Chapter 8 - THE FATHER MASON FEAREDMason started talking seventeen minutes after Richard’s call.
Not because Grant threatened him.
Because Claire asked one question.
“Why is your father willing to sacrifice you?”
Mason looked at her from the chair where Ethan had restrained him.
His face had changed.
The confidence was gone.
“He won’t.”
Claire held Owen.
“He just did.”
“No.”
“He told Grant to trade my baby for Margaret.”
“He didn’t ask for you.”
Mason stared at the floor.
Claire stepped closer.
“You thought you were special.”
“Shut up.”
“You thought everything Richard built was for you.”
“Claire.”
“But it wasn’t.”
Mason stood so fast Ethan shoved him back down.
Claire did not move.
Grant watched her.
Something remarkable had happened.
Mason could no longer control her simply by speaking.
“Tell us where Richard is,” she said.
Mason laughed bitterly.
“You think I know?”
“You work for him.”
“I worked with him.”
Grant leaned against the table.
“Difference?”
Mason looked at him.
“You don’t understand my father.”
“Enlighten me.”
“He doesn’t trust anyone.”
“Apparently not even his children.”
Mason flinched.
Grant caught it.
Good.
“Elliot,” Grant said.
Mason looked up.
“What about him?”
“You know he’s Richard’s son.”
Silence.
Grant continued.
“You found out.”
“When?”
Mason looked toward Claire.
“Last year.”
“How?”
“I saw a medical file.”
“And realized your cousin was actually your brother.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know Claire was his genetic mother?”
Mason’s eyes shifted.
Claire went still.
Grant stepped forward.
“You knew.”
Mason said nothing.
Claire’s voice was barely audible.
“How long?”
Mason looked away.
“How long?”
“Before you got pregnant.”
Claire’s face shattered.
Grant felt hatred.
Mason continued quietly.
“My father asked me to meet you.”
Claire stared.
“What?”
“He knew where you worked.”
“What do you mean, asked you to meet me?”
“He wanted to know if your genetic traits were stable.”
The room went completely still.
Claire looked down at Owen.
Then back at Mason.
“You dated me as an experiment?”
“No.”
“Answer me.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“What was it like?”
“At first, yes.”
Mason breathed hard.
“My father wanted observation.”
Claire looked sick.
“He wanted to know whether I had medical issues.”
“Psychological issues.”
“Anything inherited.”
“Because of Elliot.”
Mason nodded.
Grant wanted to hit him.
Claire whispered, “And then?”
Mason looked at her.
“Then I fell in love with you.”
Claire laughed once.
It sounded broken.
“No.”
“I did.”
“You married me?”
“We weren’t married.”
“You built a nursery.”
“Yes.”
“You held my hand at appointments.”
“Yes.”
“While preparing to destroy me.”
Mason looked away.
“My father said Owen complicated everything.”
“Because?”
“He said having you connected biologically to both boys created risk.”
Claire’s eyes sharpened.
“What risk?”
“Exposure.”
Grant understood.
“Owen made the genetic trail impossible to hide.”
Mason nodded.
“If anyone tested the family, Elliot’s origin could be discovered.”
“Why does Elliot’s origin matter so much?” Claire asked.
Mason hesitated.
Grant stepped closer.
“This is the part you’re still hiding.”
Mason swallowed.
“Elliot was never supposed to exist.”
Claire’s jaw tightened.
“He exists.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Mason looked toward the window.
“My father funded Crane’s fertility research.”
“Illegal embryo selection.”
“Genetic screening beyond what was permitted.”
Daniel stared.
“What were they selecting for?”
“Health.”
“Intelligence.”
“Disease resistance.”
“Then later…”
Mason stopped.
“Later what?”
“Compatibility.”
Grant frowned.
“With whom?”
Mason looked at him.
“Richard.”
Claire went cold.
Mason explained.
“Richard has a rare blood disorder.”
“He’ll need a stem-cell transplant eventually.”
“They screened embryos for compatibility.”
Grant stared.
“Elliot was created as a donor.”
Mason nodded.
Claire covered Owen’s ear as though the baby could understand.
“That is why Richard calls it continuity.”
“Yes.”
“Elliot isn’t a child to him.”
“He’s insurance.”
Mason looked sick.
Grant asked the obvious question.
“Why Claire’s egg?”
“Crane selected donors based on genetic profiles.”
“Claire’s samples were unusually compatible.”
“With Richard?”
“Yes.”
Claire sat down.
Eight years ago, a fertility clinic had paid her twelve thousand dollars.
She thought she was helping a family.
