Chapter 13: The Price of a Daughter
“I'm coming with you.””
Daniel stood between me and the front door.
I held up my phone, showing him Richard's message.
*BRING THE ORIGINAL TRUST, OR SHE NEVER COMES HOME.*
“He specifically said you weren't to come,” I said.
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Which means he expects me to come.””
“That's exactly why you can't.””
“Marcus, Lily is my daughter.””
The words stopped me.
I stared at him.
“What?””
Daniel looked away.
“I didn't know. Not until Evelyn told me the truth.””
“When?””
“After the wedding. She found another envelope among the documents your mother left behind. It contained a DNA report.””
I shook my head.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was trying to protect her. I thought Richard would never find out.””
I looked at the birth certificate again.
Lily Elizabeth Carter.
Her mother had never been identified in the official records. Evelyn had raised her as her granddaughter, but the truth was more complicated.
Daniel continued.
“Richard had a relationship with a woman named Sarah before he became involved with your mother. She gave birth to Lily. When Sarah died, Richard arranged for Evelyn to raise her.””
“Why hide his own daughter?””
“Because Lily was the only person who could expose what he'd done.””
I frowned.
“How?””
Daniel pulled a folded letter from his pocket.
It was written in a woman's handwriting.
If anything happens to me, protect Lily. Her father knows what happened to Elizabeth. He knows what happened to Robert. And he knows why the children were separated.
I read it twice.
“Sarah knew?””
Daniel nodded.
“She worked in the hospital records department. She discovered the altered birth certificates and the private transfers. She copied everything.””
“Where are those copies?””
“That's what Richard wants.””
I looked at the silver key on the table.
“And the trust?””
Daniel nodded.
“Your father hid the original records inside the trust archive. The documents prove who authorized the transfers.””
Margaret entered the room carrying a small black case.
“I found something else.””
She opened it.
Inside was a tiny recording device.
“Robert gave this to me before he disappeared. He told me to keep it until all three children were in danger.””
I stared at her.
“All three?””
She pressed the play button.
Static filled the room.
Then my father's voice emerged.
“If you are hearing this, Richard has found Lily.””
I gripped the table.
Robert continued.
“Marcus, Daniel, I owe you both an explanation. I knew about the children being separated. I knew the hospital records had been changed. And I allowed it to happen because I believed I was saving your lives.””
A pause.
“Your mother made me promise that all three children would grow up outside Richard's reach. I failed her.””
The recording crackled.
“Lily is not the only child whose identity was changed. There is another. The child registered as Thomas Cole was never meant to be Richard's son.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Then who is he?””
My father's voice answered.
“Thomas is David Carter's son. He is your cousin, Marcus. Richard raised him as his own to make him believe he was entitled to the Hayes inheritance.””
Margaret closed her eyes.
“That's why he looks so much like you,” she whispered.
Robert continued.
“Richard used Thomas to create a false claim to the company. He intended to have the original trust declared invalid and replace it with a forged document.””
I looked at Daniel.
“So Thomas has been manipulated too.””
“Or he knows exactly what he's doing,” Daniel replied.
The recording continued.
“The original trust contains one final instruction. It cannot be opened by one person alone. Marcus and Daniel must present their identities together. The third key belongs to Lily.””
I stared at the recording device.
“A child is part of the security system?””
“Your father designed it that way,” Margaret said.
“He believed Richard would never suspect an eight-year-old held the final piece.””
I looked at the clock.
“We don't have time for this.””
Daniel reached for his jacket.
“We're going.””
I shook my head.
“Richard said to come without you.””
“Then he'll be surprised.””
Margaret opened her case and removed a small envelope.
“There's something you both need to know before you leave.””
Inside was a photograph of Elizabeth.
She was sitting in a hospital bed, holding a newborn baby.
On the back was a date and a location.
St. Catherine's Private Hospital.
Beneath it, my mother had written:
If the children are ever reunited, tell them I chose to disappear. Robert did not betray us. I did.
I stared at the sentence.
“Why would she write that?””
Margaret looked at me.
“Because your mother believed the only way to protect you was to make everyone think she was dead.””
“Where is she now?””
Margaret hesitated.
“Richard knows.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Then we have two people to rescue.””
Daniel nodded.
We drove toward the abandoned industrial estate where Richard had ordered us to meet.
Margaret stayed behind to coordinate with the police.
Before we left, she gave me a small transmitter.
“Keep this on you. If you press the button twice, the police will know you're in immediate danger.””
I slipped it into my pocket.
The industrial estate was deserted.
A single warehouse stood at the end of a narrow road.
The doors were open.
Inside, a row of overhead lights illuminated a wooden table.
Richard sat behind it.
Thomas stood beside him.
And Lily sat in a chair near the back wall.
Her face was pale.
When she saw us, she began to cry.
“Marcus!””
I took a step forward.
Richard raised one hand.
“Not so fast.””
He placed a pistol on the table.
“Where's the trust?””
I held up the black folder.
“Let Lily go.””
Richard smiled.
“You always were a sentimental fool.””
Daniel moved beside me.
Richard's expression changed.
“I said come without your brother.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You've spent my entire life pretending I was nothing. I'm done listening to you.””
Richard laughed.
“You're not even my son.””
Daniel froze.
Richard leaned back.
“Sarah lied to you. She told you I was your father because she needed someone to blame. But the truth is much worse.””
I looked at him.
“What truth?””
Richard's smile disappeared.
“Ask Elizabeth.””
A door opened behind him.
A woman stepped into the light.
She was older, thinner, and her hair had turned almost completely gray.
But I recognized her immediately.
My mother.
Elizabeth Hayes.
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Marcus…”
I couldn't move.
For twenty years, I had believed she was dead.
Now she was standing ten feet away.
Richard stood and placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Tell your sons what really happened.””
My mother looked at Daniel.
Then at me.
And whispered:
“I didn't have three children.””
May you like
She swallowed.
“I had four.””
