Chapter 10: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
"Someone emptied the Bennett family vault?""
Nathan repeated the security chief's words.
"Yes, sir. The vault was accessed using an authorized biometric credential. The original estate documents, several property deeds, and a sealed evidence box are missing.""
I grabbed the phone.
"Who accessed it?""
"We're reviewing the security footage, Mrs. Hale.""
"Don't review it. Preserve it. Every second, every camera angle, every access record. Nobody touches anything until the forensic team arrives.""
"Understood.""
I ended the call.
My mother was sitting on the sofa, holding Rebecca's photograph against her chest.
"Thomas," she whispered.
Nathan shook his head.
"We don't know that.""
"Who else would have access?""
I looked at the photograph of Daniel Cross.
"Someone who knows what happened twenty years ago.""
Nathan checked his phone.
"The medical facility has confirmed that Daniel is still there. But we need to move quickly.""
"Then let's go.""
My mother stood.
"I'm coming.""
"No.""
She stared at me.
"Claire, he's my sister's partner. I deserve to hear the truth.""
I softened my voice.
"Mom, whoever emptied that vault knows we're investigating. I need you somewhere safe.""
She looked wounded when I called her Mom.
Perhaps she wondered whether I would ever call her anything else again.
"I raised you," she whispered.
I took her hands.
"I know. And that will never disappear. But I need you to tell me everything you remember about Rebecca.""
She hesitated.
Then she opened the journal to a page near the back.
"Your grandmother wrote this after Rebecca died.""
The entry was short.
Daniel insists that William Hale was responsible for the accident. Thomas insists Daniel is lying. Richard refuses to discuss it. I fear the truth is worse than any of them have admitted.
I looked at Nathan.
"William Hale was Everett's father.""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Everett appeared.
*Claire, we need to talk. I know where Daniel Cross is. Meet me alone if you want the truth.*
I showed Nathan.
He shook his head immediately.
"Absolutely not.""
I typed a response.
*Where?*
The answer arrived seconds later.
*The old Hale residence. 8 p.m. Come without Nathan.*
Nathan read it.
"He's trying to isolate you.""
"Then we'll make sure he doesn't succeed.""
We left for the medical facility first.
Daniel Cross was staying in a private rehabilitation center outside Albany.
Two security officers met us at the entrance.
The administrator checked our identification.
"Mr. Cross isn't expecting visitors.""
"Tell him Claire Bennett is here.""
The administrator looked surprised.
A few minutes later, a nurse escorted us to a quiet room.
An elderly man sat beside the window.
His hair was silver.
His hands trembled slightly as he adjusted the blanket over his knees.
But his eyes were familiar.
I'd seen them in Rebecca's photograph.
"Claire?"" he whispered.
I approached.
"Mr. Cross?""
He stared at me for a long time.
Then tears filled his eyes.
"You have your mother's face.""
I sat opposite him.
"I need to know what happened to her.""
Daniel looked toward Nathan.
"Who is he?""
"My attorney.""
Daniel nodded.
"Then perhaps it's finally time.""
He reached beneath the bedside table and removed a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph of a black sedan.
"The night Rebecca died, she was driving home from a meeting with your grandfather. She had discovered that Thomas was transferring money out of the family trust.""
"Why would she have known?""
"Because she was helping Richard investigate him.""
Daniel took a breath.
"Rebecca had found evidence that Thomas was secretly working with William Hale. They were trying to gain control of the Bennett investments through a series of fraudulent acquisitions.""
Nathan leaned forward.
"Do you have proof?""
Daniel nodded.
"I did. Rebecca gave me copies before she died.""
"What happened that night?""
Daniel looked down.
"William's car followed her. I was behind them. I saw the collision.""
My stomach tightened.
"Was it an accident?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No. Someone forced her off the road.""
I covered my mouth.
"Who?""
"William Hale was driving.""
Nathan immediately took notes.
Daniel continued.
"I tried to help her, but Thomas arrived before the police. He took her bag and the documents. Then he told me to leave if I wanted to survive.""
"Why didn't you go to the police?""
Daniel gave a bitter laugh.
"Because the police report said I was responsible. Thomas had witnesses. William had money. And I had nothing.""
"Why did you disappear?""
"Because I was told that if I ever contacted you, the same thing would happen to you.""
I stared at him.
"Who told you?""
Daniel looked directly into my eyes.
"Your grandfather.""
I couldn't breathe.
"Richard?""
"He came to see me after Rebecca died. He said he would protect you if I stayed away.""
"Did he know William killed her?""
Daniel nodded.
"He knew enough. He couldn't prove it.""
I stood and walked toward the window.
My grandfather had spent years protecting me.
But his protection had come at the cost of the truth.
"Where are the documents?"" Nathan asked.
Daniel looked at me.
"Your mother gave me something before she died.""
He removed a small brass key from beneath his pillow.
"She said it opened a safe in the old Hale residence. She believed the evidence would eventually destroy the men responsible.""
I took the key.
"Why didn't you use it?""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"Because the safe doesn't just contain evidence about Rebecca.""
He paused.
"It contains the original adoption papers, your birth certificate, and the second will your grandfather wrote.""
I looked at Nathan.
The second will.
Finally.
Then Daniel said something else.
"There's one more thing you need to know about Everett.""
"What?""
"His father told me years ago that Everett was never supposed to marry you.""
I frowned.
"Then why did he?""
May you like
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Because William discovered something about your bloodline that made you far more valuable than the Bennett fortune.""
