Chapter 7: The Man Who Stole the Newborn
"Tell me who took my son.""
Daniel's voice was barely recognizable.
Marcus stood beside the coffee table, staring at the photograph on the phone.
"The man wearing that watch is Victor Hayes.""
Daniel frowned.
"Victor? My head of security?""
Marcus nodded.
"He's worked for your family for almost ten years. He was hired by Richard.""
Daniel felt his stomach tighten.
"Richard told me Victor was recommended by my father's former business partner.""
"That was the story he wanted you to believe.""
Daniel grabbed his phone.
"Call the police.""
"Wait.""
Marcus caught his arm.
Daniel spun around.
"Are you insane? Someone has my newborn son!""
"I know. But if Victor is working with Richard, we cannot assume every security officer in this building is trustworthy.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Then what do you suggest? We sit here and wait?""
"No. We find out where they've taken Ethan.""
Amelia stepped forward.
"I know Victor.""
Daniel looked at her.
"How?""
"He approached me several months ago. He offered me money to stop investigating our mother's disappearance.""
"How much?""
"Five hundred thousand dollars.""
Daniel stared at her.
"And you refused?""
Amelia nodded.
"He told me I was making a mistake. He said some doors should remain closed.""
Daniel paced across the room.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't trust anyone connected to the Whitmore family.""
The words hurt, but Daniel couldn't blame her.
For nearly forty years, his family had treated the truth like a disease.
He looked at the photograph again.
"Marcus, you said you knew who took Ethan. Do you know where Victor would take him?""
Marcus hesitated.
"There's a private property outside the city. Your father used it for confidential meetings.""
"Where?""
"The old Whitmore lakeside residence.""
Daniel immediately recognized the location.
It was a secluded property surrounded by woods, nearly forty miles from the city.
His father had stopped using it years ago.
"Why would Victor take my son there?""
"Because the property has its own security system, private entrance, and underground garage.""
Amelia grabbed her handbag.
"Then we're going.""
Daniel shook his head.
"No. You're staying here.""
"I'm not leaving my nephew.""
"Amelia, these people have already threatened our family.""
"And Ethan is my family too!""
Her voice echoed through the room.
She stepped closer.
"I spent my entire childhood wishing I had a brother. I spent decades believing my mother had abandoned me. I'm not going to stand here while someone takes another child away from this family.""
Daniel looked at her.
Then he nodded.
"All right. But you follow my instructions.""
Marcus opened the front door.
Before they could leave, Daniel's phone rang.
It was Laura.
He answered immediately.
"Laura?""
Her voice sounded frightened.
"Daniel, where are you?""
"I'm coming back. Is Ethan there?""
"Yes. He's here. The nurses brought him back.""
Daniel stopped walking.
"What?""
Laura began crying.
"Someone tried to take him, Daniel.""
His blood ran cold.
"What happened?""
"A man entered the room wearing a hospital uniform. He told the nurse he needed to take Ethan for another examination. But I remembered what you said about not trusting anyone.""
Daniel tightened his grip on the phone.
"Did he touch the baby?""
"He reached for him. I screamed. The nurse called security, and he ran.""
"Are you and Ethan safe?""
"I think so.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Listen to me. Don't let anyone take him. Not even someone wearing a hospital uniform. I'll be there soon.""
Laura lowered her voice.
"Daniel, there's something else.""
"What?""
"Before he ran away, he said something.""
Daniel waited.
"He said, 'Tell Mr. Whitmore the old man's patience is finished.''"
Daniel looked at Marcus.
The chauffeur's face darkened.
"Richard," Marcus whispered.
Daniel ended the call.
"We're going to the hospital first.""
But Amelia stopped him.
"Daniel, think about it. If Victor is desperate enough to take Ethan, he may already know we've discovered the lakeside property.""
"Then we move faster.""
They climbed into the SUV.
Marcus drove.
Amelia sat in the back, holding the photograph of Margaret.
Daniel called his security director again.
This time, he gave him a direct order.
"Find Victor Hayes. Freeze every account connected to him. I want his vehicle movements, phone records, and the names of everyone who has access to the lakeside residence.""
"Understood, sir.""
"And don't inform Richard.""
"Yes, sir.""
The call ended.
Twenty minutes later, Marcus turned onto a narrow road surrounded by pine trees.
The old residence appeared beyond an iron gate.
It was a large stone house overlooking a lake.
