This choice: "I've learned a dark secret about our families." • Go Back...
Chapter #4
The Family Secret
by: Unknown
I was somewhat taken back by the blunt proclamation by Maddie. In all my years, I’ve never had any reason to suspect something sinister from my family (or hers, for that matter).
“Dark secret?” I asked. “Such as…?
Maddie looked down at a small leather bound book she was holding, then back at me.
“I was always told that our family money came from international trade and shipping businesses.”
I nodded in agreement. That was what I was told as well.
“Well it turns out they are actually involved in a kidnapping racket!”
At this point I couldn’t help but laugh. I mean, kidnapping? Really?
“Maddie, that’s ridiculous. Your parents are some of the nicest people I know. And I can’t imagine my parents being involved in anything illegal.”
“I know how it sounds. And before I found this book, I wouldn’t have believed it either.”
I took another look at the old book Maddie was holding. It had worn edges and a faded cover. She opened it up to show me its contents.
“This shows how their operation works. A client contacts them with a job. Then both of our fathers pick up the victim using any means necessary; deception, coercion, even force. Then they take the victim to one of their holding facilities where they keep them for as long as the client wants.”
I read a page containing a list of holding facilities and the people charged with running them. I was in shock as I read the list of people who ran the nearest facility; it included Maddie’s mother, as well as my own!
“Look, this all seems a little unreal.” I said. “How do you know this isn’t just some piece of fiction?”
Maddie seemed to get upset. “Look, I called you over here because I thought you could help me. If it is true, then we need to expose it to the world. There are innocent people being imprisoned against their will!”
It looked like she might start to cry. I didn’t want to upset her, but she was kind of putting me on the spot. Ultimately, I decided it wouldn’t be fair to string her along, so I had to make a decision.
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