Chapter 12: The Father My Mother Never Named The Father My Mother Never Named
Detective Harris stepped into the hallway.
“Mrs. Carter, you need to remain where you are.””
Vanessa ignored him.
She was staring at Dad.
“Michael, you have to listen.””
Dad stood between her and Daniel.
“Stay away from my children.””
Vanessa looked exhausted.
Her hair was disheveled, and her expensive coat was stained near the hem.
For the first time, she didn't look like the woman who had ruled our house through threats and manipulation.
She looked frightened.
“Richard is coming here,” she said.
“Then let him.””
Detective Harris stepped into the hallway.
“Mrs. Carter, you need to remain where you are.””
Vanessa ignored him.
She was staring at Dad.
“Michael, you have to listen.””
Dad stood between her and Daniel.
“Stay away from my children.””
Vanessa looked exhausted.
Her hair was disheveled, and her expensive coat was stained near the hem.
For the first time, she didn't look like the woman who had ruled our house through threats and manipulation.
She looked frightened.
“Richard is coming here,” she said.
“Then let him.””
“You don't understand. He knows Daniel is with you.””
Dad's“You don't understand. He knows Daniel is with you.””
Dad's jaw tightened.
“Why has he been following my son?””
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
“Because Richard believes the boy belongs to him.””
Daniel stepped backward.
“He isn't jaw tightened.
“Why has he been following my son?””
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
“Because Richard believes the boy belongs to him.””
Daniel stepped backward.
“He isn't my father.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I know.””
The room fell silent.
Rebecca moved closer.
“Then who is?””
Vanessa looked at my father.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I know.””
The room fell silent.
Rebecca moved closer.
“Then who is?””
Vanessa looked at her.
“Eleanor Price knows.””
Detective Harris crossed his arms.
“You're going to explain everything, Mrs. Carter.””
Vanessa glanced at the officers.
“I want legal protection before I speak.””
Daniel Brooks, who had accompanied us, stepped forward.
“You can request independent counsel. But you cannot demand that the family ignore evidence of your her.
“Eleanor Price knows.””
Detective Harris crossed his arms.
“You're going to explain everything, Mrs. Carter.””
Vanessa glanced at the officers.
“I want legal protection before I speak.””
Daniel Brooks, who had accompanied us, stepped forward.
“You can request independent counsel. But you cannot demand that the family ignore evidence of your involvement.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Emily, I know you hate me.””
I didn't answer.
She involvement.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Emily, I know you hate me.””
I didn't answer.
She continued.
“But your mother made a terrible mistake. She trusted the wrong people.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You destroyed my dress. You hid my aunt's letters. You helped separate my brother from his family. And now you want me to believe you were protecting us?””
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
“I never wanted continued.
“But your mother made a terrible mistake. She trusted the wrong people.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You destroyed my dress. You hid my aunt's letters. You helped separate my brother from his family. And now you want me to believe you were protecting us?””
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
“I never wanted you hurt.””
“You poured dye over the only dress I could afford.””
She flinched.
“I know.””
“Then don't pretend you cared about me.””
For a moment, she said nothing you hurt.””
“You poured dye over the only dress I could afford.””
She flinched.
“I know.””
“Then don't pretend you cared about me.””
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she turned toward Dad.
“Claire discovered that the company had been established using your identity. She was going to report it. But before she could, Richard convinced her that the money was.
Then she turned toward Dad.
“Claire discovered that the company had been established using your identity. She was going to report it. But before she could, Richard convinced her that the money was connected to Daniel's medical care.””
Dad shook his head.
“I never signed those documents.””
“I know that now.””
“What do you mean, now?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Richard told me you had connected to Daniel's medical care.””
Dad shook his head.
“I never signed those documents.””
“I know that now.””
“What do you mean, now?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Richard told me you had agreed to it. He showed me paperwork with your signature. I believed him.””
Daniel Brooks interrupted.
“Who created the company?””
Vanessa looked toward the floor.
“Alan Whitmore.””
Rebecca gas agreed to it. He showed me paperwork with your signature. I believed him.””
Daniel Brooks interrupted.
“Who created the company?””
Vanessa looked toward the floor.
