Officer Miller: Sir? Do you know this boy? Is everything alright here?
William: He's my family, officer. He's my blood.
William wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, looking down into Noah's face with wonder.
William: What is your name, son?
Noah: Noah. Noah Vance.
William: Vance... Your mother is Margaret, isn't she?
Noah: Yes! Margaret Vance!
William: Where is she, Noah? Why didn't she come inside with you?
Noah: She's sitting on the bench across the street. She said she was too scared to come near the building.
William stood up quickly, his knees popping as he adjusted his coat collar.
William: Scared? Scared of what?
Noah: She said the angry lady in the black car told us you died ten years ago.
William's expression turned instantly from grief to cold, sharp anger.
William: The lady in the black car... Victoria?
Noah: I don't know her name. But she came to our apartment when I was little and took all of Mom's papers.
William: Officer Miller, I need you to accompany us across the street right now.
Officer Miller: Is there a legal problem here, Mr. Harrison?
William: A massive crime has been committed against my daughter and grandson, officer.
William took Noah's small hand in his, holding the gold signet ring safely in his coat pocket.
William: Show me where your mother is sitting, Noah.
Noah: Over there, behind the blue bus stop!
They walked briskly down the wide stone steps of the federal building under the bright noon sun.
On a green wooden bench near the corner, a thin woman in a faded red sweater sat huddled against the chill wind.
Her hands were trembling as she watched the heavy traffic pass by.
William: Margaret... Oh God, Margaret!
The woman looked up, her face turning pale as she saw the elderly man approaching her.
Margaret: Father...?
William: Margaret, my sweet girl! It really is you!
Margaret stood up slowly, stepping back against the bus shelter wall in total confusion.
Margaret: Stay away! Victoria said if I came back to the city, you would have me arrested!
William: Arrested?! Why on earth would I have my own daughter arrested?!
Margaret: She said you revoked my inheritance and signed a restraining order against me ten years ago!
William: That is a complete and evil lie! I've been searching for you every single day since you vanished!
Margaret gasped, covering her mouth as fresh tears ran down her tired cheeks.
Margaret: You... you didn't kick me out of the family business?
William: I never signed any restraining order! Victoria forged those documents to steal your trust fund!