STORY

The Golden Watch No One Was Supposed to Open

By Marcus ThorneMay 12, 2026Page 2 of 5

Chapter 2: The Letter in the Boy's Coat

Henry moved Noah behind him.

The jewelry shop was small, but Henry knew every inch of it. He knew which drawer held the alarm button, which display case had loose hinges, and which silver candlestick on the counter was heavy enough to be useful.

The stranger noticed his hand moving.

"I would not do that," he said.

Henry kept his eyes on him. "You still have not told me who you are."

"My name is Victor Voss," the man said. "I was asked to retrieve the boy and the watch."

"By his mother?"

"By people who know what is best for him."

Noah gripped Henry's coat. "He came yesterday. Mom locked the door. He said if she did not give him the watch, the medicine would stop."

Henry felt anger rise in him.

Noah suddenly tugged his sleeve. "Mom gave me something else."

Voss's eyes sharpened.

Noah reached into the lining of his torn jacket and pulled out a folded paper. It had been stitched inside with uneven thread.

Voss lunged.

Henry grabbed the candlestick and struck his wrist. Voss cursed, and Noah ducked behind the counter. Henry snatched the letter and opened it.

The handwriting was weak.

But he knew it.

Father, if this reaches you, I am alive. I was told you rejected me. I believed it for years. Daniel is dead. Noah is my son. The people from Harrow House are coming for him. Do not trust Victor Voss.

Henry's eyes blurred.

Emily was alive.

The bell rang again.

A police officer stepped inside. Henry had pressed the silent alarm after all.

Voss's expression changed instantly. "Officer, thank goodness. This elderly man is keeping a child from his legal guardian."

The officer moved toward him. "Sir, stay where you are."

Voss looked at Noah.

"You should have listened to your mother," he said. "Now she will pay for this."

Suddenly, smoke burst from a small device in his hand.

The shop filled with gray fog.

When it cleared, Voss was gone.

So was the golden watch.