Instead, someone had used her genetic material to create a child intended as biological spare parts for a powerful man.
Grant’s voice became dangerous.
“And Owen?”
Mason looked at the baby.
“Richard believes Owen may also be compatible.”
Claire’s face transformed.
“No.”
“He wanted the records to confirm.”
“No.”
“He doesn’t intend to hurt him now.”
Claire nearly lunged.
Grant stopped her.
“Now?”
Mason realized his mistake.
Grant stepped closer.
“What does ‘now’ mean?”
Mason closed his eyes.
“Richard’s condition has progressed.”
“How long?”
“Months.”
“And Elliot?”
“Not fully compatible.”
Grant felt sick.
“So they tested Owen?”
“Not yet.”
“That’s why they need him.”
“Yes.”
Claire held her child as though the room itself were dangerous.
Grant asked, “Where is Richard receiving treatment?”
Mason shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Where is Elliot?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where is Willow House?”
“I don’t know.”
Ethan laughed.
“You know very little for a man who helped ruin women’s lives.”
Mason’s voice hardened.
“I handled paperwork.”
Jessica, standing in the doorway, spoke.
“You handled people.”
Mason looked away.
Grant’s phone rang.
Daniel answered.
His face changed.
“It’s Margaret.”
Grant grabbed the phone.
“Mother?”
Her voice was weak.
“Grant.”
“Where are you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Can you see anything?”
“Dark walls.”
“Concrete.”
“Any windows?”
“No.”
Claire and Jessica looked at each other.
Willow House.
Grant knew it.
Margaret continued.
“They want something.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For Lydia.”
Grant’s chest tightened.
“What happened four years ago?”
Margaret began crying.
“Richard came after she left my house.”
Grant closed his eyes.
“You knew.”
“I saw his car.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Lydia begged me not to.”
“She said if Richard knew you were involved, he’d destroy you.”
Grant felt anger and grief collide.
“Mother, listen to me. We’re coming.”
“No.”
“What?”
“Don’t bring that baby.”
Claire looked at the phone.
Margaret’s voice strengthened.
“Grant, I already failed one frightened young woman because I trusted powerful men.”
“I won’t have you repeat it.”
Then a man’s voice appeared in the background.
“Time.”
Margaret spoke quickly.
“There’s water.”
Grant frowned.
“What?”
“Behind the walls.”
Then the call ended.
Daniel stared.
“Water behind the walls.”
Jessica stood.
“At Willow House, I heard boats.”
Everyone turned.
“What?”
“Sometimes late at night.”
“Engines.”
“Water slapping wood.”
Daniel opened satellite maps.
“Chicago River?”
“Lake?”
“Industrial canals?”
Jessica closed her eyes.
“There was also a horn.”
“Train?”
“No.”
“Boat.”
Ethan thought.
“Calumet River industrial area.”
Daniel searched properties connected to Lakefront Civic Partners.
Three warehouses.
Two clinics.
One abandoned rehabilitation facility near the river.
Jessica pointed instantly.
“That shape.”
Grant looked.
“You recognize it?”
“I escaped through a loading door.”
“There was a red tower outside.”
Satellite imagery showed an old rusted water tower.
Grant stood.
“We found it.”
Ethan grabbed his jacket.
“We call federal law enforcement.”
Claire stiffened.
Grant looked at her.
“This is beyond local police.”
Jessica nodded.
“They can’t own everyone.”
Mason laughed bitterly.
Everyone turned.
“What?” Grant asked.
Mason looked at them.
“You think Richard is at Willow House?”
“Isn’t he?”
“No.”
“Where?”
Mason’s smile was empty.
“He’ll let you raid it.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s what he does.”
“He gives people one truth so they stop looking for the bigger one.”
Grant stared.
“Then give me the bigger one.”
Mason looked toward Owen.
“You want Richard?”
“Yes.”
“Follow the child he actually cares about.”
“Elliot.”
Mason nodded.
“Where is he?”
Mason gave an address.
A private medical residence outside the city.
Grant looked at Daniel.
“Verify.”
Daniel typed.
Then stopped.
The property was owned by Samuel Crane.
Grant stared at Mason.
“Why tell us now?”
Mason looked at Claire.
His answer was quiet.
“Because I finally understand what happens when my father decides a child belongs to him.”
Claire said nothing.
Neither forgave him nor thanked him.
She simply looked at Grant.
“Get Margaret.”
Grant nodded.
“And Elliot.”
Claire held Owen tighter.
“All of them.”
May you like
For the first time, this was no longer simply a fight to keep her baby.
It was a mission to recover everyone Richard Hale had treated as property.
