Chapter 6: The Daughter Everyone Lied About
I called Lily's school first.
No answer.
I called her teacher.
Straight to voicemail.
My hands shook so badly I dropped the phone.
Michael caught it.
"Don't panic.""
"She's missing.""
"We don't know that.""
"The photograph—"
"Could be old.""
I stared at him.
"It was sent thirty seconds ago.""
Michael's expression hardened.
He called a number from his contacts.
"Detective Harris? It's Michael Reed.""
I listened as he explained.
Then he looked at me.
"They're sending officers.""
"Will they find her?""
"They'll try.""
"That's not good enough.""
Michael stepped closer.
"Emily, listen to me. Whoever sent that photograph wants you scared.""
"They have my daughter.""
"Then they want something.""
"What?""
"The trust.""
I stared at the envelope.
"My father's money.""
"Not exactly.""
He took out the trust agreement.
"The assets aren't cash sitting in a bank.""
"What are they?""
"Land.""
He pointed at a map.
"Your father acquired commercial properties all over Texas through Carter Development.""
I looked at the map.
Dallas.
Fort Worth.
Austin.
Houston.
"What does that have to do with Lily?""
"The properties are held through a series of companies.""
"Shell companies.""
"Some are legitimate. Some aren't.""
"And the federal investigation?""
Michael nodded.
"Your father discovered Daniel was preparing to move those properties offshore.""
My phone rang.
Detective Harris.
I answered.
"Detective?""
"Mrs. Carter, I need you to stay where you are.""
"Where is my daughter?""
"We're working on it.""
"That's not an answer.""
There was a pause.
Then he said, "The photograph was taken inside a private security facility.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
"We traced the image.""
"Where?""
"One of your husband's properties.""
I looked at Michael.
"Which one?""
Harris gave me the address.
It was an abandoned office building Carter Development had purchased two years earlier.
Daniel had told me it was being renovated.
Michael's face went pale when I said the address.
"That's not an office.""
"What is it?""
"A records facility.""
"For what?""
"Documents.""
I remembered something.
Six months ago, Daniel had asked me to sign a stack of papers.
He'd said they were insurance documents.
I had refused because my father had just died.
Daniel had become furious.
Then he told me he'd handle everything himself.
I suddenly understood.
"The signature.""
Michael looked at me.
"The fake transfer.""
"Daniel needed control of the trust.""
I pulled the letter from my bag.
"Then why did he think I had signed?""
Michael looked at the document.
"Because someone forged your signature.""
"Who?""
He didn't answer.
I looked toward the door.
A knock sounded.
Three slow knocks.
Michael reached inside his jacket.
"Stay behind me.""
The knock came again.
"Mrs. Carter?""
A man's voice.
"Police.""
Michael opened the door.
Two officers entered.
Detective Harris followed.
He held up his badge.
"Mrs. Carter, we're going to get Lily back.""
"Thank you.""
He looked at Michael.
"You need to come with us.""
Michael frowned.
"Why?""
"Because your name just came up in the investigation.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
Harris looked at me.
"There's something you need to know.""
He handed me a photograph.
It showed Michael standing outside the hospital the night Lily was born.
Beside him was my father.
And beside my father was Daniel.
I stared at the image.
"What is this?""
Harris said quietly, "Your father had all three of you there for a reason.""
Michael closed his eyes.
I looked at him.
"You knew.""
He shook his head.
"Not about this.""
Harris opened a folder.
"Mrs. Carter, your father's attorney left us instructions in case he died before this divorce was finalized.""
"What instructions?""
"To give you one specific piece of evidence.""
He removed a small digital recorder.
My father's voice came from the speaker.
"Emily, if you're hearing this, Daniel has probably already tried to take everything.""
My eyes filled with tears.
His voice continued.
"There's one thing I need you to understand.""
Static crackled.
Then my father's next words made Michael go completely still.
"Lily is not the only child Daniel has been hiding.""
I stared at the recorder.
"What does that mean?""
My father's voice continued.
"Daniel has another daughter.""
The recording clicked off.
No one spoke.
Then Detective Harris's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
"Where?""
He listened.
Then looked at me.
"We found Lily.""
Relief hit me so hard my knees nearly buckled.
"Where is she?""
Harris's face remained grim.
"She's at the Carter Development records facility.""
I exhaled.
"Is she hurt?""
"No.""
I nearly cried.
Then Harris added:
"But she's not alone.""
"Who is with her?""
He looked at the photograph from the investigation.
"The other child.""
I stared at him.
"Who?""
Harris hesitated.
Then he said a name.
"Her name is Sophie Carter.""
May you like
My breath caught.
Because Sophie was the name Daniel had once told me he never wanted me to ask about.
