Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO CONTROLLED THE ORPHANAGEThe video began with Evan sitting inside a dark office.
He looked terrified.
“If you're watching this, I'm probably dead.”
Theo stared at his brother's face.
Evan continued.
“Richard Hale is not working alone.”
Theo leaned closer.
“There's someone above him.”
A file appeared on screen.
Bank transfers.
Political donations.
Hospital records.
Adoption documents.
Theo's stomach tightened.
The same organization appeared repeatedly.
Parker Children's Trust.
His father's charity.
But then Evan said the name.
“Mom.”
Theo stopped breathing.
His mother.
Sarah Walker.
Alive in the video.
She entered the frame.
Her face was pale.
“I didn't know how to stop them,” she said.
Theo's eyes filled with tears.
His mother continued:
“They used the foundation to move money. Children were deliberately classified as difficult so wealthy families could be offered easier children first. The others were kept hidden until someone paid.”
Theo whispered:
“No…”
Evan looked at the camera.
“Lily was born after Dad died. She was my daughter.”
Theo closed his eyes.
“Her mother is Claire.”
The screen went black.
Theo sat in silence.
Then Lily spoke.
“Mr. Walker?”
He turned.
“Where is my mom?”
Theo looked at her.
“I'll find her.”
But they didn't have to wait long.
A nurse arrived at the hospital.
“Mr. Walker?”
“Yes?”
“We found a woman matching Claire Parker's description.”
Theo's heart stopped.
“Where?”
“She's at Central Medical.”
“Is she alive?”
The nurse nodded.
“She woke up.”
Theo drove there immediately.
When he entered the room, a woman sat beside the window.
Older.
Thinner.
But unmistakable.
Claire Parker turned.
Theo stopped.
Neither spoke.
Then Claire whispered:
“You grew up.”
Theo's voice broke.
“You're alive.”
“I had to be.”
“Why didn't you come back?”
Claire looked at Lily.
“Because they would have killed her.”
Theo stepped closer.
“You let me believe everyone was dead.”
“I was protecting you.”
“You abandoned me.”
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
“No.”
She reached into her coat.
“I protected you too.”
She handed him another photograph.
Theo looked at it.
His father.
Evan.
His mother.
Claire.
And a little boy.
Theo.
The four adults were smiling.
On the back was a sentence:
One day, Theo will understand why we had to disappear.
Then Claire whispered:
“Your mother isn't dead.”
Theo's blood ran cold.
May you like
“What?”
“She has been hiding for fifteen years.”
