Chapter 6 - THE MAN WITH THE SILVER WATCH
Elliot arranged for an independent historian and archival researcher to examine the documents.
Her name was Dr. Miriam Vale.
She specialized in displaced families and incomplete wartime records.
After reviewing Amelia's note, Henry's surviving documents, and old Harcourt family correspondence, Miriam found something disturbing.
Arthur Harcourt had worked with an international relief organization during the final years of the war.
Officially, he helped relocate displaced children.
But some records suggested he had also participated in questionable private adoption arrangements.
Children whose identities were changed.
Families separated.
Records altered.
Nora stared at the documents.
“Are you saying Henry was taken?”
Miriam answered carefully.
“We don't have enough evidence to establish every detail yet. But there are serious inconsistencies.”
Elliot looked pale.
“My grandfather raised my father.”
“Yes,” Miriam said.
“But that doesn't tell us how your father came into his care.”
Henry sat quietly beside the window.
Then whispered, “Arthur told me Amelia was dead.”
Nora turned.
Henry continued.
“He said I had to forget.”
His voice broke.
“He said remembering would make me sick.”
Elliot knelt beside his father.
“Dad.”
Henry looked at him.
“I tried.”
Tears filled his eyes.
“I tried to forget.”
Nora reached for his hand.
“But you didn't.”
Henry looked at her.
“No.”
May you like
He smiled sadly.
“The language remembered.”
