Chapter 10: The Mother Who Never Came Home
"Your mother was in the house with him.""
My uncle's words continued echoing in my head long after the call ended.
I stared at the disconnected phone.
For twelve years, I had believed my mother was dead.
I had visited her grave every year on the anniversary of her supposed accident. I had placed flowers beside her name. I had whispered things I wished I could tell her.
And now someone was telling me she had been alive all along.
"Emily?""
Mr. Collins touched my shoulder.
I looked up.
"We need to find Thomas.""
Richard was already speaking to one of the investigators.
"Get his address. Now.""
Daniel suddenly laughed.
It was a strange, nervous sound.
"You're wasting your time.""
I turned toward him.
"Why?""
"Because your uncle won't tell you anything useful.""
"How do you know?""
Daniel looked at the floor.
"Because he was there.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"At my father's house?""
Daniel nodded.
"Your uncle, your mother, and I were all there that night.""
The room fell silent.
I stepped toward him.
"What happened?""
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he said, "Your father had discovered that the trust had been used to hide money from several investors. He wanted everything returned.""
"Who took the money?""
"Victor. My father.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't explain why my mother disappeared.""
Daniel rubbed his jaw.
"Your mother found out that Victor had been using your father's identity to authorize transfers. She confronted him. Your father threatened to expose everything.""
"And then?""
Daniel looked toward the investigators.
"I left before anything happened.""
"You're lying.""
He raised his voice.
"I left, Emily!""
"Then why did you sign the insurance amendment?""
His expression changed.
"I didn't know what Thomas was going to do with that document.""
"What did you sign?""
"Your uncle told me it was necessary to settle the estate.""
I stepped closer.
"Did you know my mother was alive?""
He didn't answer.
I felt tears burning behind my eyes.
"Did you know?""
Finally, he whispered, "Yes.""
The admission hit harder than I expected.
"You knew my mother was alive for twelve years?""
"I knew she survived.""
"Where was she?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying again.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Your mother disappeared because she was afraid of your father's business partners. She believed someone was following her.""
I swallowed.
"Who?""
He looked away.
"Victor.""
I turned toward Richard.
"Did you know?""
Richard shook his head.
"No. I swear.""
I believed him.
Not because he had earned my trust, but because his expression held the same shock I felt.
Mr. Collins received a message on his phone.
"We have Thomas's location.""
He looked at me.
"He's at a private medical clinic in Connecticut.""
"Why?""
"Apparently, he was admitted last night.""
I grabbed my coat.
"Let's go.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Emily, wait.""
I turned.
He looked exhausted.
For the first time, I noticed how much older he seemed than the man I had married.
"I know I've done terrible things," he said.
"But there are things you don't understand.""
I stared at him.
"Then start explaining.""
He lowered his voice.
"Your father wasn't killed because of money.""
"What?""
"He was killed because he discovered who had been stealing from the trust.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"Who?""
Daniel looked directly at me.
"Someone you loved.""
Before I could ask another question, the investigators escorted him out.
I watched him disappear through the metal doorway.
Then I turned to Mr. Collins.
"We're going to Connecticut.""
The clinic was located outside Hartford, surrounded by bare trees and a narrow road lined with old stone walls.
Thomas was in a private room on the second floor.
He looked smaller than I remembered.
His silver hair was uncombed, and a hospital bracelet circled his wrist.
When he saw me, he began crying.
"Emily.""
I stood beside the bed.
"You have some explaining to do.""
He nodded.
"I know.""
"Why did you tell me my mother was dead?""
He closed his eyes.
"Because she asked me to.""
I stared at him.
"She asked you to lie to your own niece?""
"She believed it was the only way to keep you safe.""
"Safe from whom?""
Thomas looked toward the closed door.
"Your father.""
I stepped backward.
"Don't.""
"I'm telling you the truth.""
"My father loved me.""
"He did. But he was also a man who became obsessed with protecting his money and his reputation.""
Thomas reached for the glass of water beside him.
"Your mother discovered that he had secretly transferred part of the family trust into accounts controlled by Victor Harrington. She confronted him. They argued. Your father became furious.""
"And?""
Thomas's voice dropped.
"Your mother pushed him away when he grabbed her. He fell against the edge of his desk.""
My stomach turned.
"Was he alive?""
Thomas nodded.
"He was unconscious, but breathing.""
"Then why didn't anyone call an ambulance?""
Thomas began shaking.
"Because Victor arrived minutes later. He told us that if the police became involved, everyone would go to prison.""
I felt sick.
"Everyone?""
"Your mother, me, Daniel, and anyone who had signed the financial documents.""
I stared at him.
"What did Victor do?""
Thomas looked at the ceiling.
"He told us your father had suffered a fatal accident. He arranged for a doctor to certify the death.""
"Who was the doctor?""
Thomas shook his head.
"I don't know.""
"And my mother?""
"She was terrified. Victor threatened to accuse her of murder. He told her that if she ever contacted you, he would make sure you lost everything.""
I covered my mouth.
"Why didn't you tell the police?""
Thomas began crying harder.
"Because I was a coward.""
The room fell silent.
Then he reached beneath his pillow and removed a small photograph.
It showed my mother standing beside a young girl.
I recognized the girl immediately.
It was me.
But the photograph had been taken when I was perhaps ten years old.
Four years after my mother's supposed death.
I stared at it.
"Where was this taken?""
Thomas looked at me.
"At a summer house in Maine. Your mother used to watch you from a distance when you visited your grandmother.""
I felt my knees weaken.
She had been alive.
She had been close enough to see me grow up.
And she had never come home.
Thomas pressed the photograph into my hand.
"She wanted to tell you everything. But she was afraid.""
I wiped my cheeks.
"Where is she now?""
He looked toward the window.
"Portland, Maine. She has been waiting for someone to bring her the trust certificate.""
I swallowed.
"Does she have it?""
Thomas nodded.
"Yes.""
Then he reached for my hand.
"Emily, there's one more thing. Your mother didn't disappear because of Victor alone.""
I stared at him.
"Who else?""
Thomas looked directly into my eyes.
"Daniel helped him.""
My chest tightened.
"He was twenty-eight. He knew what was happening. And he was the one who arranged the forged medical documents after your father's death.""
I stepped away from the bed.
The man I had loved had not simply betrayed me.
He had helped erase my family.
And somehow, he had managed to become my husband.
Thomas gripped my hand.
"Your mother has the original trust certificate. But she also has something else.""
"What?""
He whispered:
"Proof that the person who ordered your father's death is still alive.""
On the drive back to the hotel, my phone rang.
It was Vanessa.
I answered.
"Emily?""
Her voice was shaking.
"Something happened.""
"What?""
"Daniel called me from the police station.""
I frowned.
"He's been arrested?""
"He's being questioned. But that's not why I'm calling.""
I sat upright.
"Then why?""
Vanessa began crying.
"Because someone came to the penthouse looking for me.""
"Who?""
She whispered a name.
"Victor Harrington.""
May you like
Daniel's father.
The man everyone had believed was dead for nearly eight years.
