Chapter 4: The Stranger Who Knew My Daughters
“Emily, get behind me.””
Michael's voice was low, but there was something in it that made me obey immediately.
I pushed the stroller closer to my body. Piper had started crying, and Poppy was finally waking up.
The man in the gray cap continued walking toward us.
Tyler stepped forward.
“Who are you?””
The stranger didn't answer.
Instead, he looked directly at me.
“Mrs. Carter?””
I tightened my grip on Piper.
“Who wants to know?””
He reached into his jacket.
Michael immediately raised his hand.
“Don't.””
The man stopped.
“I'm not here to hurt anyone. My name is Daniel Brooks. I was hired by Michael to investigate Robert Carter.””
Michael frowned.
“You were supposed to be in Nassau.””
“I was. Until yesterday.””
Daniel pulled a photograph from his pocket and held it up.
It showed the same man standing outside my house.
Behind him was my daughter's bedroom window.
I felt sick.
“When was this taken?””
“Three days ago.””
I shook my head.
“That's impossible. Nobody was supposed to know where we lived.””
Daniel looked at Tyler.
“Your father knew.””
Tyler clenched his jaw.
“My father is dead.””
Daniel slowly lowered the photograph.
“Mr. Carter, I have spent six weeks following a man who looks exactly like your father. I watched him enter a private medical facility in Nassau.
I photographed him meeting Vanessa. And yesterday, I watched him walk into your wife's house.””
Tyler looked as if someone had punched him.
“He went into my house?””
Daniel nodded.
“Using a key.””
I felt my knees weaken.
“My mother-in-law has a spare key.””
Michael turned toward me.
“Emily, did you give Linda permission to enter your house?””
“Of course. She's the girls' grandmother.””
Daniel looked down at the stroller.
“Then I suggest you stop trusting her.””
Before I could respond, Tyler grabbed Daniel's sleeve.
“Where is he now?””
Daniel looked at his watch.
“That's the problem. He knows I'm following him.””
A sudden commotion erupted near the terminal doors.
Two men in dark jackets were moving toward us.
Daniel recognized them immediately.
“Everybody move!””
Michael's attorney grabbed the folder.
Tyler pushed the stroller toward a nearby security checkpoint while I followed, holding Piper tightly against my chest.
One of the men shouted.
“STOP!””
A security officer stepped into their path.
Michael turned toward Daniel.
“Are they with Robert?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No. They're with the people who paid him.””
“Who paid him?””
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
She had gone completely pale.
Then she whispered:
“I'm sorry.””
Michael turned.
“What did you do?””
Vanessa began crying.
“I didn't know they would come here.””
Tyler grabbed her arm.
“Who are they?””
She looked at him.
“People your father owes money to.””
Michael's expression hardened.
“How much?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“More than two million dollars.””
Tyler released her.
“What?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“Robert lost money. A lot of it. He borrowed from private investors and used company accounts to hide the losses.””
Michael stared at her.
“Why would you know that?””
Vanessa looked away.
“Because I helped him.””
The words landed like a bomb.
Michael stepped back.
“You told me you were working with Robert to expose him.””
“I was!””
“You were helping him steal money!””
Vanessa shook her head.
“He promised me I would get a share. He said once the loan went through, everything would be settled.””
I looked at her.
“What loan?””
She pointed toward the folder.
“The $240,000 was only the beginning.””
Tyler stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“Your father wanted control of the house. He needed money, but he also needed something else.””
“What?””
She looked at Piper and Poppy.
“Your daughters.””
My arms tightened around my baby.
Michael stepped between us.
“Why would Robert want two infants?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know everything. I swear.””
Daniel interrupted.
“I do.””
He opened a small notebook.
“Robert has been moving assets through several accounts. The guardianship documents were part of a larger arrangement. If something happened to both parents, the twins would be placed with Vanessa.””
“Why?”” I demanded.
Daniel hesitated.
“Because Robert believes the girls are entitled to money from a family trust.””
Tyler stared at him.
“What family trust?””
Daniel turned a page.
“Your grandfather established it before he died. It was supposed to be divided among his grandchildren.””
Tyler shook his head.
“My grandfather died before I got married.””
“Correct. But the trust was amended shortly before Robert's supposed death.””
Michael looked at him.
“Who amended it?””
Daniel lifted his eyes.
“Robert Carter.””
A security officer approached.
“Sir, we need everyone to move to a secure area. Those two men have left the terminal.””
Michael nodded.
But as we began walking, my phone rang again.
Linda.
I answered.
“Linda, where are you?””
Her voice was barely audible.
“Emily, listen to me. I need you to take the girls somewhere safe.””
“Why did Robert visit my house?””
Silence.
“Linda?””
Then she whispered:
“Because he knows the truth about the twins.””
I stopped walking.
“What truth?””
Her next words made my stomach drop.
“Emily, Piper and Poppy aren't the only children connected to that trust.””
Before I could ask another question, she said:
“Tyler has a brother.””
The call ended.
Tyler stared at me.
“My father only had one son.””
Daniel slowly closed his notebook.
May you like
“That's what Robert wanted you to believe.””
And then he handed Tyler a photograph of a second newborn baby.
