Chapter 12 - Mrs. Bell
Alexander almost broke the kitchen table with his fist.
"Find them."
Owen was already moving.
Maria stood frozen.
Mrs. Bell had loved Ethan since infancy.
She had bandaged his knees, taught him how to tie shoes, sat beside him through fevers.
"She wouldn't hurt him," Maria said.
Alexander looked at her. "People keep saying that about the people who hurt him."
The line cut deeper than he intended.
Maria turned away.
Ten minutes later, Mrs. Bell called.
Not Alexander.
Maria.
"Don't tell him where I am," she whispered.
Maria put the call on speaker anyway.
"Evelyn," Alexander said. "Where is my son?"
Mrs. Bell started crying.
"Safe. For the moment."
"Bring him back."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because Martin called me."
The room went still.
Mrs. Bell confessed that Martin Sterling had paid for her husband's cancer treatment years ago. After Julia began investigating him, Martin reminded Evelyn she owed him.
At first he only wanted schedules.
Then copies of keys.
Then information about Ethan.
"I never touched that boy," she said. "I swear to God."
Alexander's voice shook. "You gave a man who threatened my family access to my son."
"I know."
"Where are you?"
Mrs. Bell whispered, "Old Blackwood boathouse."
Alexander was already heading for the door.
"Wait," she said.
He stopped.
"Martin isn't here."
"Then who is?"
A man's voice came through the phone.
"Hello, Alexander."
Alexander went completely still.
Maria saw recognition in his face.
Not Martin.
Someone else.
"Who is that?" she whispered.
May you like
Alexander's answer was barely audible.
"My brother."
