Chapter 8: The Woman in the Hospital Photograph
The investigator called at 10:17 the next morning.
"Mr. Williams, we've located Claire Carter.""
I stood up so quickly that my chair scraped against the floor.
"Where is she?""
"She's living in a small town about two hours away. We'd like to speak with her.""
"Does she know Daniel?""
"According to the records, they were financially connected for several years.""
I looked toward Rachel.
She had been sitting with Lily all morning, helping her eat breakfast.
"Does she have a child?""
The investigator paused.
"Yes. A daughter.""
My stomach tightened.
"How old?""
"Six.""
I closed my eyes.
Six.
The same age as Lily.
"What's her name?""
"Emma Carter.""
I felt a strange chill.
"Can I speak with Claire?""
"Not until we establish whether she is a witness or a potential participant in the financial investigation.""
I understood.
But I needed answers.
That afternoon, Officer Harris arranged an interview with Claire at the local police station.
I went with him.
When she entered the interview room, I recognized her immediately from Emily's photograph.
She was in her mid-thirties, with tired eyes and dark hair tied behind her head.
She sat across from us.
"You're Marcus Williams?""
"Yes.""
She looked down at her hands.
"I wondered when you'd come looking.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you know my wife?""
"Emily?""
"Yes.""
Claire nodded.
"She contacted me shortly before she died.""
My throat tightened.
"What did she want?""
Claire took a deep breath.
"She wanted to know whether Daniel had told me the truth.""
"About what?""
Claire looked at Officer Harris.
He nodded for her to continue.
"Daniel told me he was going to marry you. He said your daughter would eventually need someone to manage her inheritance.""
I felt sick.
"He was planning this six years ago?""
Claire nodded.
"He told me Lily would become the center of a financial arrangement.""
"What arrangement?""
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
"He said the family trust could be used to fund a private investment company. He wanted to control the money until Lily turned eighteen.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because he was already in debt.""
Officer Harris asked, "How much?""
"Almost half a million dollars.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
Claire continued.
"Daniel had lost money in several investments. He was desperate. When Emily refused to cooperate, he started looking for another way.""
"And you helped him?""
Claire looked down.
"At first.""
Her voice cracked.
"I was young. I trusted him. He told me everything was legal.""
I waited.
Then she said something that changed the direction of the entire investigation.
"Daniel was supposed to marry me.""
I blinked.
"What?""
Claire wiped her eyes.
"We were engaged. I was pregnant with his child.""
I stared at her.
The woman in the photograph.
The newborn.
The secret.
"Emma is Daniel's daughter?""
Claire nodded.
"Yes.""
Officer Harris exchanged a glance with his colleague.
"Does Daniel acknowledge her?""
Claire laughed bitterly.
"No. He disappeared before she was born.""
I couldn't believe it.
"My brother abandoned his own child?""
"He said he couldn't afford a family. He told me he'd return when his financial situation improved.""
I leaned back.
"And then he introduced himself to me as the loving uncle who wanted to help raise Lily.""
Claire nodded.
"After Emily refused to sign the trust documents, Daniel became obsessed with proving he could control the money anyway.""
"Why didn't you report him?""
"I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
Claire reached into her handbag and removed a folded photograph.
It showed a little girl standing beside a birthday cake.
Emma.
On the back was a handwritten message.
*You owe me a future.*
Claire looked at me.
"Daniel sent this to me two months ago.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did he mean?""
"He wanted me to cooperate with his guardianship plan.""
"How?""
"He said if I helped him get access to Lily's inheritance, he'd finally acknowledge Emma and provide for her.""
I stared at her.
"So he was using both girls.""
Claire began crying.
"He told me Lily would be safer in a residential facility. He said Emma would finally have a father. I wanted to believe him.""
Officer Harris spoke calmly.
"Did Daniel ever discuss a specific property?""
Claire nodded.
"The Carter estate.""
The same address from the itinerary.
"What is it?"" I asked.
"A private property that Daniel's business associate owns. He told me it would be used as a temporary residence for Lily.""
"Temporary?""
Claire shook her head.
"He said the paperwork would make it difficult for you to find her.""
My hands clenched.
"How difficult?""
"He mentioned changing her surname and moving her between facilities.""
Officer Harris immediately asked for the names of the associates.
Claire provided two.
Then she reached into her handbag again.
This time, she removed a small envelope.
"There's something else.""
She pushed it toward me.
Inside was a printed email from Daniel.
The date was six weeks before my wedding to Vanessa.
I read it.
*Claire,*
*Marcus is still grieving. He needs someone to help him raise Lily. Vanessa is perfect for the arrangement. Once she's inside the family, we'll have access to everything Emily protected.*
I read it again.
Then another paragraph caught my eye.
*Don't worry about the child. Vanessa knows how to make herself indispensable. If Marcus becomes attached to her, he won't question anything.*
I looked up.
"Vanessa knew about you?""
Claire nodded.
"They met twice.""
I felt a wave of anger.
My entire marriage had been a setup.
Officer Harris photographed the email.
Then Claire quietly added:
"Marcus, there's one more thing you should know.""
"What?""
She looked directly at me.
"Daniel didn't choose Lily because of the money alone.""
I frowned.
"What else?""
Claire hesitated.
"Emily discovered that Lily's trust contained something Daniel believed belonged to him.""
I leaned forward.
"What?""
"A second inheritance.""
She took another document from her bag.
It was a copy of an old trust amendment.
My name appeared at the top.
So did Emily's.
But the beneficiary section contained something I'd never seen before.
A property.
A substantial property.
And beneath its description was the name of its original owner.
*Eleanor Williams.*
My mother.
I looked at Claire.
"What is this?""
She swallowed.
"Daniel believes your mother promised him that property before she died.""
I shook my head.
"My mother never owned anything in that location.""
Claire pointed to the address.
I looked down.
It was the same address as the Carter estate.
My mother hadn't promised Daniel a house.
She had left something else behind.
May you like
Something connected to Lily.
And Daniel was willing to destroy his own family to get it.