“Alan Whitmore.””
Rebecca gasped.
Dad gripped the back of a chair.
“Why?””
“Because Alan wanted access to the Carter family trust. He believed Claire had inherited valuable propertyped.
Dad gripped the back of a chair.
“Why?””
“Because Alan wanted access to the Carter family trust. He believed Claire had inherited valuable property from her parents and that the children would eventually control it.””
Daniel Brooks opened his laptop.
“Was the company used to move those assets?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
from her parents and that the children would eventually control it.””
Daniel Brooks opened his laptop.
“Was the company used to move those assets?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
“And Richard?””
“And Richard?””
“He managed the accounts.””
Rebecca looked devastated.
“You let my husband steal from Claire?””
“I didn't know everything.””
“You knew enough to keep her sister away.””
Vanessa started crying.
“I thought Richard was helping us.””
Dad's voice became cold.
“Then tell me who Daniel's biological father is.””
Vanessa hes“He managed the accounts.””
Rebecca looked devastated.
“You let my husband steal from Claire?””
“I didn't know everything.””
“You knew enough to keep her sister away.””
Vanessa started crying.
“I thought Richard was helping us.””
Dad's voice became cold.
“Then tell me who Daniel's biological father is.””
Vanessa hesitated.
“I don't know.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don't lie.””
She looked at him.
“I swear.””
“Then why did you tell Emily's father that neither of us was Daniel's father?””
Vanessa lookeditated.
“I don't know.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don't lie.””
She looked at him.
“I swear.””
“Then why did you tell Emily's father that neither of us was Daniel's father?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Because Richard told me that the paternity test had been altered. He said Michael wasn't Daniel's father.””
Dad stared at her.
“Did you ever see the original test?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
Detect at me.
“Because Richard told me that the paternity test had been altered. He said Michael wasn't Daniel's father.””
Dad stared at her.
“Did you ever see the original test?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
Detective Harris made a note.
“Mrs. Carter, you mentioned Eleanor Price. Where is she now?””
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she reached into her coat and removed a folded pieceive Harris made a note.
“Mrs. Carter, you mentioned Eleanor Price. Where is she now?””
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she reached into her coat and removed a folded piece of paper.
“She's at a private nursing residence outside Savannah. Richard has been paying for her care.””
Rebecca looked confused.
“Why would he do that?””
“Because Eleanor has of paper.
“She's at a private nursing residence outside Savannah. Richard has been paying for her care.””
Rebecca looked confused.
“Why would he do that?””
“Because Eleanor has the original birth records.””
Daniel gripped my arm.
“What records?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“The ones that identify your biological father.””
Dad stepped forward.
“Where?””
Vanessa gave the detective the original birth records.””
Daniel gripped my arm.
“What records?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“The ones that identify your biological father.””
Dad stepped forward.
“Where?””
Vanessa gave the detective an address.
Harris immediately instructed an officer to verify it.
Then he turned toward Vanessa.
“You're coming with us.””
She nodded.
But before the officers an address.
Harris immediately instructed an officer to verify it.
Then he turned toward Vanessa.
“You're coming with us.””
She nodded.
But before the officers escorted her away, she turned to me.
“Emily, there's one more thing.””
I remained silent.
“Your mother left something for you. Something she hid before escorted her away, she turned to me.
“Emily, there's one more thing.””
I remained silent.
“Your mother left something for you. Something she hid before she died.””
“What?””
Vanessa looked toward Rebecca.
“The blue blanket wasn't the only thing she gave Eleanor.””
Rebecca frowned.
“What else?””
“A key.””
She reached into her pocket and placed she died.””
“What?””
Vanessa looked toward Rebecca.
“The blue blanket wasn't the only thing she gave Eleanor.””
Rebecca frowned.
“What else?””
“A key.””
She reached into her pocket and placed a small brass key on the table.
It looked old, with a tiny heart engraved on its handle.
“Claire told Eleanor to keep it until both children were old enough to understand.””
Daniel a small brass key on the table.
It looked old, with a tiny heart engraved on its handle.
“Claire told Eleanor to keep it until both children were old enough to understand.””
Daniel looked at the key.
