel.
No medical staff.
Only stripped beds and scattered papers.
At the far end, officers found an open service tunnel.
Fresh tire tracks were visible outside the exit.
Hayes crouched beside them.
"They moved him."
Claire felt cold.
"How long ago?"
A deputy checked the security camera.
"Less than twenty minutes."
Daniel arrived as the officers emerged.
He saw Lily.
For one second, he couldn't move.
Then he ran.
"Lily!"
She threw herself into his arms.
"DADDY!"
Daniel held her against his chest.
He kissed her hair.
Her cheeks.
Her forehead.
Claire watched him tremble.
Then Lily pulled back.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, baby?"
"I met Sam."
Daniel went still.
Lily sniffled.
"He looks like you."
Daniel closed his eyes.
The little girl continued.
"He told me he thinks about you every day."
Daniel began crying.
Lily touched his cheek.
"Don't cry, Daddy."
He shook his head.
"I'm okay."
Lily whispered, "He said he wants to come home."
Daniel held her closer.
"So do I, sweetheart."
Then Lily leaned toward Claire.
"Mommy?"
Claire crouched.
"What?"
Lily pointed toward the house.
"Grandma has another secret."
Claire felt her pulse quicken.
"What secret?"
Lily hesitated.
"Sam said the woman in the basement isn't the only one Grandma locked away."
Daniel looked up.
Claire stared.
"Who else?"
Lily swallowed.
"Grandpa."
Daniel stopped breathing.
"My grandpa?"
Lily nodded.
"Sam said he heard an old man crying through the wall."
Claire looked at Daniel.
His father had supposedly died twelve years earlier.
May you like
The same year Rebecca disappeared.
And now a little girl had just suggested that death might have been another lie.
