Chapter 12: The Truth Clara Couldn't Tell Me
My father was rushed to Charleston Memorial Hospital.
The bullet had passed through his shoulder, missing his heart by inches.
The surgeon told me he would survive.
I sat outside the operating room with the blue ledger on my lap.
My entire life had been built on lies.
My father wasn't dead.
My wife wasn't dead.
My brother had stolen from his own niece.
My mother had arranged a fake death.
And the son I had never met had been given to another family by the woman I loved.
I couldn't understand any of it.
Marcus approached with two coffees.
"Your daughter is safe, sir.""
I looked up.
"Where is she?""
"At a private residence with Thomas and two officers. She's asking for you.""
I closed my eyes.
"Tell her I'll be there soon.""
Marcus sat beside me.
"There's something else.""
I looked at him.
"We found Michael's vehicle abandoned near the waterfront.""
"Did you find him?""
"No.""
I stared at the coffee.
"Of course not.""
"However, we recovered a phone from the vehicle.""
"And?""
Marcus hesitated.
"There are several messages between Michael and your mother.""
I held out my hand.
He gave me the phone.
The messages were dated over the previous six months.
*MICHAEL:* The Whitmore arrangement is becoming difficult.
*ELEANOR:* Then remind them what happens if they cooperate with Daniel.
*MICHAEL:* Clara may have contacted him.
*ELEANOR:* She won't risk Lily.
Another message appeared.
*MICHAEL:* The boy is asking questions.
*ELEANOR:* Then make sure he never learns who his real parents are.
I felt sick.
But the final message was worse.
It had been sent two days earlier.
*ELEANOR:* If Daniel returns to Suite 701, eliminate the remaining evidence. If necessary, eliminate the witnesses.
I handed the phone back.
"Get this to the police.""
Marcus nodded.
Then my personal phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Daniel.""
Clara's voice.
"Where are you?""
"At the hospital.""
"Is Richard alive?""
I swallowed.
"Yes. He's going to survive.""
She began crying.
"Thank God.""
"Clara, I need to see you.""
"I know.""
"Tell me where you are.""
She hesitated.
"There's something I need to explain first.""
I leaned forward.
"Then explain it.""
She took a shaky breath.
"When Lily was born, the doctors discovered a complication. I had been pregnant with twins.""
I froze.
"Twins?""
"Yes. Lily and her brother.""
I looked at the photograph.
The two babies.
"Why did nobody tell me?""
"Because the boy was born with a serious medical condition. He needed immediate treatment.""
"What condition?""
"A heart defect.""
My throat tightened.
"Is he okay?""
"He's alive. He's healthy now.""
I closed my eyes.
"Then why was he adopted?""
"Michael found out about the trust. He knew both children were beneficiaries. He also knew that if anything happened to me, you would inherit control of the estate.""
"So he took our son?""
"No.""
Her answer stunned me.
"What?""
Clara's voice broke.
"I made the decision.""
I stood up.
"You gave away our baby?""
"I was trying to save him!""
"From what?""
"Michael had discovered that the hospital was treating him under a confidential medical record. He had threatened to have him transferred to a facility where nobody could find him.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Michael had already forged your signature on financial documents. He had convinced me that someone inside the company was working with him.""
"And you thought it was me?""
"For a while, yes.""
The admission hurt more than I expected.
I leaned against the wall.
"Clara, I never betrayed you.""
"I know that now.""
"How?""
"Because I found the original documents. Your signature was copied from an old contract.""
I closed my eyes.
All those nights when she had been distant.
All those moments when she had looked at me with sadness I couldn't understand.
She had been afraid of me.
And I hadn't even known.
"Why didn't you come back after discovering the truth?""
"Because Eleanor found me.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did she do?""
"She showed me photographs of Lily leaving preschool. She knew where you lived. She knew every place you took our daughter.""
I couldn't speak.
"She told me that if I returned, both children would be taken from us.""
I looked at the hospital corridor.
"Where is our son now?""
"With the Whitmores.""
"Do they know he's ours?""
"Yes. They know everything.""
"Then why are they keeping him?""
"Because they believe they're protecting him.""
I shook my head.
"This is insane.""
"I know.""
"Where are you, Clara?""
She finally answered.
"At the old chapel near Sullivan's Island.""
I remembered it.
The small white chapel where Clara and I had exchanged private vows before our wedding ceremony.
"Why are you there?""
"Because that's where Eleanor kept the recordings.""
I stood straight.
"What recordings?""
"The ones proving what happened to your father.""
I looked toward the operating room.
My father had said the same thing.
"Clara, stay where you are. I'm coming.""
"Daniel, wait.""
"What?""
"Don't come alone.""
"Why?""
"Because I saw someone following me.""
I immediately signaled Marcus.
"Where exactly are you?""
"Inside the chapel.""
"Lock the doors.""
"I already did.""
I heard a noise on her end.
Then a muffled voice.
Clara whispered, "Daniel?""
"What's happening?""
"Someone is outside.""
My heart began pounding.
"Get away from the door.""
A loud crash sounded through the phone.
Then Clara screamed.
"NO!""
The call disconnected.
I ran toward the elevator.
Marcus followed.
"Sir, what happened?""
"Someone has Clara.""
We rushed into the parking garage.
Marcus started the vehicle while I called the police.
As we drove toward Sullivan's Island, my phone vibrated.
A video message had arrived.
I opened it.
Clara was sitting inside the chapel.
Her hands were tied.
Her face was bruised.
A man stood behind her.
I recognized his voice immediately.
Michael.
He looked into the camera.
"Hello, little brother.""
He held up a small black envelope.
"Your wife has something I need.""
I leaned closer to the screen.
Michael smiled.
"And I have something she wants.""
He moved the camera toward the chapel entrance.
A little boy stood there.
Dark hair.
Brown eyes.
A birthmark near his left temple.
Noah.
My son.
Michael placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Now, Daniel, let's make a deal.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
"Bring me the blue ledger, the original trust documents, and every copy of that hospital recording.""
He looked directly into the camera.
"Come alone.""
Then he bent toward Noah and whispered something.
The boy began crying.
Michael smiled again.
"Because if you involve the police, neither your wife nor your son will leave this chapel.""
The video ended.
Marcus looked at me.
"Sir, we're three minutes away. Police units are already moving.""
I stared at the black screen.
"Tell them to hold their positions.""
"Mr. Bennett—"
"Michael wants me alone. If he sees a police convoy, he'll panic.""
Marcus gripped the steering wheel.
"And if you go inside alone?""
I looked at the photograph of Lily on my phone.
Then at the image of Noah.
"Then I make sure my children never have to bury another parent.""
The chapel appeared through the windshield.
Its white doors stood open.
A single light flickered inside.
And beside the entrance was a bouquet of red roses.
The same flowers I had carried into the hotel for Clara.
Tucked between the stems was a handwritten note.
Daniel, before you choose which child to save, remember that one of them is not who you think.
I stared at the words.
May you like
Then I heard a gunshot from inside the chapel.
And Clara screamed my name.