“Where does it go?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Then she looked directly at me.
“But Richard does.””
Before I could ask another question looked at the key.
“Where does it go?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Then she looked directly at me.
“But Richard does.””
Before I could ask another question, Detective Harris's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed almost immediately.
“What do you mean she's gone?””
Dad stepped closer.
“What happened?””
Harris listened for another few seconds.
Then he hung up, Detective Harris's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed almost immediately.
“What do you mean she's gone?””
Dad stepped closer.
“What happened?””
Harris listened for another few seconds.
Then he hung up.
“Eleanor Price left the nursing residence approximately twenty minutes ago.””
Rebecca's face tightened.
“Where did she go?””
“We don't know yet. But staff confirmed she was picked up by a man matching Richard Hayes's description.
“Eleanor Price left the nursing residence approximately twenty minutes ago.””
Rebecca's face tightened.
“Where did she go?””
“We don't know yet. But staff confirmed she was picked up by a man matching Richard Hayes's description.””
Daniel looked at the brass key.
“Then we need to find her before Richard does.””
Dad turned toward the detective.
“Can you issue an alert?””
“I'm already arranging it.””
I picked.””
Daniel looked at the brass key.
“Then we need to find her before Richard does.””
Dad turned toward the detective.
“Can you issue an alert?””
“I'm already arranging it.””
I picked up the key.
It felt strangely warm in my palm.
There was a tiny inscription on the back.
Three words.
Where we began.
I stared at it.
“Rebecca, does that up the key.
It felt strangely warm in my palm.
There was a tiny inscription on the back.
Three words.
Where we began.
I stared at it.
“Rebecca, does that mean anything?””
She examined the engraving.
Then her eyes widened.
“Claire's childhood house.””
Dad frowned.
“What house?””
“The old Carter family property. Your wife's mean anything?””
She examined the engraving.
Then her eyes widened.
“Claire's childhood house.””
Dad frowned.
“What house?””
“The old Carter family property. Your wife's parents owned a house near Lake Lanier. Claire and I grew up there.””
“Does it still exist?””
Rebecca nodded.
“It was sold after her parents died. But the basement was never renovated.””
parents owned a house near Lake Lanier. Claire and I grew up there.””
“Does it still exist?””
Rebecca nodded.
“It was sold after her parents died. But the basement was never renovated.””
I looked at the key.
“What's in the basement?””
Rebecca's voice dropped.
“A safe.””
Dad stared at her.
“How do you know?””
“Because Claire told me she had hidden something there before she married you.””
II looked at the key.
“What's in the basement?””
Rebecca's voice dropped.
“A safe.””
Dad stared at her.
“How do you know?””
“Because Claire told me she had hidden something there before she married you.””
I felt my heart race.
“What?””
Rebecca looked at me.
“The original documents proving who Daniel's father really is.””
Just then, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A message appeared.
*Emily felt my heart race.
“What?””
Rebecca looked at me.
“The original documents proving who Daniel's father really is.””
Just then, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A message appeared.
Emily, this is Eleanor.
My fingers trembled.
Richard is coming for the key. Do not let him get it.
A second message arrived.
Your mother didn't die because of the, this is Eleanor.
My fingers trembled.
Richard is coming for the key. Do not let him get it.
A second message arrived.
Your mother didn't die because of the surgery.
Then a third.
She was already dead when they took her into the operating room.
I couldn't breathe.
Dad read the messages over my shoulder.
Rebecca covered her mouth.
Another surgery.*
Then a third.
She was already dead when they took her into the operating room.
I couldn't breathe.
Dad read the messages over my shoulder.
Rebecca covered her mouth.
Another message appeared.
And Emily, the man you call your father knows exactly who killed her.
I slowly turned toward Michael Carter.
His face had message appeared.
And Emily, the man you call your father knows exactly who killed her.
I slowly turned toward Michael Carter.
His face had gone completely white.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
His lips trembled.
Then he whispered:
“There's something about that night I've never told you.””
And before he could continue, every gone completely white.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
His lips trembled.
Then he whispered:
“There's something about that night I've never told you.””
May you like
And before he could continue, every light in the police station corridor went out.
light in the police station corridor went out.
