Chapter 10: The Father Who Never Died
"Ask her what happened to your father.""
My mother's words kept repeating in my head long after the elevator doors closed.
I stood motionless, holding my phone against my ear.
"Clara?""
"I'm here, Daniel.""
"Did you hear what she said?""
There was a long silence.
Then Clara whispered, "Yes.""
I swallowed.
"Is my father alive?""
She began crying.
"I don't know if he's still alive, sweetheart. But I know he didn't die the way your mother told you.""
I closed my eyes.
Fifteen years earlier, my father, Richard Bennett, had supposedly died in a boating accident off the South Carolina coast.
His body had never been recovered.
The family held a memorial service, and my mother inherited his controlling shares in the hotel business.
I'd been twenty-four.
Michael had been twenty-seven.
Our mother told us that our father had been drinking, lost control of his boat, and drowned.
For fifteen years, I had believed her.
"Clara, tell me everything.""
She took a shaky breath.
"Your father discovered that Eleanor and Michael were stealing money from the company. He planned to report them.""
"That's impossible. Michael was barely involved in the business back then.""
"He was involved enough.""
I paced across the suite.
"What happened to Dad?""
"Your father confronted Eleanor. Two days later, his boat was found empty.""
I gripped the phone.
"Are you saying my mother arranged his disappearance?""
"I found evidence suggesting she did.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because the evidence disappeared before I could show you.""
I looked toward the bedroom.
Lily was asleep beside Thomas.
My entire family had become a collection of secrets.
"Where are you, Clara?""
"At the Whitmore residence.""
"Give me the address.""
"I can't.""
"Why not?""
"Because someone is listening.""
I stopped walking.
"What?""
"I think the phone is compromised.""
"Then use another one.""
"Daniel, listen. There's something important in your father's old office. The office behind the wine cellar.""
I remembered it immediately.
My father had built a private study beneath the original hotel building. After his disappearance, Mother had ordered the entrance sealed.
I hadn't entered it in fifteen years.
"What am I looking for?""
"A blue ledger. It contains the original ownership records and the names of everyone involved.""
"Why would it still be there?""
"Because your father hid it before he disappeared.""
I felt a chill.
"Clara, did you see him?""
Another silence.
Then she answered.
"Yes.""
I stopped breathing.
"When?""
"Three months ago.""
I leaned against the desk.
"Where?""
"At a private medical facility outside Charleston.""
"Was he alive?""
"Yes.""
My knees nearly gave way.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he was terrified.""
"Of whom?""
She whispered, "Your mother.""
The call suddenly crackled.
"Clara?""
"Daniel, you have to find that ledger before Michael does. He already knows where it is.""
Then the call disconnected.
I immediately dialed back.
The number was unavailable.
Marcus entered the room.
"Sir, we've located Eleanor's vehicle.""
"Where?""
"Leaving the property. We've alerted local authorities.""
I grabbed my jacket.
"I need you to take me somewhere.""
"Where?""
"The old underground office beneath the original hotel.""
Marcus frowned.
"That area has been sealed for years.""
"Then we're about to open it.""
We took the service elevator to the basement.
Thomas insisted on coming.
At the far end of the wine cellar stood an old wooden cabinet.
Behind it was a narrow steel door.
I remembered watching my father install it.
He'd told me it was where he kept the hotel's most important documents.
Marcus examined the lock.
"Do you have a key?""
I shook my head.
Thomas stepped forward.
"Perhaps I do.""
He reached into his uniform pocket and removed an old brass key.
I stared at him.
"Why do you have that?""
"Your father gave it to me shortly before he disappeared. He told me to keep it safe until someone came asking about the original ownership records.""
I took the key.
My hands trembled as I inserted it.
The lock turned.
The door opened with a deep metallic groan.
Inside was a small office covered in dust.
A leather chair sat behind a wooden desk.
Old photographs lined the shelves.
And on the desk was a blue ledger.
I opened it.
The first page carried my father's handwriting.
If Daniel ever finds this, tell him I never abandoned my family.
My vision blurred.
Then I noticed a photograph tucked inside the ledger.
It showed my father standing outside a private clinic.
Beside him was a woman.
Clara.
The date was three months earlier.
I turned the photograph over.
There was a handwritten message.
Daniel, your father is alive. But the person who helped him disappear is the same person who arranged Clara's fake death.
I looked at Thomas.
"Who helped them?""
He pointed toward the final page.
There was a name.
Not Michael.
Not Eleanor.
A name I had never expected to see.
*DR. RICHARD HALE.*
Before I could process it, Marcus's radio crackled.
"Security emergency! Someone has breached the basement entrance!""
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Then a gunshot echoed through the wine cellar.
And the lights went out.
