CHAPTER 14 The Eighth Child
Nobody spoke.
The detective immediately traced the call.
But whoever made it had already disappeared.
Daniel stared at the phone.
"An eighth child?"
Noah looked uncomfortable.
For the first time since returning...
He looked afraid.
Emma noticed.
"You know something."
Noah didn't answer.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Tell me."
Noah looked at him.
"There was a rumor."
"What rumor?"
Noah walked toward the window.
"Before Richard became famous, before Harrington International existed..."
He paused.
"He made a mistake."
Emma whispered:
"Another child."
Noah nodded.
"But different."
Daniel frowned.
"How?"
"Because Richard never knew about this one."
Silence.
Emma looked at the files.
"Then how would someone else know?"
Noah turned.
"Because someone was watching him."
The detective asked:
"Who?"
Noah looked toward the ceiling.
"That's the question Richard spent years trying to answer."
Daniel grabbed the papers.
"Where is this child's name?"
Noah shook his head.
"Not in the records."
"Why?"
"Because Richard never found out."
Emma looked confused.
"Then why would someone mention it?"
Noah answered:
"Because the person who called us wants us searching."
Daniel understood.
"This is a trap."
"Exactly."
Before anyone could react...
A loud explosion shook the mansion.
The windows shattered.
People screamed.
Smoke filled the hallway.
Daniel fell to the floor.
"Everyone down!"
The alarm began screaming.
Through the smoke...
Emma saw a shadow moving.
Someone was inside.
Someone who wasn't supposed to be there.
She stood.
"Daniel."
He looked at her.
"There."
A figure ran toward the east corridor.
Noah chased immediately.
Daniel followed.
Emma followed both.
They reached the old library.
The door slammed shut.
Noah opened it.
Inside...
Nobody was there.
Only one thing remained.
A small envelope on the table.
Daniel picked it up.
On the front were two words.
May you like
FOR EMMA.
Her heart stopped.
