Chapter 11: The Father Who Chose to Disappear
My mother refused to believe the call had been a coincidence.
"That was Thomas," she whispered.
"I know his voice.""
I sat beside her, trying to absorb what she'd said.
"Mom, if Dad is alive, why didn't he come home?""
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
"I don't know, sweetheart. I have asked myself that question every day for fourteen years.""
Nathan paced near the door.
"Someone knows we're investigating. That means the information is reaching them somehow.""
Michael closed his laptop.
"Or someone has been monitoring the people involved for years.""
I thought of the photograph taken inside my bridal suite, the mysterious phone, and the message about my mother's illness.
This wasn't a sudden scheme.
Someone had been watching our families for a very long time.
The hospital room door opened, and two police officers entered. The older one introduced herself as Detective Rebecca Shaw. Her partner, Officer Bennett, carried a small evidence bag.
"We located Lauren," Detective Shaw said.
"She's safe, but she's shaken.""
I stood immediately.
"Where is she?""
"At the station. She agreed to give a statement.""
"Did she see Daniel Cross?""
Detective Shaw glanced at Nathan.
"She identified a man matching his description, but we're verifying the identification. We haven't confirmed that Daniel Cross is alive.""
Nathan gave a humorless laugh.
"How many more photographs do you need?""
"Mr. Whitmore, I understand your frustration. But if we make assumptions, we risk compromising the investigation.""
She turned to my mother.
"Mrs. Carter, we need to discuss your account of the incident at the lake three years ago.""
My mother nodded.
"I'll tell you everything I remember.""
The interview lasted nearly an hour. Detective Shaw asked about Richard, Isabella, Daniel, and the missing briefcase. My mother answered carefully, sometimes pausing to collect herself.
When the detective asked about my father, Mom's voice broke.
"I thought he was dead. I had no reason to believe otherwise until tonight.""
Detective Shaw placed the insurance document on the table.
"Your husband was insured through a company connected to Daniel Cross. Did you know that?""
"No.""
"Did he ever mention working with Richard Whitmore?""
"Never.""
The detective made a note.
"We'll investigate the policy and the original death records. For now, I need you to understand that anyone threatening your family should be reported immediately.""
After she left, I walked into the corridor to call Lauren.
She answered on the first ring.
"Emily?""
"I'm here. Are you hurt?""
"No. Just scared.""
I leaned against the wall.
"Why didn't you tell me about the photograph before tonight?""
"Because Isabella said she'd ruin me if I talked. She had copies of my debts, my bank statements, everything. She said she could make it look like I'd stolen money from the company.""
I closed my eyes.
"Lauren, she has been using your fear to control you.""
"I know.""
Her voice broke.
"I thought I was helping myself by keeping quiet. But when I saw that folder, I realized she had been lying to everyone.""
"What was inside it?""
"Insurance documents. Bank transfers. And a letter from Dad.""
My heart stopped.
"What letter?""
"It was addressed to Mom. I only saw the first page before Daniel took it.""
"What did it say?""
Lauren hesitated.
"It said he was sorry.""
I pressed my hand against my forehead.
"Sorry for what?""
"I don't know. The page was torn, and I didn't get to read the rest.""
I asked her to stay at the station until the police finished their interview.
Then I returned to the hospital room.
Nathan was standing beside my mother, holding the old photograph of Richard and Margaret.
"Michael found something else," he said.
He placed a document in front of me.
It was a copy of a transfer agreement dated fourteen years earlier.
My father's name appeared at the bottom.
So did Richard Whitmore's.
The agreement transferred ownership of Carter Ridge Holdings to Daniel Cross shortly before my father's reported death.
But the signature beside Thomas Carter's name looked wrong.
I studied it carefully.
"My father always signed his name with a capital T that looked like a cross. This one doesn't.""
Michael nodded.
"The signature may have been forged. A handwriting expert will need to examine the original.""
Nathan pointed to another line.
"Look at the witness.""
The name was Isabella Whitmore.
My stomach tightened.
She had witnessed a transaction involving my father fourteen years ago, then married into the family of the man who died three years ago.
And now she was trying to destroy my wedding.
I looked at Nathan.
"Your mother knew my father.""
"Yes," he replied.
"The question is how much she knew.""
My mother reached for the document.
"Richard once told me that Thomas had discovered something at a construction site. He said it was dangerous, and that people were willing to pay to keep it quiet.""
I stared at her.
"What did he discover?""
Mom shook her head.
"Richard never explained. He only said Thomas had made a terrible mistake and was trying to correct it.""
I couldn't bear the uncertainty anymore.
"If Dad is alive, I'm going to find him.""
Nathan took my hand.
"We'll find him together.""
Before either of us could say more, Detective Shaw returned.
She looked at Nathan first.
"We've identified the vehicle seen leaving the lake house. It was registered to a private security company that worked for Whitmore Hospitality.""
Nathan frowned.
"Who owns the company?""
Detective Shaw opened her notebook.
"An entity controlled by Isabella Whitmore.""
She paused.
"We also found evidence that the red folder was transferred to a storage facility outside Nashville. A search warrant is being prepared.""
Michael stood.
"Can you recover the contents?""
"We're working on it.""
The detective turned toward me.
"There's one more development. A man claiming to be Thomas Carter contacted our station thirty minutes ago. He refused to give his location, but he said he was willing to meet one person.""
My heart pounded.
"Who?""
May you like
Detective Shaw looked directly at me.
"He specifically asked for Emily Carter.""
