Chapter 6 - SARAH WALKERTheo found his mother in a remote coastal town.
She was living under another name.
When Theo entered the small house, Sarah dropped a cup.
“Mom.”
She covered her mouth.
“My God.”
Theo didn't move.
Fifteen years of grief collapsed into one moment.
He wanted to hug her.
He wanted to scream.
He did both.
“You let me bury you.”
Sarah cried.
“I thought you were safer believing I was dead.”
“You were wrong.”
“I know.”
Lily stood behind Theo.
Sarah looked at her.
“Oh, my God.”
She fell to her knees.
“Evan's little girl.”
Lily approached slowly.
“Are you my grandmother?”
Sarah nodded.
“Yes.”
Lily hugged her.
Sarah broke down.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then Sarah revealed the final secret.
Evan had discovered that Richard Hale was stealing children from St. Clare's.
He tried to expose him.
Richard arranged the accident.
Evan survived.
But he disappeared to protect Lily.
Years later, Evan died from injuries sustained during the attack.
Before his death, he gave Sarah the evidence.
Sarah disappeared to keep it safe.
Theo stared at her.
“Where is Evan's original evidence?”
Sarah looked toward the ocean.
“Your father hid it.”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Sarah smiled sadly.
“Where your family began.”
Theo understood.
St. Clare's.
The orphanage.
The place where he had spent his childhood.
The place where Lily had been waiting.
They returned that night.
Behind the old chapel was a loose stone.
Under it sat a metal box.
Inside:
Bank records.
Names.
Photographs.
Court documents.
And one final list.
Hundreds of children.
Some adopted.
Some missing.
Some still alive.
Theo stared at the names.
“This isn't just about Lily.”
Sarah shook her head.
“It never was.”
Then Lily pointed at one name.
“That's my brother.”
Theo looked.
ELI PARKER — STATUS: TRANSFERRED.
Not adopted.
Transferred.
His location was blank.
Theo's eyes narrowed.
“Find him.”
His security team began searching.
Three hours later, they received a photograph.
A teenage boy stood behind a fence.
Alive.
May you like
And he was holding a sign.
HELP ME.
