He turned angrily.
"I said take them out!"
Then a familiar voice came from the back of the room.
"That's not going to happen."
Marcus walked through the door.
His face was bruised, and one arm was in a sling.
But he was alive.
Daniel smiled.
"Marcus."
Marcus nodded.
"Sorry I'm late."
Hayes stepped backward.
"What is this?"
Marcus held up his phone.
"Your confession. The one you gave me while trying to force me to reveal the location of the ledger."
Hayes stared at him.
"You recorded me?"
Marcus smiled.
"You talk too much."
The courtroom speakers suddenly activated.
Hayes's own voice filled the room.
"We moved the Carter boy because the original family became a problem. The Mitchell child was supposed to disappear too, but Arthur refused to cooperate."
Then another voice spoke.
"Thomas knows too much."
Hayes's response followed.
"Then Thomas will disappear."
The recording continued.
The room became silent.
Several people began whispering.
One of the men attempted to leave.
But two officers blocked the door.
Deputy Commissioner Collins entered.
He carried an official arrest warrant.
"Richard Hayes, you are under arrest for conspiracy, kidnapping, obstruction of justice, evidence tampering, and multiple related offenses."
Hayes laughed.
"You think you can arrest me?"
Collins looked at him.
"I already have."
Hayes suddenly pulled a small gun from beneath his jacket.
Everyone screamed.
Daniel moved toward Thomas.
Marcus raised his weapon.
"Drop it!"
Hayes pointed the gun at Thomas.
"You should have stayed dead!"
Thomas stood still.
"Richard, it's over."
"Not for me!"
Hayes fired.
The bullet struck the wooden table.
Marcus returned fire, hitting Hayes in the shoulder.
The captain dropped his weapon.
Officers rushed forward and restrained him.
Daniel immediately ran toward his father.
"Are you okay?"
Thomas nodded.
"Yes."
Then Daniel noticed blood on his father's jacket.
A second bullet had grazed his side.
"You're hurt!"
Thomas smiled faintly.
"I've had worse."
The paramedics were called.
Hayes was taken into custody.
But before he was led away, he turned toward Daniel.
"You think you've won?"
Daniel stared at him.
"What else is there?"
Hayes smiled.
"You still don't know who ordered the transfers."
Daniel frowned.
"What?"
Hayes looked toward Thomas.
"Ask your father."
Daniel turned.
Thomas's face had changed.
He looked devastated.
Hayes continued.
"I didn't start this operation. I was only protecting it."
Daniel approached his father.
"Who was behind it?"
Thomas closed his eyes.
Then he spoke a name.
"Your grandfather."
Daniel felt the entire world stop.
His grandfather had supposedly died before Daniel was born.
But Thomas had one more secret to reveal.
And this time, the truth would hurt more than anything Hayes had ever said
The hospital room was quiet.
Thomas lay in bed with a bandage around his side.
Daniel sat beside him.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
The revelation about his grandfather had changed everything.
Daniel had grown up believing his family was ordinary.
His father was a police officer.
His mother was a kind woman who had died too young.
His grandfather was someone he had never met.
Now he was learning that the man he had never known had been at the center of a criminal network.
"Tell me everything," Daniel finally said.
Thomas looked toward the window.
"Your grandfather was named William Carter."
Daniel nodded.
"I know."
"He was a respected businessman. He owned several properties and had connections throughout the city. When your grandmother became ill, he began spending time with wealthy people who promised access to private medical services."
Thomas paused.
"Eventually, he became involved in the Saint Mary's operation."
Daniel looked down.
"Why?"
"At first, he believed he was helping families. He thought he was arranging private adoptions for people who couldn't have children."
"And then?"
"Then he discovered that some children were being taken without their parents' consent."
Thomas explained that William had initially tried to leave the organization.
But he was threatened.
His business was targeted.
His family was placed under surveillance.
And instead of exposing the people involved, he chose to protect himself.
"Did you know?" Daniel asked.
Thomas nodded.
"I discovered it when I started investigating the hospital."
"Did you confront him?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Thomas looked away.
"He told me that if I exposed the truth, everyone in our family would suffer."
Daniel clenched his fists.
"So you let him get away with it?"
"No."
Thomas looked directly at his son.
"I spent years collecting evidence. But by the time I had enough, William had already died."
Daniel was silent.
"His death was reported as a heart attack," Thomas continued. "But before he died, he left behind documents connecting him to the entire operation."
"Where are they?"
Thomas hesitated.
"With Arthur."
Daniel frowned.
"Why?"
"Because Arthur was the only person I trusted with the truth."
Daniel stood up.
"Then we need to get those documents."
Thomas shook his head.
"Not yet."
"Why not?"
"Because there's something else."
Thomas reached into the drawer beside his bed.
He removed a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph of a woman holding a newborn baby.
Daniel recognized her.
His mother.
"What does this have to do with anything?"
Thomas handed him a letter.
It was written in his mother's handwriting.
Thomas, if anything happens to me, please make sure Daniel and Michael grow up knowing that they were loved. Whatever happens, don't let them believe they were unwanted.
Daniel read the words twice.
Then he looked at his father.
"Did she know?"
Thomas nodded.
"Your mother discovered the truth before she died."
Daniel sat down again.
"She knew about the transfers?"
"Yes. She found out that William had arranged for Michael to be taken. She tried to report him."
Daniel felt tears forming.
"Was she killed?"
Thomas remained silent for a moment.