Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT BENJAMIN DISAPPEARED|
I showed Luca the messages immediately.
He read them without speaking.
Then he handed my phone to Elena.
"Preserve these."
He turned toward Marco.
"Have someone check on Claire's mother and offer to help her reach a safe place."
My voice broke.
"Mr. Moretti, she doesn't know anything about this."
Luca looked at me.
"I know."
"She's sixty-three, and her arthritis makes it hard for her to move quickly."
His expression softened.
"Then we'll make sure she has the help she needs."
I called my mother.
She answered on the fourth ring.
"Claire, honey, is everything okay?"
The sound of her voice nearly made me cry.
"Mom, I need you to listen carefully."
I explained only what she needed to know.
That someone connected to my work had made a threat.
That she shouldn't open the door to strangers.
And that a trusted driver would be available if she wanted to stay somewhere safer.
My mother was quiet.
Then she asked one question.
"Did you do something wrong?"
"No."
"Then don't let anybody frighten you into pretending you did."
I covered my mouth.
My mother had spent her life working hard, keeping promises, and teaching me to stand up for people who couldn't always stand up for themselves.
I had never needed that lesson more.
By late afternoon, Marco had arranged a temporary safe residence for her through an independent security service.
She agreed to go after speaking directly with me.
Luca also decided that Benjamin should spend the evening somewhere away from the mansion.
At first, I worried the child would think he was being sent away again.
But Luca handled it differently.
He sat beside Benjamin and explained that they would be spending the night at Rose Maddox's house.
Rose was Caroline's cousin, a retired schoolteacher who lived outside the city.
Benjamin knew her well.
She had taught him how to make blueberry pancakes.
"Are you coming, Daddy?" he asked.
"Yes, sweetheart."
"Tonight?"
"As soon as I finish meeting with Elena."
Benjamin looked uncertain.
Luca took his hand.
"If plans change, I'll call you myself."
The boy nodded.
"Okay."
I traveled with Benjamin and a security driver to Rose's farmhouse.
The property was surrounded by apple trees and a wooden fence painted white.
There were yellow curtains in the kitchen windows.
A sleepy golden retriever named Biscuit greeted us at the front door.
For the first time all day, Benjamin laughed.
Rose wrapped him in a hug.
"There's my favorite young man."
Benjamin smiled.
"Did you make cookies?"
"Of course."
He looked at me.
"Miss Claire, she makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the whole world."
I smiled back.
"Then I suppose I should try one."
For nearly two hours, the farmhouse felt peaceful.
Benjamin helped Rose prepare grilled cheese sandwiches.
Biscuit slept beneath the kitchen table.
I sat by the window watching the darkening sky.
But when my phone rang, the peaceful feeling vanished.
It was Elena.
"Claire, is Benjamin with you?"
"Yes."
"Keep him close."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"We've discovered that Dominic may have access to the security arrangements."
I looked toward the driveway.
One of the security vehicles had just pulled away.
"Elena, where is Marco?"
"With Luca."
"Then who's supervising the property?"
There was a pause.
"Claire, listen carefully."
Before she could continue, the line crackled.
Then the call disconnected.
I immediately called back.
No answer.
I stood and hurried into the kitchen.
Benjamin was finishing his sandwich.
"Miss Claire?"
"Sweetheart, let's go into the living room."
"Why?"
"Just for a little while."
Rose noticed my expression.
"Claire, what's wrong?"
I lowered my voice.
"Something doesn't feel right."
Then headlights swept across the front windows.
A dark SUV stopped beside the porch.
Benjamin looked up.
"Is that Daddy?"
I moved toward the window.
The vehicle was the same make and color as those used by the Moretti estate.
A man stepped out wearing a dark security jacket.
I recognized him.
Owen Miller.
He had occasionally driven deliveries for Dominic.
My heart began pounding.
Owen knocked.
"Claire, Mr. Moretti sent me."
I kept the door locked.
"Where's Marco?"
"Busy with an emergency."
"What emergency?"
Owen glanced toward Benjamin through the glass.
"His father was hurt in an accident."
Benjamin gasped.
"Daddy?"
I grabbed his hand.
"Ben, stay with me."
Owen raised his voice.
"There's no time to argue."
I reached for my phone.
Then the back door slammed.
Rose cried out.
I turned instinctively.
A second man had entered through the mudroom.
He wasn't holding a weapon, but he moved fast.
He shoved a kitchen chair into my path as I tried to pull Benjamin away.
The chair struck my knee.
Pain shot through my leg.
Benjamin screamed.
"Miss Claire!"
I grabbed for him, but Owen had already come through the front entrance after the other man opened it.
He caught Benjamin around the waist.
The little boy fought desperately.
"No! I want my daddy!"
I lunged forward.
Someone caught my arm and pushed me against the wall.
For one terrible second, I couldn't breathe.
Then Benjamin looked directly at me.
His eyes were wide with fear.
"Miss Claire, tell Daddy!"
"I will, sweetheart!"
Owen carried him through the doorway.
I struggled to follow.
But by the time I reached the porch, the SUV was already moving.
Its tires scattered gravel across the driveway.
I ran after it until my injured knee buckled.
The vehicle disappeared beyond the apple trees.
I fell onto the cold ground.
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Then I saw something lying near the bottom step.
A small piece of pink fabric.
Caroline's ribbon.
Benjamin had been carrying it in his pocket.
He must have dropped it while struggling.
I picked it up with trembling fingers.
Behind me, Rose was calling the police.
I dialed Luca.
He answered immediately.
"Claire?"
My voice shattered.
"Mr. Moretti, they've taken him."
Silence.
Then Luca spoke with terrifying calm.
"Who?"
"Owen Miller. He said you were hurt."
"Where are you?"
"Rose's house."
"Are you injured?"
"That doesn't matter!"
"Claire, it matters, but right now I need you to tell me everything."
I forced myself to describe the SUV.
The men.
The direction they had driven.
And the ribbon Benjamin had dropped.
Luca listened without interrupting.
Then he said something I would remember for the rest of my life.
"I'm coming for my son, and we're bringing the police."
For a moment, I could only cry.
The man who had once controlled everything through fear was choosing to trust the people he had spent years keeping at a distance.
But as I stared at the ribbon in my hand, another thought struck me.
Owen had known exactly where Benjamin was staying.
He had known Luca wasn't there.
And he had known what lie would make a frightened little boy come toward the door.
This wasn't a desperate improvisation.
Someone had planned it.
My phone vibrated again.
A new message appeared from the same unknown number that had threatened my mother.
You should have taken the warning.
Then another message followed.
Tell Luca he can have the boy back when he gives us what Caroline hid.
I stared at those words.
And suddenly, the reason for Benjamin's disappearance became horrifyingly clear.
May you like
They weren't only trying to steal his inheritance.
They wanted the evidence his mother had left behind.
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