the unexpected phone call from millionaire’s son dad I found my young sister
sent the millionaire into a panic since his wife had passed away years ago and the child had followed its mother
5:00 o’clock in the morning before the alarm clock could sound Ethan’s eyes opened his bedroom
like the entire suburban Ohio estate adhered to a single standard pristine and quiet no clutter
no superfluous belongings no evidence of the common messy vitality usually found in regular households
for six years Ethan Carter had managed his personal life the same way he ran his logistics corporation
optimized emotionally detached and focused on the bottom line he went downstairs to the kitchen
and poured a cup of black coffee no sugar the bitterness coursed down his throat
waking up the brain that was already charting the day’s schedule Lucas came down 15 minutes later
The 12 year old was skinny and seemed lost in an oversized grey hoodie he drifted past Ethan like a shadow
taking a box of cereal from the pantry I have a board meeting today
Ethan stated his eyes glued to the tablet displaying stock charts I’ll be home late
take care of dinner yourself Lucas poured milk into the bowl
the sound of the liquid was the only noise in the expansive kitchen got it the boy replied curtly
just like every day he did not look at Ethan Ethan did not look at him
their relationship felt more like two housemates than a father and son
Ethan had brought Lucas home from the foster system thinking that money and to secure residence
would be sufficient compensation but Lucas carried the gaze of an old soul
his eyes perpetually observant and guarded as if he knew his place in Ethan’s perfect order
was merely an unpredictable variable eight o’clock in the morning Ethan sat in his glass walled office on the top floor
in front of him was a dense file warehouse personnel restructuring his fountain pen glided over the paper
200 names 200 lives that would shift with this stroke of ink
Ethan did not read a single name he only looked at the total figures on the final page
cost reduction of 15% net profit up he placed his signature decisive
done at the very same time Lucas missed the school bus
he pedaled his old bicycle against the wind toward the west side of the city
his destination was not home but Old Grove Cemetery
the place was neglected with weeds growing knee high concealing tilted headstones
Lucas slipped through the rusty iron fence and found a small stone slab
hidden behind a thicket it was his birth mother’s burial place
he crouched down fiddling with the dry grass his eyes drifting toward the adjacent plot of land
that was the Carter estate’s development half built concrete walls stood starkly against the gray
afternoon sky resembling the skeletal structure of a massive deceased behemoth
his father’s company had abandoned the site two years prior the wind whistled through the cracked wall crevices
Lucas was about to stand up and leave when he heard an unusual sound it was not the wind nor was it a cat
it sounded wet choppy and came from the pile of rubble separating the cemetery from the construction site
he stepped closer pushing the tall grass aside a cardboard box typically used for instant noodles
was tucked between two large stones the lid was taped shut but one corner had peeled away due to the damp soil
Lucas hesitated he pulled his house keys from his pocket and used the sharp edge to slice the remaining tape
the lid sprang open Lucas’s world came to a halt curled up in a heap of foul smelling rags
were two tiny infants one was pale lying motionless the other wiggled weak fingers
its mouth opening but too feeble to utter a cry Lucas stumbled back dropping his keys onto the ground
the jarring sound of metal on stone was loud his hands were trembling as he pulled out his phone
his speed dial held only one number Ethan was mid presentation in the boardroom
explaining to shareholders the rationale behind selling the old Grove property
the phone in his suit pocket vibrated he intended to dismiss the call but saw the name Lucas never called him at this hour
what is it Ethan answered his voice low and rushed Dad
Lucas’s voice was shaky followed by heavy ragged breathing don’t hang up
someone discarded babies what at the old site near Mom’s spot get here now they
they’re barely breathing Ethan looked around the conference room waiting faces profit margins
everything suddenly felt meaningless he dashed out leaving a stunned board behind him
cancel everything he yelled to his driver as he exited the elevator to Old Grove
as fast as you can manage the luxury sedan sped off cutting through the streets
Ethan gripped his phone tightly the line remained connected but Lucas said nothing more
only the sound of the wind rushing through the speaker as the car screeched to a stop at the cemetery gate
police sirens and an emergency vehicle alarm blared in the distance Ethan sprinted into the deserted property
his leather dress shoes slipping on the MUD Lucas was standing there right near the edge of the abandoned construction site
his arms hung loose his face ashen his vacant eyes fixated on two medical technicians
swiftly loading small bundles onto stretchers stand back a law enforcement officer shouted
stretching a yellow barrier tape Ethan ducked under the tape rushing to his son he intended to place a
hand on Lucas’s shoulder to offer some customary adult reassurance that everything would be fine
that it was being taken care of but Lucas shoved his hand away
the boy did not look at his father his eyes were glued to the empty cardboard box being tossed and tumbled by the wind
across the cold ground they tossed them out like garbage Dad Lucas whispered his voice sounding frighteningly mature
just like those figures you always cross off on paper Ethan froze
the cardboard container rolled one last time and came to rest right at his feet Ethan stood next to Lucas
both silent minutes later the cardboard box was sealed inside a transparent evidence bag
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