Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew My Father's Secret
Claire Bennett was seventy-two years old.
She wore a beige coat, carried a leather handbag, and had a small scar above her left eyebrow.
Her hands trembled slightly as she sat down.
But her eyes were sharp.
She looked at the photograph on the desk.
Then she looked at Helen.
"Did you tell him?""
Helen shook her head.
"Not yet.""
Claire turned toward me.
"Your grandmother trusted me more than she trusted anyone else in that family.""
I swallowed.
"Who did my father murder?""
Claire took a deep breath.
"Robert Mills.""
The accountant from the photograph.
I remembered Helen mentioning him.
"He died?""
"Officially, he disappeared during a business trip. Daniel told everyone he had stolen company money and fled the country.""
Claire opened her handbag.
She removed a small black notebook.
"That was a lie.""
She placed it in front of me.
"Robert discovered where the missing charitable funds had gone. He found that your father had transferred the money through several shell companies, then used it to purchase properties under different names.""
I opened the notebook.
There were handwritten dates, account numbers, and company names.
"Why didn't he report it?""
"He tried.""
Claire's voice became quieter.
"He told Daniel he was going to the authorities. Two days later, Robert vanished.""
I stared at her.
"What happened?""
Claire looked down.
"Your grandmother received a call from Robert's wife. She said Robert had been threatened. She begged Eleanor to help.""
"Did she?""
"Yes. Eleanor arranged for Robert to meet her at a private property outside the city.""
Claire paused.
"Daniel found out.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did he do?""
"He followed Robert there.""
She opened the notebook to a page marked with a red line.
"Your father told people Robert had taken the money and run. But I was there that night.""
I leaned forward.
"You witnessed it?""
Claire nodded.
"I heard them arguing in the garage. Robert was shouting that he had copies of every transaction. Daniel told him nobody would believe a thief.""
She closed her eyes.
"Then I heard a gunshot.""
The room seemed to shrink.
Rachel had returned with Lily and was standing near the doorway. She gently guided my daughter away before the conversation continued.
I looked at Claire.
"Did you see my father shoot him?""
"No. But I saw Daniel leave. Robert was on the floor.""
"Why didn't you call the police?""
"I did. But Daniel had already called them.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"He claimed Robert had attacked him and fled. By the time officers arrived, Robert's body was gone.""
I felt sick.
"How?""
Claire opened the notebook again.
"Daniel had people who worked for him. Men who were paid to make problems disappear.""
I looked at Helen.
"Is any of this documented?""
Claire nodded.
"Your grandmother made copies of the financial records. She also kept a recording of the conversation between Daniel and Robert.""
I stared at her.
"Where?""
"Somewhere Daniel never thought to look.""
She reached into her handbag and removed a small brass key.
It had a number engraved on it.
317.
"Your grandmother rented a private storage unit under my name. The original documents are inside.""
Helen immediately took the key.
"We'll need to secure that location and involve the appropriate authorities.""
Claire nodded.
"That's why I came.""
I looked at her.
"Why now?""
Her expression changed.
"Because Daniel called me yesterday.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did he want?""
"He wanted to know whether Eleanor had left anything behind.""
"And what did you tell him?""
"Nothing.""
She leaned closer.
"Then he asked me whether Lily was still living with you.""
I gripped the edge of the desk.
"Why would he ask that?""
Claire looked at me.
"Because he's running out of time.""
Helen frowned.
"What do you mean?""
Claire took another document from her handbag.
It was a medical report.
The name at the top was Daniel Hale.
The date was two weeks earlier.
I read the diagnosis.
Advanced liver disease.
The report also mentioned a serious complication requiring immediate treatment.
I looked up.
"Is he dying?""
Claire nodded.
"His doctors have told him he may not have much time.""
I sat back.
Everything suddenly seemed even more disturbing.
My father wasn't simply trying to take Lily's inheritance.
He was desperate.
And desperate men did terrible things.
"Why would that make him want Lily?""
Claire hesitated.
Then she said:
"Because the trust contains a clause that allows certain funds to be released for the beneficiary's immediate medical and living expenses under specific circumstances.""
I frowned.
"Whose medical expenses?""
"Only Lily's.""
I looked at Helen.
"Can someone else access that money?""
"Not legitimately.""
Claire shook her head.
"Daniel believes that if he becomes her legal guardian, he can use the arrangement to create a financial structure that gives him control over the assets.""
Helen immediately corrected her.
"That would require court approval, and the trustee would have to demonstrate that every expenditure directly benefits Lily.""
Claire nodded.
"Daniel doesn't care. He believes he can manipulate the process long enough to get what he wants.""
I stared at the medical report.
"So he's trying to take a four-year-old child because he's dying and wants access to her inheritance?""
Claire looked away.
"There's something worse.""
I waited.
"Daniel has another child.""
I frowned.
"Another child?""
"An adult son. His name is Ethan.""
I had never heard that name.
"Who is he?""
"Daniel's son from a relationship before he married your mother. Ethan has been handling some of Daniel's business affairs.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Does he know about Lily?""
Claire nodded.
"He knows everything.""
Helen immediately began making notes.
"Do you know where he is?""
Claire handed her another piece of paper.
"He's been living in Daniel's house.""
I stared at the address.
It was the same property from the photograph.
The house where Daniel had been holding Lily.
I looked toward the waiting room.
Lily was sitting beside Rachel, drawing another picture.
I couldn't stop looking at her.
My father had already taken her once.
He had been inside her life without my permission.
And now I was learning that an entire network of people had been arranging her future.
I stood up.
"We need to get those records.""
Helen shook her head.
"Not without the authorities.""
"Then call them.""
Claire touched my arm.
"Marcus, wait.""
I turned.
She looked terrified.
"There's something you need to understand about Ethan.""
"What?""
"He was the one who took Lily from your house four months ago.""
I froze.
Claire continued.
"Daniel couldn't enter your home without raising suspicion. Ethan had a key. He took Lily while Vanessa was away.""
My blood ran cold.
"Where did he take her?""
Claire opened her mouth.
Before she could answer, Rachel appeared in the doorway.
Her face was white.
"Marcus.""
I turned.
"What?""
She was holding Lily's little pink coat.
The one from the photograph.
"I asked Lily whether she remembered the man in the picture.""
My chest tightened.
"What did she say?""
Rachel swallowed.
"She said she remembers him.""
"Who?""
Rachel looked at Claire.
May you like
Then back at me.
"She said the man called himself Uncle Ethan.""
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