Chapter 6: The Uncle Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
For several seconds, I couldn't breathe.
I stared at the phone.
Then I looked at Emma.
Her face had turned completely white.
"What did he say?"" she whispered.
I put the call on speaker.
"Thomas," I said carefully.
"Where are you?""
A familiar laugh came through the phone.
"Still asking questions, Adrian. Some things never change.""
My father grabbed the edge of the table.
"Thomas? Is that really you?""
"Hello, Richard.""
My father's knees seemed to weaken.
"You were dead.""
"That's what everyone was told.""
"Why?""
"Because it was convenient.""
I clenched my jaw.
"You were involved in my accident.""
Thomas sighed.
"Straight to business. I expected better manners from my nephew.""
"You paid someone to damage my brakes.""
"Can you prove that?""
"We have the financial records.""
"Financial records can be fabricated.""
"And we have your voice.""
Silence.
Then he laughed.
"Very clever. But you're forgetting something, Adrian. Your little recording only captures Victor. It doesn't capture the person who gave him the orders.""
I glanced at the USB drive.
"Why don't you come here and explain everything?""
"Because I have no intention of walking into your father's house.""
"Afraid?""
"Not at all. I simply prefer choosing the location of my meetings.""
A notification appeared on my phone.
A photograph.
Emma was standing outside the mansion earlier that afternoon, speaking to someone beside a black SUV.
The message underneath contained only six words.
*I KNOW WHERE YOUR SISTER LIVES.*
Emma saw the photograph.
Her hand began shaking.
I immediately stepped in front of her.
"Don't involve her.""
Thomas chuckled.
"She's been involved since the day she was born.""
Then the call ended.
My father sank into a chair.
"He can't be alive.""
Eleanor placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Richard, you need to stop pretending the past is buried.""
He looked up at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your wife begged me not to.""
I turned toward Eleanor.
"Tell us everything.""
She glanced at the USB drive.
"Your mother discovered Thomas and Victor were using the company to move money into private accounts. They planned to force Richard out and take control of the entire Blackwood empire.""
"Why would Thomas want the company?"" I asked.
"Because he believed your father had stolen his inheritance.""
Richard shook his head.
"That wasn't true. Our father left the controlling shares to me.""
"Thomas never accepted that," Eleanor explained.
"He believed your mother had influenced the decision.""
I looked at the old photograph.
"And Emma?""
Eleanor's expression softened.
"Your mother knew Thomas would use either of you to get what he wanted. She arranged for Emma to be raised under another name.""
Emma looked down at the locket.
"So my entire childhood was a protection plan?""
"Your mother wanted you to have a normal life.""
Emma laughed through her tears.
"Normal? I spent years wondering why my mother never talked about my father. I thought he had abandoned us.""
Eleanor reached for her hand.
"He didn't know the truth about you.""
"Did he even want me?""
Richard closed his eyes.
"Your mother told me Thomas wanted custody of you. She believed he would use you as leverage.""
Emma stepped away.
"And nobody thought I deserved to know?""
Nobody answered.
I walked toward the window.
Outside, the garden lights illuminated the long driveway.
A black SUV was parked near the iron gates.
My security guard stood beside it.
I recognized the vehicle from Thomas's photograph.
"Who's that?"" Emma asked.
I reached for my phone.
Before I could call security, the headlights flashed twice.
Then the vehicle accelerated.
It crashed through the outer gate and sped toward the mansion.
"Get down!"" I shouted.
I grabbed Emma's arm and pulled her behind the dining table.
A second later, glass shattered.
The SUV struck the stone fountain and came to a violent stop.
My father rushed toward the entrance.
"Don't!"" I shouted.
But he was already moving.
Two security guards appeared from the hallway, their hands raised.
"Stay inside!"" one yelled.
The driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
He wore a dark coat and held a white envelope.
He didn't run.
He simply walked toward the entrance.
One guard grabbed his arm.
The man struggled briefly before dropping the envelope.
"That's for Adrian Blackwood!"" he shouted.
I approached the doorway cautiously.
The guards restrained him while another retrieved the envelope.
My name was written across it.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of a little girl sitting on a hospital bed.
She looked about six years old.
On the back, someone had written:
Your mother didn't give away only one child.
Emma stared at the photograph.
"Who is she?""
Eleanor began trembling.
Richard slowly sat down.
I turned the photograph over again.
The hospital bracelet around the little girl's wrist contained a name.
*ELIZABETH BLACKWOOD.*
And underneath it was a birth date.
The same date as mine.
Emma looked at me.
"Adrian...""
I swallowed.
"How many children did our mother have?""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
Then she whispered the words that changed everything.
"Three.""
My father stood abruptly.
"No. That's impossible.""
Eleanor looked at him through tear-filled eyes.
"Your wife gave birth to triplets, Richard.""
The room went silent.
I looked at Emma.
Then at the photograph.
There had been another child.
Another sister.
And someone had hidden her from us for thirty-one years.
My phone vibrated again.
An incoming message appeared from an unknown number.
*YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO FIND YOUR SISTER. OTHERWISE, SHE WILL DISCOVER THE TRUTH FROM THE MAN WHO KILLED YOUR MOTHER.*
I looked toward the restrained driver.
He was smiling.
Then he spoke.
"Your uncle sends his love, Mr. Blackwood.""
May you like
He leaned closer.
"And he says your sister is already on her way to meet you.""
