Chapter 4: The Second Row
“Where did he go?””
Lucy pointed toward the service corridor behind the ballroom.
“That way.””
I handed Milo to Margaret.
“Stay with them.””
Marcus moved beside me.
“Sir, wait.””
I was already running.
The corridor smelled of coffee, floor polish, and the roses stacked for the reception. Hotel employees flattened themselves against the walls as Marcus and I passed.
At the end of the hall, a metal door swung slowly on its hinges.
I shoved through it.
Rain hit my face.
The loading area was empty except for delivery vans and overflowing flower crates.
“Thomas!”” I shouted.
Nothing.
Marcus spoke into his radio.
“Lock every hotel exit. Find Thomas Vale. Gray tuxedo, sixty-three, silver hair.””
My phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Where is Claire?””
A distorted voice replied.
“Mr. Cole, you should learn patience.””
My blood went cold.
“Thomas?””
Silence.
Then:
“Come to the underground garage. Level B3. Alone.””
The call ended.
Marcus had heard enough.
“You’re not going alone.””
“He has Claire.””
“He says he has Claire.””
I stared at him.
“There’s a difference,” Marcus continued.
“And whoever arranged this wants you separated from security.””
“Then follow me without being seen.””
“Nathan—”
“That’s an order.””
Five minutes later, I stepped from the elevator onto B3.
Concrete pillars stretched beneath flickering fluorescent lights.
My wedding shoes clicked against the floor.
“Thomas?””
A car door opened somewhere ahead.
Thomas Vale stepped into view.
He had removed his tuxedo jacket.
He looked exactly as he had throughout my childhood—controlled, polished, almost fatherly.
He had taught me to drive.
He had attended my college graduation.
After my father died, Thomas had delivered the eulogy.
Now Lucy had identified him as the man connected to Claire’s disappearance.
“Where is she?””
Thomas lifted both hands.
“I don’t have Claire.””
“Lucy said you told her Claire was alive.””
“She is.””
“Then where?””
“I came here to warn you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You could have done that upstairs.””
“No. Eleanor would have stopped me.””
“My mother?””
Thomas looked toward the shadows.
“Your family has been protecting the wrong secret for decades.””
“What secret?””
“Your father wasn’t paying Rebecca Bennett to hide an affair.””
My pulse slowed.
“What are you talking about?””
“Charles paid her because she knew what happened inside Cole Meridian before you took control.””
“My company didn’t exist then.””
“Not under that name.””
Thomas stepped closer.
“Your father built his fortune through Cole Industries. When it collapsed, you inherited the remaining assets and rebuilt them into Meridian.””
“I know my own history.””
“No. You know the version Charles left behind.””
My jaw tightened.
“What does this have to do with Claire?””
“Everything.””
He reached into his pocket.
I tensed.
Thomas slowly removed a small brass key.
“Claire found a storage box belonging to Rebecca.””
“Her mother?””
“Yes.””
“What was inside?””
“Records. Letters. Audio tapes. Enough to prove your father moved millions through shell companies before Cole Industries collapsed.””
I stared at him.
“You were his CFO.””
Thomas gave a humorless smile.
“Exactly.””
The implication landed hard.
“If those records exist, they implicate you.””
“Yes.””
“Then why warn me?””
“Because they implicate Eleanor too.””
I thought of my mother upstairs.
The forged breakup.
The threats.
The lies.
“How much did she know?””
“More than she’ll admit.””
I took another step.
“Where is Claire?””
Thomas’s expression changed.
“She called me three days ago.””
“Why would she call you?””
“Because she thought I could help her understand Rebecca’s records.””
“Did you?””
“I tried.””
“And then she disappeared.””
“Yes.””
“You expect me to believe that’s coincidence?””
“No.””
Thomas placed the brass key on the hood of a nearby car.
“I expect you to believe someone else is looking for the same evidence.””
“Who?””
He opened his mouth.
A car engine roared.
Headlights exploded across the garage.
“Move!”” Marcus shouted.
Thomas grabbed my arm and pulled me behind a pillar as a black SUV tore past us.
It didn’t stop.
Seconds later, tires screamed up the exit ramp.
Marcus ran toward us.
“You okay?””
“Yes.””
Thomas stared after the vehicle.
“That’s why I couldn’t talk upstairs.””
Marcus seized Thomas by the shoulder.
“You’re coming with us.””
Thomas didn’t resist.
Instead he looked at me.
“Check the key.””
I picked it up.
A number was engraved on the side.
317.
“What does it open?””
“Union Station.””
“A locker?””
Thomas nodded.
“Claire gave me that key yesterday.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“You saw her yesterday?””
“For eleven minutes.””
“You said she called you.””
“She did. Then we met.””
“Why did you lie?””
“Because I needed to know whether Eleanor had told you the truth first.””
Rage surged through me.
I grabbed his shirt.
“No more tests. No more secrets. Tell me where Claire is.””
“I don’t know.””
I shoved him back against the car.
Marcus caught my arm.
“Nathan.””
Thomas’s voice dropped.
“She was terrified. She said she’d discovered why your mother separated you.””
“I already know why.””
“No.””
His eyes locked on mine.
“You think Eleanor hated Claire because Claire would distract you from your future.””
“That’s what she said.””
“That was only half of it.””
I released his shirt.
Thomas leaned closer.
“Eleanor discovered who Claire really was.””
“What does that mean?””
“She discovered Rebecca Bennett wasn’t Claire’s biological mother.””
The garage seemed to tilt.
“Then who was?””
Thomas looked genuinely frightened.
“Ask Eleanor.””
My phone rang again.
This time the caller ID displayed my mother’s number.
I answered.
“Mom?””
All I heard was breathing.
Then Victoria’s voice.
“Nathan.””
She sounded terrified.
“Victoria?””
“Come upstairs.””
“What happened?””
“Your mother collapsed.””
I turned toward the elevator.
Then Victoria said something that stopped me cold.
“She woke up for a few seconds.””
“And?””
“She told me Claire’s real mother is still alive.””
I gripped the phone.
“Who is she?””
Victoria whispered the answer.
May you like
And for the second time that day, my entire understanding of my family shattered.
“Your mother said Claire is her daughter.””
