Chapter 13: The Fourth Caruso Child
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
The little girl's voice trembled through the phone.
"I'm your father's daughter. And I know where your fourth baby is.""
I looked at Isabella.
She had gone completely pale.
"How old are you?"" I asked.
"Eight.""
"Where are you right now?""
"At home. But I can't tell you the address.""
"Why not?""
"Richard says he'll send me away if I talk to anyone.""
I closed my eyes.
Another child.
Another secret.
Another little girl whose life had been controlled by the people I once trusted.
"Listen to me, sweetheart. What's your name?""
"Sophia.""
"Sophia, I'm Dominic. Your father's son.""
She started crying.
"Are you angry with me?""
The question nearly broke my heart.
"No, sweetheart. I'm not angry with you.""
"Richard said you would be.""
"Richard lied.""
I heard a door slam somewhere in the background.
Sophia gasped.
"I have to go.""
"Wait! Tell me where the fourth baby is.""
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"At the house with the blue windows.""
"What house?""
"The one where Grandma Victoria visits every Sunday.""
The call disconnected.
I lowered the phone.
Isabella grabbed my arm.
"Dominic, we need to find her.""
Detective Harris approached.
"Who was that?""
"Sophia Hale. Richard's daughter. Apparently, she's my father's child.""
The detective frowned.
"That's a serious allegation.""
"She also claims to know where our fourth baby is.""
Arthur Whitmore immediately stepped forward.
"That's nonsense.""
I turned toward him.
"How would you know?""
"Because there is no fourth child.""
Isabella stared at him.
"You're lying.""
Arthur adjusted his cufflinks.
"Mrs. Caruso, I understand you've been through a traumatic experience, but these stories are becoming increasingly elaborate.""
I walked toward him.
"One more word about my wife, and you'll be explaining yourself to the police.""
Detective Harris raised his hand.
"Everyone needs to calm down. Mr. Whitmore, I'd like you to remain here.""
Arthur gave a thin smile.
"Of course.""
But I noticed him looking at his watch.
He was waiting for something.
I turned toward Detective Harris.
"We need to find Sophia.""
He nodded.
"I'll have officers trace the call.""
I looked at the photograph of my father holding the newborn.
The baby's face was partly covered by a blanket.
On the back, beneath the sentence about the fourth grandchild, was another line.
This child carries the final key.
I handed it to Isabella.
She studied it carefully.
Then her eyes widened.
"Dominic.""
"What?""
"Look at the hospital bracelet.""
She pointed to the photograph.
A tiny bracelet was visible around the baby's wrist.
The number was readable.
*INFANT D — CARUSO.*
I felt sick.
"There's a fourth baby.""
Isabella nodded.
"But why would your father have known?""
I turned toward Arthur.
He had stopped smiling.
"Tell me where the baby is.""
He remained silent.
Detective Harris stepped closer.
"Mr. Whitmore, I suggest you cooperate.""
Arthur looked at me.
"Your father had an arrangement with a woman named Evelyn Hale. Before his death, he instructed me to ensure that certain family matters remained private.""
"Evelyn was Richard's wife.""
"Correct.""
"And Sophia?""
Arthur looked down.
"Your father's biological daughter.""
I felt the walls closing in.
"How many children did my father have?""
"That is irrelevant.""
"ANSWER ME!""
Arthur flinched.
"Three.""
I stared at him.
My father had fathered three children outside his marriage?
Margaret.
Sophia.
And someone else.
"Who was the third?""
Arthur looked toward Isabella.
Then he said, "The woman who gave birth to the fourth baby.""
Isabella covered her mouth.
"Who?""
Arthur finally spoke.
"Your father's youngest daughter. Her name was Claire.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Where is she?""
"She disappeared shortly before your father died.""
"And the baby?""
Arthur hesitated.
"Claire gave birth to a little girl. Your father arranged for her to be raised privately.""
"Where?""
Arthur closed his eyes.
"At the property known as Blue Windows.""
The name hit me.
I remembered a house on the outskirts of Long Island.
My father used to visit it every Sunday.
He had always told me it belonged to an old family friend.
I looked at Detective Harris.
"Can you get us there?""
He nodded.
"We'll need a warrant.""
I turned toward Arthur.
"Then tell us who owns it.""
He stared at the floor.
"Victoria.""
My blood ran cold.
My mother had another property.
A house where she visited every Sunday.
A house where another baby had been hidden.
I looked at Isabella.
"We're going.""
She nodded.
But before we could leave, Arthur spoke again.
"Dominic, there's something else.""
I turned.
"Make it quick.""
He looked at me with an expression I couldn't read.
"The fourth baby isn't just another beneficiary.""
"What does that mean?""
Arthur swallowed.
"Your father transferred his controlling interest in the foundation to that child before he died.""
Silence.
The entire foundation.
The patents.
The research company.
Forty-two million dollars in disputed assets.
Everything.
I looked down at the photograph.
Then back at Arthur.
"Why?""
"Because your father believed the child would one day need the money for something far more important.""
"What?""
Arthur's answer was barely audible.
"Her own medical treatment.""
Isabella grabbed my hand.
"Dominic, we have to find her.""
Detective Harris received a message on his radio.
He listened.
Then his expression changed.
"We have a location on Sophia.""
"Where?""
"She's been reported missing.""
I stared at him.
"When?""
"About ten minutes ago.""
My phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
Unknown number.
*If you want to see your fourth daughter, come alone. Blue Windows. Midnight.*
I looked at the clock.
11:42 p.m.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
*And don't bring the police. Your mother is already waiting.*
