Chapter 7 - Aaron Cross
His name was Aaron Cross.
Dr. Alan Cross’s son.
Daniel remembered none of him.
Aaron remembered everything.
Their fathers worked together.
William Mercer represented wealthy families in confidential custody disputes. Dr. Cross evaluated children.
But behind legitimate work existed something darker.
Not kidnapping.
Not trafficking.
A system for manufacturing believable family narratives.
A wealthy parent needed a child declared unstable?
Cross produced evaluations.
A custody timeline needed reinforcement?
William found witnesses.
Children were coached until their memories matched the adults’ version.
Aaron and Daniel had sometimes been dressed similarly during “exercises.”
Daniel felt nauseated.
“Why?”
Aaron laughed bitterly.
“Because our fathers wanted to know how easily adults could be made to remember the wrong child.”
Nathan discovered it.
At thirteen, he stole files.
He planned to expose both men.
William found out.
Nathan ran to Thomas Bennett.
Then everything fractured.
“Where is Nathan?”
Aaron’s expression changed.
“Alive.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Where?”
“I don’t know anymore.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I helped him disappear.”
Laura stared.
“You?”
Aaron nodded.
That night, Nathan reached the storm tunnel.
Aaron and Dr. Cross were already there.
Cross had been ordered to bring Nathan home.
Instead, Aaron warned him.
Nathan escaped through an old service route.
But someone followed.
“Daniel’s mother?” Laura asked.
Aaron shook his head.
“Margaret arrived later.”
“Then who?”
Aaron looked at Daniel.
“Your father.”
Daniel clenched his jaw.
“You said my father went to Bennett’s house.”
“He did. Then he followed Nathan.”
“What happened?”
“Nathan had the files.”
William wanted them back.
Nathan refused.
Then Margaret arrived.
Not to help William.
To stop him.
Daniel’s entire understanding shifted.
His mother had known.
She had been protecting Nathan.
“Why did she lie?”
“Because William threatened you.”
Nathan agreed to disappear on one condition:
Daniel would be left alone.
William agreed.
Then violated the agreement by sending Daniel to Cross.
Margaret discovered it too late.
She spent years secretly trying to locate Nathan.
“So where does Sarah fit?”
Aaron looked away.
“She found me.”
Three months ago.
I recognized him as the man from the building.
I confronted him.
He told me enough to make me keep digging.
Then last night I contacted him.
That was the man Emily heard.
“Did you take Sarah?”
“No.”
“Then where is she?”
Aaron’s face tightened.
“She followed someone.”
“Who?”
“Me.”
Daniel stared.
Aaron explained.
He had received a message supposedly from Nathan.
COME ALONE. OLD MERCER STORAGE BUILDING.
I saw Aaron leaving.
I followed.
But Aaron realized he was being watched and doubled back.
I didn’t.
Daniel whispered:
“Who sent the message?”
Aaron looked toward the photographs.
“I thought Nathan.”
“And now?”
Aaron swallowed.
“Now I think someone wanted Sarah to find the place our fathers used.”
Emily appeared behind Daniel.
“Mom already knew about that place.”
Aaron froze.
May you like
Emily continued:
“She said Grandma Mercer was waiting there.”
