Thorns (Sequel to A Dozen Roses)

Chapter 16 Mother

Chapter 16
Mitch POV

The last time I wore a fancy suit was Seto's funeral. I certainly didn't expect to be wearing one so soon again. We were meeting Isaac's mother, and Brice's Ex wife, today.

I had Ian and Gizzy with me on this mission. I was a little nervous to be back out in the field but it also felt nice, almost calming. Isaac's mother lived three hours from Quanitco so it was a decent drive.

The house was a very nice two story grey house with a nice yard.  The garden around the house was beautiful and well kept.

"You sure this is the place?" Ian asked double checking the address. I nodded my head, I had looked at a picture of this place on google maps.

We walked up to the door and knocked. I could hear someone inside  and eventually the door opened. A woman stood there with long black hair and blue eyes.

"Yes can I help you?" I cleared my throat.

"Are you Carmen Coone?" She nodded, "My names Mitchell Hughes, I work for the FBI. This is Ian Stapleton and Gizzy Gazza. Could we come in and speak to you about your son?" Her eyebrows shot up but she welcomed us in.

"Of course. Come in." She led us into the living room, "Would you gentlemen like some coffee? I can put a pot on."

"Yes please, thank you." She smiled and went into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. Meanwhile I wandered around the room looking around at photos on the wall.

"It seems like she remarried. Three kids. She's a family person, but had no problem leaving Brice and Isaac. It's odd." Ian picked up a photo of the three kids.

"They don't look to much younger than Isaac. You said he was what 11? 12? These kids look like they're between 6 and 10." I stood and make my way over to him taking a look at the photo. Two little girls with long black hair and matching dresses with backpacks sitting in front of them and a boy with short black hair smiling and holding up his bag.

Isaac didn't even know he had three other siblings, he doesn't know anything about his half sisters. Hell, now he has 4 half sisters. He doesn't even realize he has a little brother. Brice probably doesn't know either, that his ex-wife has other kids besides Isaac. It's odd to think about. I couldn't imagine not knowing my siblings.

Carmen brought out the coffee and we all sat down taking a sip. She set the pot on a tray and left it on the coffee table, insisting if we wanted more to help ourselves.

"Now what kind of trouble has Liam gotten into?" I raised my eyebrow confused for a moment before realizing she must mean her other son, not the one we were here about.

"Ah no ma'am were here about your other son." her eyes went wide, "We want to talk to you about Brice and Isaac Solace" Ian pulled two up-to-date photos of them and placed them on the table. Carmen stared at them before carefully picking up the photo of Isaac.

"Is this what my baby boy grew up to be?" Her voice cracked and she sounded genuinely concerned. "That monster took him away from me and wouldn't let me ever see him again. My poor baby Isaac." Tears began to roll down her cheeks and she wiped them away with her sleeves.

This was all wrong wasn't it? I had heard it differently; she had hated how much of a genius he was at a young age and left. She had said something along the lines of 'I won't raise a freakish monster' or something along those lines. I'd heard Brice and Kyle talking about it a while ago when they were changing guard shift.

"Mrs.Coone have you had any contact with Brice and Isaac?" She shook her head, "When was the last time you heard from them?" She sniffled and wiped her eyes.

"He sent me a letter and a thing of papers...they were adoption and custody papers. Brice said he had met someone he was in love with and that that person wanted custody of Isaac. Of course i refused at first but..he just kept sending them. Finally I signed it and stamped it return to sender. This had to be when Isaac was at least 7 or 8. So it's been a few years. Can I ask what's going on with them?" I shared a look with Ian and Gizzy, giving Gizzy a short nod to go ahead.

"Ma'am have you ever heard of a man named Seto?" His British accent was strong and seemed to draw her attention to him. She looked back down at the photos as she thought before shaking her head. "Seto is a wanted criminal, he's Brice's husband and holds custody rights to Isaac."

"My boy is being raised by a criminal?!" She was shocked, "You have to stop that monster and find Isaac." Her eyes were pleading and for a moment I felt guilting knowing where Isaac was.

"Of course ma'am that's our job. Is there anything you can tell us about Brice?" I asked clearing my throat. "Anything you can remember about him that might be useful."

She set the photo of Isaac in her lap and looked away, she was thinking.

"I don't know if it'll help but Brice use to be a professional artist, all these big names bought his work. He said it was his true passion. Spent more time on his art work than me and Isaac." She sighed and shook her head, "Like I said I don't know if that'll help but it's just something about him." Gizzy scribbled it down in his notebook.

"Thank you very much for your time ma'am. If you hear from Brice again please let us know." We all stood and Ian shook her hand giving her his card.

Gizzy and I shook her hand and thanked her for her time and the coffee before heading back out to the car.

"I don't understand, Brice made it seem like she wanted nothing to do with Isaac." I put my head in my hands trying to think.

"It seemed to me they were a happy family and Brice tore that apart. Or that's how she put it." I rubbed my temples tiredly. It didn't make sense.

They each had their own side of the story and the one thing I wanted to know was.

Which one is lying?