Chapter 14 - CAROLINE'S CONFESSION
I found Caroline in the kitchen.
She was standing beside the window.
Her back was toward me.
"Caroline."
She didn't turn.
"I know."
I placed the photograph on the table.
She stared at it.
Then she started crying.
"I didn't know he was alive."
"That's not what the photograph shows."
She shook her head.
"I didn't take that picture."
"Then who did?"
"I don't know."
"You were with him."
She closed her eyes.
"Yes."
"When?"
"Last month."
I stared.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Again?"
She looked at me.
"I've spent my whole life being afraid."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"You met him."
"Yes."
"Where?"
She hesitated.
"At a church."
"Which one?"
"St. Matthew's."
I grabbed my coat.
She stopped me.
"Don't."
"Why?"
"Because that's where they wanted me to go."
"Who?"
"Arthur."
My blood ran cold.
"Arthur Voss is alive?"
She nodded.
"He's been alive the entire time."
I stared at her.
"Why did everyone think he was dead?"
"Because your grandfather helped him disappear."
"What?"
"Your grandfather discovered what Arthur had done."
"With the children?"
"Yes."
"Then why protect him?"
"He didn't."
She shook her head.
"He was hiding him from Daniel."
I couldn't understand.
"Daniel hated his father?"
"Arthur used Daniel."
"For what?"
"To recruit people."
I looked at her.
"And Noah?"
"Arthur was Noah's biological father."
I froze.
"No."
Caroline nodded.
"Your mother lied about that."
I stared at the floor.
"So Noah isn't Grandpa's son."
"No."
"He's Arthur's."
"Yes."
Everything shifted again.
My grandfather hadn't been the father.
Arthur had.
Then why had my grandfather claimed responsibility?
Caroline answered.
"Because he wanted to keep Arthur away from Noah."
I sat down.
"What happened to Grandpa?"
"He was poisoned."
I looked up.
"Poisoned?"
Caroline nodded.
"Arthur did it."
I couldn't breathe.
"My grandfather was murdered."
"Yes."
"Mom knew?"
"She suspected."
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Because your grandfather's final instruction was simple."
"What?"
"Protect Graham."
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Caroline sat beside me.
"I'm sorry."
I looked at her.
"Do you know where Ethan is?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"Then who took the photograph?"
She looked terrified.
"Arthur."
"Why?"
"Because he wants you to find him."
"Why me?"
"Because he believes you're the only person who can unlock your grandfather's final trust."
I stared.
"The trust?"
She nodded.
"There's another clause."
"What clause?"
"Your grandfather didn't just leave you the family assets."
She whispered:
"He left you the evidence."
I felt a chill.
"Evidence of what?"
"Everything."
She looked toward the ceiling.
"Every payment."
"Every adoption."
"Every person involved."
"Every child."
I stared.
"Where is it?"
Caroline shook her head.
"I don't know."
Then my mother walked into the room.
"I do."
We turned.
She was holding an old key.
"It's inside the church."
I looked at her.
"What does it open?"
She handed it to me.
"A box beneath the altar."
I stared at the key.
"Then let's go."
My mother shook her head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because Arthur will be waiting."
I looked at her.
"Good."
She stared at me.
I continued:
May you like
"Because this time, we're not going there to hide."
"We're going there to end it."
