Chapter 14 - The Boy Who Refused to Leave
Claire confronted him next morning.
“You're not Thomas.”
“I know.”
“You've always known.”
“Yes.”
“You approached Lily deliberately.”
“Yes.”
“You studied me.”
“Yes.”
“You used private things Thomas told you.”
“Yes.”
“Are you trying to steal his life?”
Ethan looked at her.
And said:
“No.”
Claire wanted scream.
“What do you call this?”
“I’m keeping it open.”
“For him?”
No answer.
Police had enough to place Ethan into protected foster care while investigation continued.
Claire agreed.
She could not safely keep him inside mansion.
When social worker arrived, Ethan did not resist.
Lily hugged him.
Despite everything.
“You lied to me.”
“I know.”
“I still gave you sandwich.”
“I know.”
“Were you really hungry?”
“Yes.”
That mattered to Lily.
At door Ethan looked back at Claire.
“You're going to find him now.”
“Yes.”
“You shouldn't.”
“Why?”
“He doesn't want what you think he wants.”
“What does he want?”
Ethan’s eyes filled.
“To know why nobody came.”
Claire broke.
“I looked for six years.”
“He knows.”
“Then why won't he come home?”
Ethan whispered:
“Because he found out who paid Voss first.”
Claire froze.
“Andrew?”
Ethan shook head.
“Not Andrew.”
“Who?”
Social worker guided him away.
Before car left, Ethan pressed palm against glass.
Lily noticed numbers written on skin:
10-17-6.
Date Thomas disappeared?
October 17.
Six?
Six years missing.
Or address?
Detective traced combination.
Storage unit 1017, Building 6.
Registered under fake name.
Inside they found boxes.
Ethan’s.
Clothes.
Cash.
Claire photographs.
Lily school schedules.
Thomas childhood files.
And dozens of handwritten pages.
Not Voss’s coaching.
Ethan’s planning.
PHASE 1 — LILY.
PHASE 2 — RECOGNITION.
PHASE 3 — HOUSE.
PHASE 4 — REMOVE DOUBT.
PHASE 5 — THOMAS CANNOT RETURN.
Claire stared at last line.
There it was.
Not test.
Not merely survival.
An intention to prevent Thomas from returning.
But how?
Next page:
DO NOT HURT HIM.
HE JUST HAS TO CHOOSE NOT TO COME BACK.
So Ethan did not plan murder.
He planned persuasion.
Manipulation.
Replacement.
Then Claire found photograph.
Recent.
Thomas.
Alive.
Standing outside bus station.
Date twelve days earlier.
On back:
HE STILL THINKS I’M DOING THIS FOR HIM.
Claire’s knees weakened.
Ethan knew exactly where Thomas was.
Then Detective Sloan found final envelope.
Addressed to Ethan.
Handwriting matched voice-contact notes.
Inside:
Ethan,
Please stop.
I never asked you to become me.
I asked you to find out whether she still wanted me.
—Thomas
Claire closed eyes.
The entire meaning changed.
Thomas had sent Ethan toward family.
But Ethan had changed mission.
Then phone rang.
May you like
Foster transport.
Ethan had disappeared.
