Chapter 11 - Three Thomases
The revelation changed everything.
At gray house, three boys had been coached using Thomas’s childhood details.
Ethan.
A boy called Caleb.
And the boy Ethan claimed was real Thomas.
Why?
Identity fraud.
Mr. Gray apparently intended present one boy as Thomas long enough to access custodial account or extort Claire.
But why include real Thomas?
Ethan said Gray did not know which boy was real at first.
That sounded absurd.
Until investigation found Thomas’s original abduction may have passed through informal child-placement network with falsified names.
Years later someone found possibility one unidentified boy was Thomas.
Instead of DNA testing, criminal group gathered similar-aged boys and trained all three, hoping one could pass family recognition before formal test.
Yet DNA would expose fraud.
Unless target was not long-term inheritance.
Maybe short-term emotional leverage.
Claire asked:
“Why did you leave?”
“Thomas helped me.”
“Where's Caleb?”
“I don't know.”
“Where's Thomas?”
Ethan refused.
“He made me promise.”
Claire became furious.
“My son is out there.”
“He said you'd make it worse.”
“I'm his mother.”
Ethan looked at her strangely.
“That's what everybody keeps saying.”
That line stayed with Claire.
Then police identified Mr. Gray.
Graham Voss.
Former investigator hired by Andrew after Thomas disappearance.
Andrew had fired him for misconduct.
Voss later disappeared.
So man paid to find Thomas may have built scheme around case.
Strong mastermind candidate.
Bank records showed Voss knew Account 611.
There.
Why had Jonathan Vale financing touched gray house?
Indirectly through debt portfolio. Likely coincidence or Voss exploiting financing.
Jonathan looked less suspicious.
Then Ethan led police to another location.
Abandoned motel.
Caleb had lived there.
They found clothing.
Blood traces.
No body.
Blood belonged to unrelated adult.
Evidence Caleb left recently.
On wall:
THOMAS IS NOT THE ONE WITH THE MONEY.
Claire stared.
What did that mean?
Account 611 clearly belonged Thomas.
Unless “money” referred something else.
Then detective found ledger hidden under floor.
Three columns:
T.
E.
C.
Scores beside each boy.
MEMORY.
VOICE.
REACTION.
SCAR.
CLAIRE RESPONSE.
They were being evaluated on ability to impersonate Thomas.
Ethan’s column had highest score.
At bottom:
FINAL CONTACT — USE LILY.
Claire slowly looked at Ethan.
“Voss planned the alley.”
Ethan shook head.
“No.”
“You said you chose Lily.”
“I did.”
“Then why is her name here?”
Ethan stared at ledger.
His expression changed.
May you like
For first time, he looked genuinely afraid.
“Because this isn't Voss’s handwriting.”
