Chapter 12: The Lawyer Who Knew Everything
The detective immediately called his station.
"Get units to the Caruso residence. I want the nursery secured.""
I was already moving toward the exit.
Isabella followed.
"Dominic, wait!""
I turned.
"You're not coming with me until the doctors clear you.""
She shook her head.
"Those are my daughters.""
"I know.""
"And I've spent eight months trying to get back to them.""
I looked into her eyes.
There was no fear in them now.
Only determination.
I took her hand.
"Then we're going together.""
Detective Harris arranged an escort.
Within minutes, we were on the road.
Isabella sat beside me, holding the photograph of Emma.
She kept touching the little girl's face.
"I used to imagine what she'd look like," she whispered.
I glanced at her.
"What do you mean?""
"When I was here, I didn't know whether she was alive. Sometimes I dreamed she was grown up. Sometimes I dreamed she was still a baby.""
I reached for her hand.
"She's beautiful.""
Isabella smiled through her tears.
"Does she have your eyes?""
"Yes.""
"And your stubbornness?""
I laughed for the first time in months.
"Unfortunately.""
She rested her head against my shoulder.
Then her expression changed.
"Dominic?""
"Yes?""
"Did you keep the yellow gloves?""
I frowned.
"What yellow gloves?""
"The ones I used to dance with when I was pregnant.""
I looked at her.
"Elise was wearing them the night I discovered the recordings.""
Isabella smiled.
"I gave them to her before I went into hiding. I told her to keep the girls laughing.""
I squeezed her hand.
"She did.""
For a moment, we sat in silence.
Then Isabella spoke again.
"There's something else about the lawyer.""
I looked at her.
"Tell me.""
"His name is Arthur Whitmore. He was your father's attorney for more than thirty years.""
"I know him.""
"He's also the person who drafted the document claiming Victoria could control the foundation.""
I frowned.
"But the original trust says otherwise.""
"Because Arthur changed the language after your father died.""
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
"Can you prove it?""
She opened her handbag and removed a small memory card.
"I copied the original documents before they disappeared.""
I glanced at it.
"What's on there?""
"Emails, financial records, and a recording of Arthur admitting he altered the trust.""
I took the memory card.
"Why didn't you tell the police?""
"I tried. But Arthur had already arranged for my medical records to be sealed.""
I stared ahead.
"How did he have that much power?""
Isabella looked at me.
"Because he wasn't working alone.""
I waited.
She swallowed.
"Your father gave him instructions before he died.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What instructions?""
"To protect the foundation at any cost.""
I shook my head.
"My father wouldn't have ordered anyone to kidnap his daughter-in-law.""
"He didn't know what Arthur would do.""
The car slowed as we approached the mansion.
Police vehicles were already parked outside.
A security guard hurried toward us.
"Mr. Caruso!""
I lowered the window.
"What happened?""
"Mr. Whitmore arrived about fifteen minutes ago.""
I froze.
"Arthur?""
"Yes, sir. He presented legal paperwork claiming he had temporary authority over the nursery.""
Isabella grabbed my arm.
"Don't let him near the girls.""
I got out.
Detective Harris followed.
Inside the mansion, the foyer was crowded with officers.
Arthur Whitmore stood beside the staircase, holding a leather briefcase.
He was seventy years old, with silver hair and a perfectly pressed suit.
He looked at me and smiled.
"Dominic. It's been a difficult evening.""
I walked straight toward him.
"Get away from my daughters.""
He sighed.
"Your emotions are understandable.""
"Show me the paperwork.""
He handed me a court order.
I scanned the first page.
It granted temporary administrative control over the Caruso family trust to Arthur Whitmore pending an investigation into alleged financial misconduct.
I looked up.
"Who filed this?""
"An independent party.""
"Who?""
"That's confidential.""
I handed the document to Detective Harris.
"Verify it.""
Arthur smiled.
"There's no need. It's been properly executed.""
Isabella stepped forward.
"Arthur.""
He turned.
For the first time, his smile disappeared.
"Mrs. Caruso.""
"Don't call me that.""
He adjusted his tie.
"I was beginning to wonder when you'd reappear.""
I moved between them.
"You're going to explain everything.""
Arthur glanced at the memory card in my hand.
Then his expression changed.
"Where did you get that?""
Isabella looked at him.
"From the original files.""
He slowly closed his briefcase.
"Those documents don't belong to you.""
"They belong to the children.""
Arthur laughed.
"Those children have no understanding of the agreement.""
"Neither do you," Isabella replied.
She took the original trust amendment from her handbag and handed it to Detective Harris.
"Read the final clause.""
The detective examined it.
His eyebrows lifted.
"Mr. Whitmore, did you know about this provision?""
Arthur said nothing.
Isabella continued.
"When my husband was alive, he specifically instructed that the grandchildren's inheritance could never be transferred to a third party.""
Arthur looked at me.
"Dominic, you need to understand that your father was not always in a position to make rational decisions.""
I stared at him.
"You're calling my dead father incompetent?""
"I'm saying the document is questionable.""
Detective Harris interrupted.
"Then we'll have it authenticated.""
Arthur's jaw tightened.
He looked toward the staircase.
"Where are the children?""
I stepped forward.
"Why?""
"Because I have a legal responsibility to verify their identities.""
Isabella moved beside me.
"You have no authority over them.""
Arthur gave a small smile.
"Actually, I do.""
He opened his briefcase and removed another document.
"This is the original guardianship agreement. It was signed by both parents.""
I stared at the page.
My signature.
Isabella's signature.
And beneath them, a witness signature.
*VICTORIA CARUSO.*
But there was something else.
A clause stating that if either parent disappeared, the children would be placed under the supervision of the family trustee.
I looked at Arthur.
"Who is the family trustee?""
He smiled.
"Richard Hale.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Then Isabella whispered:
"Dominic, look at the date.""
I examined the document.
It had been signed two days before the girls were born.
That was impossible.
We hadn't even known Isabella was carrying triplets at that point.
I looked at my wife.
She was shaking.
"Dominic, I never signed this.""
I stared at her signature.
Then I looked at Arthur.
"Who forged it?""
He closed his briefcase.
"That's an accusation you should be careful making.""
Suddenly, a police officer hurried down the stairs.
"Detective! We found something in the nursery.""
Harris turned.
"What?""
The officer held up a small envelope.
"It's addressed to Mr. Caruso.""
I took it.
Inside was a photograph of my father holding a newborn baby.
On the back, in his handwriting, were the words:
The fourth Caruso grandchild must never be discovered.
I stared at the photograph.
Four?
Not three.
Four children?
Isabella grabbed my arm.
Her voice trembled.
"Dominic, I think there's another baby.""
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A little girl's voice whispered:
"Mr. Caruso?""
"Who's this?""
"My name is Sophia Hale.""
I looked at Isabella.
The little girl continued.
"Please don't let Richard find out I called you.""
"Why?""
Her answer shattered everything I thought I knew.
"Because I'm not his daughter.""
May you like
She began crying.
"I'm your father's daughter. And I know where your fourth baby is.""
