Chapter 8: The Man Who Paid for Everything
I had never met my biological father.
According to my mother, Richard Hayes had abandoned her before I was born, leaving Thomas to raise me as his own.
But the man in the photograph had apparently been watching my family for months.
And Daniel had just admitted that someone else was financing everything.
Rebecca placed a notepad in front of me.
“Let's establish what we know.””
She wrote three names.
Richard Hayes.
Thomas Wilson.
Carter Family Holdings.
“Thomas raised you,” she said.
“Richard may be alive. Daniel has been attempting to gain control of Lily's inheritance. Someone else is financing the arrangement.””
I nodded.
“And my mother is helping them.””
“Possibly. But we need evidence of what she knows.””
The police officer received another update.
The man near the parking garage had been identified through a vehicle registration.
His name was Martin Cole.
I didn't recognize it.
But when the officer showed me his photograph, I felt my stomach drop.
He was the man from my childhood pictures.
The man my mother had once introduced as an old family friend.
The man who had disappeared shortly before Thomas died.
“Who is he?”” I whispered.
The officer checked his notes.
“Martin Cole. Former business associate of Richard Hayes. He has no current criminal warrant, but he's connected to several companies involved in the trust investigation.””
Rebecca looked at me.
“Do you know him?””
I shook my head.
“Not really.””
Then I remembered something.
A photograph in my mother's living room.
I was about eight years old, sitting on a man's shoulders at a summer picnic.
Thomas had taken the picture.
The man's face was partly hidden by sunlight.
But I remembered the watch on his wrist.
A silver watch with a black leather strap.
Martin was wearing the same watch in the police photograph.
I turned to Rebecca.
“I've seen him before.””
The officer asked me to describe where.
“At my mother's house. There were old family photographs. He was there.””
Rebecca immediately requested copies of the photographs from my mother.
But my mother wasn't answering.
Instead, Vanessa called.
“Sarah, I need to tell you something.””
Her voice sounded frightened.
“Where are you?””
“At home. Daniel was released pending further investigation, and he came here.””
I stood.
“Why did you let him in?””
“I didn't. He was waiting outside.””
“Call the police.””
“I did. But Sarah, he brought something.””
“What?””
“A little boy's hospital bracelet.””
My stomach tightened.
“Nathan's?””
“Yes.””
Vanessa began crying.
“He told me if I didn't cooperate, Nathan would lose his chance at treatment.””
I felt a wave of anger.
“He's using his own son to control you.””
“I know. But I found something in his bag before he left.””
“What?””
“A second insurance policy.””
I closed my eyes.
“Another one?””
“This one names Nathan as the insured child. The beneficiary isn't me.””
“Who is it?””
“Patricia Carter.””
I felt sick.
Vanessa continued.
“There's a clause about a special trust arrangement. Daniel said it was for Nathan's future, but the paperwork has the same company name as Lily's inheritance documents.””
“Carter Family Holdings?””
“Yes.””
I asked her to photograph everything and send it to Rebecca.
Then she said something else.
“Sarah, I think Daniel knows more about the money than he's admitting.””
“What makes you say that?””
“Because I heard him speaking to someone last night.””
“Who?””
“I don't know. He called the person Mr. Cole.””
My blood ran cold.
Martin Cole.
“What did they discuss?””
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
“Daniel said the transfer couldn't happen until Lily was legally removed from your custody. Then Mr. Cole said something about the medical procedure being only the first stage.””
I looked at Rebecca.
She was listening carefully.
“What did Daniel say?””
Vanessa whispered:
“He said, 'Once the child is transferred, the trust is ours. We won't need Sarah or Richard anymore.''”
The room went silent.
I felt tears burn behind my eyes.
They weren't simply planning to take Lily to help Nathan.
They were planning to use her inheritance.
And possibly her medical records.
“Vanessa, did you hear anything about Nathan's treatment?””
“Yes. Daniel said the London doctors were only a cover for the real arrangement.””
I grabbed the desk.
“What real arrangement?””
“I don't know. But he said Nathan wasn't the only child being evaluated.””
I couldn't understand.
“Who else?””
Vanessa was silent for a moment.
Then she said:
“Daniel mentioned a second child named Grace.””
Rebecca immediately wrote the name down.
“Who is Grace?”” I asked.
Vanessa shook her head, even though she knew I couldn't see her.
“I've never heard of her before.””
A new message arrived.
It was from an unknown number.
Stop asking questions about Richard Hayes. You are putting Lily in danger.
Then another message.
A photograph of a hospital corridor.
And at the far end, standing beside a nurse, was a little girl with dark hair.
She looked about Lily's age.
Underneath the photograph were the words:
Grace is waiting for her sister.
I stared at the image.
“Rebecca?””
She leaned closer.
“Do you recognize her?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
But there was something familiar about the child's face.
Her eyes.
Her smile.
The shape of her chin.
I looked again.
Then I noticed the hospital bracelet.
It carried the same surname as my daughter.
Carter.
Rebecca immediately contacted the police.
A few minutes later, Edward Hayes called.
“Mrs. Carter, I believe we've found the missing piece.””
“What?””
“Grace Carter is listed as a second potential beneficiary of the Thomas Wilson trust.””
I stared at the photograph.
“Who are her parents?””
Edward hesitated.
“Her mother is listed as an unidentified woman. Her biological father is Daniel Carter.””
My heart stopped.
May you like
Daniel had another child.
And this time, it wasn't with Vanessa.
