Chapter 10: The Man Standing Outside My Daughters' Bedroom
I called security again.
This time, someone answered.
"Mr. Caruso?""
"Richard Hale is inside my mansion. He's near the nursery. I want every entrance locked. Nobody leaves until you find him.""
"Understood, sir.""
"And get the police on the line.""
I ended the call and turned toward Margaret.
"Stay with Emma.""
"Dominic, you can't go there alone.""
"I'm not leaving my daughters with that man.""
I hurried toward the elevator.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Elise.
*He's asking where the original trust documents are. I told him I don't know.*
I typed back.
*Get the girls into the panic room. Don't confront him.*
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then another message arrived.
*He has a photograph of Isabella.*
I stopped walking.
"What photograph?"" I whispered.
A second message came through.
*It's a hospital photograph. He's saying Isabella gave it to him.*
I reached the ground floor.
Two security guards were waiting.
"Where is Hale?""
"Second floor, sir. Near the nursery.""
"Did you find the key he used?""
One guard nodded.
"It's an old master key. Someone removed it from the security office.""
"Who had access?""
The guard looked uncomfortable.
"Your mother.""
I clenched my jaw.
Of course.
I took the stairs two at a time.
When I reached the second floor, I heard a man's voice.
"Come on, Elise. Don't make this difficult.""
Richard.
I approached the nursery slowly.
Elise stood inside the doorway.
Maisie and Rosie were behind her, strapped into their portable bassinets.
Richard was holding a photograph.
He looked exactly as he had at my father's funeral: perfectly groomed, expensive suit, polished shoes, and an expression that made every conversation feel like a business negotiation.
"Richard.""
He turned.
"Dominic. I was wondering when you'd arrive.""
I stepped between him and the nursery.
"Get away from my daughters.""
He smiled.
"You're making a mistake.""
"You broke into my home.""
"I have a legitimate interest in the family trust.""
"You're not family.""
His smile disappeared.
"Your father would disagree.""
I moved closer.
"Tell me why you're here.""
Richard glanced at Elise.
"Because this young woman has something that belongs to me.""
Elise shook her head.
"I don't have anything of yours.""
"The original trust documents.""
"They belong to the girls.""
Richard laughed.
"Children can't manage forty-two million dollars.""
"Neither can thieves," I replied.
His expression hardened.
For the first time, the friendly businessman I'd known for twenty years disappeared.
"You've been listening to your mother.""
"I've been listening to my wife.""
He froze.
Then he looked at me carefully.
"Isabella?""
I nodded.
"She's alive.""
Richard's face changed.
Not surprise.
Fear.
He looked toward the staircase.
"Where is she?""
"That's none of your business.""
He took a step toward me.
"Dominic, listen. Your father and I built that foundation together. He understood what was at stake. He knew the children would become a liability.""
I stared at him.
"You're talking about my daughters.""
"I'm talking about the future of this company.""
I pointed toward the hallway.
"Leave.""
Richard opened his briefcase.
He removed a document and placed it on the dresser.
"Your father signed an agreement before he died. If the original beneficiaries became legally incapacitated, control would revert to the secondary administrator.""
I glanced at the signature.
My father's.
Then I saw the date.
It was two weeks before his death.
"What does this have to do with my daughters?""
Richard tapped the page.
"Victoria was supposed to become the secondary administrator. But Isabella discovered that the appointment was conditional.""
"Conditional on what?""
He looked toward the cribs.
"On the children being registered as the sole heirs.""
I frowned.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"Three children were born. But only two were officially registered. The trust became legally disputed.""
I felt cold.
"Who changed the records?""
Richard didn't answer.
Elise stepped forward.
"You're the one who changed them.""
He turned toward her.
"Be quiet.""
"You're the one who told Victoria that Emma's birth would invalidate the secondary administration.""
Richard's eyes narrowed.
I looked at Elise.
"How do you know that?""
She reached into her pocket and produced a small recording device.
"Because Isabella recorded a conversation between them.""
Richard's face went white.
He lunged toward her.
One of the security guards rushed forward and grabbed his arm.
The device fell to the carpet.
I picked it up.
Richard struggled.
"Give me that!""
The guard tightened his grip.
I pressed play.
A man's voice filled the room.
Richard.
"If the third child is officially registered, the entire foundation goes to the girls. We lose control.""
Victoria's voice followed.
"Then she must never be registered.""
"And Isabella?""
"She'll sign the documents or she'll never see the children again.""
The recording ended.
I looked at Richard.
"You planned this with my mother.""
He stopped struggling.
Then he gave me a cold smile.
"Your mother was only doing what she was told.""
I stepped closer.
"By whom?""
Richard looked directly at me.
"Your father.""
Silence.
My father had been dead for eight years.
"That's impossible.""
Richard laughed quietly.
"Your father knew about the third child before Isabella ever became pregnant.""
He pulled his arm free just as another guard entered the nursery.
Then he leaned toward me.
"Dominic, there's something else. The trust doesn't belong to your daughters simply because they're alive.""
I said nothing.
He smiled.
"It belongs to the child your father designated as his successor.""
I gripped the recording device.
"Which child?""
Richard looked toward the hallway.
Then he whispered:
"Emma isn't the only Caruso child whose birth was hidden.""
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"Mr. Caruso, this is Detective Harris. We've located your wife.""
My heart stopped.
"Where?""
"At a private residence in Westchester.""
"Is she safe?""
There was a pause.
Then he said:
"That's what we're trying to establish. Someone reported that a woman matching her description was being held against her will.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who reported it?""
May you like
The detective lowered his voice.
"Your mother.""
