Chapter 7: The Father Who Came Back from the Dead
I stood motionless, the phone still pressed against my ear.
My biological father.
Victor Hale.
The man who had spent months trying to take control of my father's company.
The man who had financed my husband's betrayal.
And now he was claiming that Alexander Whitmore had been murdered.
Daniel reached for my arm.
"Nia, are you all right?""
I slowly lowered the phone.
"That was Victor Hale.""
Thomas closed his eyes.
Richard looked confused.
"Victor? What did he say?""
I swallowed.
"He said Alexander was murdered.""
Nobody spoke.
Then Marcus stepped toward me.
"Nia, we need to call the police.""
I looked at him.
For once, he was right.
Daniel immediately contacted the building's security director and instructed him to preserve the telephone records, camera footage, and access logs.
But I couldn't stop staring at the photograph.
Victor was holding me as a baby.
His expression was gentle. His smile looked almost familiar.
It was disturbing to realize that the man who had spent my entire adult life trying to destroy everything my father built had once held me in his arms.
"Thomas," I whispered.
"How long have you known?""
He looked ashamed.
"Since before Alexander died.""
My head snapped toward him.
"You knew Victor was my biological father?""
"Yes.""
"And you never told me?""
"Alexander made me promise.""
I stepped away.
"Why?""
Thomas looked at the photograph.
"Because Victor had threatened to take you away when you were an infant. Your mother had left him after discovering that he was involved in several illegal business arrangements. Alexander helped her obtain protection and eventually adopted you.""
I felt the room spin.
"My mother?""
Thomas nodded.
"She died when you were young. Alexander never wanted you to grow up believing that the man who abandoned you had simply forgotten about you.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Is there proof?""
Daniel examined the birth certificate.
"We'll need to authenticate these records. But if they're genuine, this could explain several things.""
"Such as?""
"Why Victor has been so determined to acquire Whitmore Holdings. Why he knows the estate structure. And why he has been targeting you personally.""
Marcus moved closer.
"Nia, listen to me. Whatever Victor wants, we can fight him together.""
I looked at him.
The irony was almost unbearable.
Only hours earlier, he had been trying to transfer my voting rights to that same man.
"Together?"" I repeated.
He lowered his eyes.
"I know I don't deserve that word right now.""
"No. You don't.""
He nodded.
But he didn't leave.
Richard suddenly approached Thomas.
"Did Alexander know Victor was still alive?""
Thomas hesitated.
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't he tell us?""
"Because Victor had been threatening him for years.""
Daniel looked up.
"Threatening him with what?""
Thomas pointed toward the wooden box.
"There's another document.""
I opened the remaining compartment.
Inside was a small flash drive and a handwritten note.
If Victor returns, do not negotiate. Find the recording.
I stared at the words.
"What recording?""
Thomas took the flash drive.
"Alexander recorded a conversation with Victor shortly before his death.""
Daniel immediately stopped him.
"Don't insert that into any computer yet. We'll make a forensic copy.""
Thomas handed it over.
Then he looked at me.
"There's something else you need to understand. Victor didn't disappear after your father's death. He was watching you.""
My stomach tightened.
"Watching me?""
"Your movements. Your investments. Your marriage.""
I felt cold.
"Did he know about Marcus?""
Thomas nodded.
"Victor approached Marcus before you got married.""
Marcus went pale.
"What?""
Thomas continued.
"He knew Marcus was interested in you. He believed that if Marcus married you, he could eventually gain access to your inheritance.""
Marcus shook his head.
"That's not true. I met Nia at the bookstore. I didn't know who she was.""
Thomas looked at him.
"Victor didn't introduce you. He simply made sure you had opportunities to meet.""
I turned toward my husband.
"Was our first meeting arranged?""
Marcus stared at me.
"No.""
"Think carefully.""
"I swear, Nia. I didn't know.""
Thomas looked down.
"Victor arranged for Marcus to become a regular customer at the bookstore. He also paid a marketing firm to place Marcus at several events where you were expected to attend.""
My chest tightened.
The bookstore.
The rainy afternoon.
The coffee Marcus had brought me when the power went out.
The little jokes.
The first date.
Had all of it been planned?
Marcus stepped closer.
"Those things were real. My feelings were real.""
I looked at him.
"How can I know?""
He had no answer.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He listened carefully.
"Understood.""
He ended the call and looked at me.
"The police have identified the number used by Victor.""
"Where is it registered?""
Daniel hesitated.
"To a private residence outside Chicago.""
"Whose residence?""
He looked at the photograph in my hand.
"Your father's former lake house.""
I felt my blood run cold.
Alexander had sold that property years ago, or so I had been told.
But Thomas shook his head.
"He never sold it.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
"Victor purchased it through a shell company. Alexander knew, but he couldn't prove who was behind the transaction.""
Daniel gathered the evidence.
"We'll notify law enforcement immediately.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Then I made a decision.
"I'm going there.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Absolutely not. We have no idea what Victor intends.""
"He's already contacted me. He knows I found the documents.""
"That makes it more dangerous.""
I looked at Thomas.
"Does the house contain anything else my father left behind?""
Thomas nodded.
"A locked study. Alexander told me there was one final piece of evidence hidden there.""
"What evidence?""
He swallowed.
"The original medical report from the night he died.""
I stared at him.
My father had been diagnosed with cancer.
His death had been explained to me as a medical complication.
There had been a funeral, a memorial service, and an official report.
I had never questioned it.
"Why would he hide a medical report?""
Thomas's voice dropped.
"Because he believed someone had interfered with his treatment.""
A terrible silence filled the basement.
Then my phone vibrated again.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph.
Me.
Standing outside the Whitmore headquarters just twenty minutes earlier.
Beneath it were six words.
You should have stayed with your husband.
I looked up.
Daniel's face had gone pale.
May you like
Because the photograph had been taken from inside our building.
And whoever had sent it was still watching us.