Daniel remembered visiting as a child.
His father used to take him fishing there.
He also remembered something else.
There was a basement beneath the property.
A room where Robert kept business documents.
Marcus parked behind a row of trees.
"Nobody gets out until I check the entrance.""
He walked toward the gate.
Daniel watched him disappear into the darkness.
Then Amelia leaned forward.
"Daniel, look.""
A black SUV was parked beside the house.
Its headlights were off.
But the driver's door stood open.
Daniel recognized the vehicle from the hospital photograph.
"Victor.""
Suddenly, a loud crash came from inside the residence.
Daniel jumped out.
"ETHAN!""
He ran toward the house.
Amelia followed.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, the lights were on.
A man's voice came from the basement.
"Move the child! We don't have much time!""
Daniel rushed down the stairs.
At the bottom, he found a large storage room.
Victor stood beside a wooden table.
Two men were near the far wall.
And in the arms of one of them was a small bundle wrapped in a white hospital blanket.
Daniel's heart stopped.
"Ethan!""
Victor turned.
For a brief moment, surprise crossed his face.
Then he smiled.
"Mr. Whitmore. I was wondering when you'd arrive.""
"Give me my son!""
Victor raised one hand.
"Relax. The child is perfectly fine.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Put him down.""
"Not yet.""
Amelia entered behind Daniel.
"Victor, what are you doing?""
Victor looked at her.
"Miss Reed. You should have stayed out of this.""
One of the men moved toward a side door.
Daniel lunged forward.
"Don't move!""
The man froze.
Victor laughed.
"You really think you can control this situation?""
Daniel stared at him.
"You work for me.""
Victor shook his head.
"No, Mr. Whitmore. I work for the man who actually controls your company.""
Daniel felt his stomach tighten.
"Richard.""
Victor nodded.
"Your uncle has spent years protecting the Whitmore family from people who don't understand how the world works.""
"By kidnapping babies?""
"By protecting an inheritance.""
Amelia stepped forward.
"What does Ethan have to do with the inheritance?""
Victor looked at the newborn.
"Everything.""
He pulled a folded document from his jacket.
"Your mother established a trust. Your father modified it before his death. But there was one condition that could activate the original agreement.""
Daniel frowned.
"What condition?""
Victor smiled.
"The birth of the next generation.""
Daniel stared at him.
"You're telling me my son activates the trust?""
"Correct. And if the original trust is restored, Richard loses control of nearly eighty million dollars.""
Daniel looked at Amelia.
The realization hit them both.
"That's why you wanted him," Amelia whispered.
Victor nodded.
"Richard needed the child removed until the legal transfer could be completed.""
Daniel's voice became dangerously quiet.
"You kidnapped my son over money?""
Victor shrugged.
"People do much worse for less.""
Daniel took another step.
"Give him to me.""
Victor's smile disappeared.
"Not until you sign these documents.""
He placed a folder on the table.
Daniel glanced at the first page.
It was a legal document relinquishing his claim to the Whitmore family trust.
A second document transferred his voting rights in the company.
A third named Richard as the sole administrator of the estate.
Daniel looked up.
"You're trying to steal my company.""
Victor shrugged.
"Your uncle prefers the word succession.""
Amelia stepped closer to Daniel.
"Don't sign anything.""
Victor pointed toward the baby.
"Then perhaps you should think about how quickly a newborn can disappear.""
Daniel's fists clenched.
Before he could respond, a voice came from the stairs.
"That's enough, Victor.""
Marcus appeared.
He was holding a small black object.
A gun.
Daniel stared at him.
"Marcus?""
The older man stepped into the room.
"Put the child down, Victor.""
Victor laughed.
"Well, well. The old chauffeur finally found his courage.""
Marcus raised the weapon.
"I said put him down.""
Victor looked at Daniel.
"You should ask your friend why he knows so much about this place.""
Daniel turned.
"Marcus?""
The chauffeur's eyes filled with tears.
"Daniel, there's something else I need to tell you.""
Victor suddenly smiled.
"Go ahead, Marcus. Tell him who gave you the order to bring his mother here twenty-seven years ago.""
Daniel felt the room tilt.
Marcus lowered the gun slightly.
Then he whispered:
"I was the one who drove Margaret away from the estate that night.""
Daniel stared at him.
"What?""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"And I was also the last person who saw her before she disappeared.""
A sudden gunshot exploded.
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The lights went out.
And someone screamed.
