Chapter 11 - THE HEARINGThe federal hearing began three weeks later.
News cameras filled the courthouse steps.
The story had become national.
The Carter family.
The Morgan Foundation.
The missing children.
The murdered women.
The hidden money.
Every major American network covered it.
Claire testified first.
Then Amelia.
Then Ethan.
Finally, Ethan's father appeared under federal custody.
The prosecutor asked:
“Did your family knowingly conceal a murder?”
He answered:
“Yes.”
“Did you know Amelia survived?”
“Yes.”
“Did you order anyone to find her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To protect the inheritance.”
The courtroom gasped.
Claire closed her eyes.
Ethan stared at his father.
“How much?”
His father answered:
“Two billion dollars.”
Silence.
The prosecutor placed another document on the screen.
A list of names.
Dozens of children.
Some missing.
Some alive.
Some dead.
Then one name appeared.
SAMUEL ROSS.
Ethan stood.
“What is that?”
The prosecutor looked at him.
“Your son was not the only child transferred through the program.”
Ethan's face changed.
“How many?”
“We don't know.”
A journalist shouted from the gallery.
“Where are the missing children?”
The judge ordered silence.
Then the prosecutor revealed something worse.
“The original records indicate that several children were transferred overseas.”
Claire covered her mouth.
Amelia began crying.
Ethan looked at the list.
One name had been highlighted.
CHILD 42 — LOCATION UNKNOWN.
Below it:
LAST KNOWN CONNECTION — CARTER FAMILY.
Ethan stared.
“What does that mean?”
May you like
The prosecutor looked at him.
“It means someone inside your family may still be operating.”
