Chapter 7: The Man Who Claimed to Be Nia's Grandfather
"Don't let him leave the house!""
I shouted so loudly that Robert nearly dropped his phone.
The caregiver, Mrs. Collins, began crying.
"Mr. Johnson, I didn't know what to do. He had documents with him. He knew Nia's full name, her birthday, and even the name of her mother.""
"Where is my daughter?""
"She's upstairs. I locked the bedroom door.""
"Is the man still there?""
"Yes. He's sitting in your living room.""
I looked at Robert.
He immediately called the police.
"Stay away from that man," I told Mrs. Collins.
"Don't open the door. Don't let him near Nia. We're coming.""
I ended the call.
Charles was still sitting behind his desk, looking like a man who had just watched his entire life collapse.
I grabbed his phone and showed Robert the message from Harrison.
"The basement safe. That's where we're going.""
Robert shook his head.
"First, we secure Nia. The safe can wait.""
He was right.
We drove home with two investigators following us.
The moment I entered the house, I heard Nia crying upstairs.
"DADDY!""
I ran up the staircase.
She came flying out of the bedroom and threw herself into my arms.
"Daddy, there's a strange man downstairs!""
I held her tightly.
"You're safe, baby.""
She buried her face against my chest.
"He said he knew Mommy Danielle.""
I gently pulled back.
"What did he look like?""
"Old. Gray hair. He had a brown jacket.""
"Did he say his name?""
She nodded.
"Mr. Whitmore.""
I froze.
Robert had followed me upstairs.
"Whitmore?"" he repeated.
I looked at him.
"Do you know that name?""
Robert shook his head slowly.
"Not personally.""
A police officer appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Mr. Johnson, the individual is cooperating. He's agreed to remain here while we verify his identity.""
I handed Nia to Mrs. Collins.
"Stay with her.""
Then I went downstairs.
The man was sitting on my couch.
He looked to be in his late sixties, with silver hair, a carefully pressed brown jacket, and a leather folder resting on his knees.
He stood when he saw me.
"Marcus Johnson?""
"Who are you?""
He extended his hand.
"Arthur Whitmore.""
I didn't take it.
"Why did you tell my daughter's caregiver you were her grandfather?""
Arthur lowered his hand.
"Because I was married to Danielle's biological mother.""
I stared at him.
"Danielle's mother died when she was young.""
"That's correct. But I was her stepfather.""
I looked at Robert.
He was already studying the man's identification.
Arthur opened his folder.
"I have documents proving my relationship with Danielle. I also have something she asked me to deliver to you if Dr. Harrison ever became a threat.""
My entire body went cold.
"What?""
He removed a photograph.
It showed Danielle standing beside a much younger Arthur.
She was smiling.
On the back, in her handwriting, were the words:
To Dad, thank you for believing me.
I recognized her handwriting immediately.
"Why didn't Danielle tell me about you?""
Arthur's expression fell.
"Because we became estranged after her mother died. We reconciled shortly before Danielle became ill, but she didn't want to upset you with family complications.""
"Then why did you wait until now?""
"Because Danielle made me promise not to interfere unless someone tried to take Nia away from you.""
Robert stepped forward.
"Mr. Whitmore, what do you know about Dr. Harrison?""
Arthur looked at him.
"Enough to know that Danielle was frightened of him.""
He opened his folder and placed a sealed document on the coffee table.
"Danielle gave me this three weeks before she died.""
I picked it up.
It was a letter addressed to me.
But before I could open it, Arthur spoke.
"There's something you should understand. Danielle didn't simply suspect Dr. Harrison. She discovered that he had been accessing confidential information about your family for years.""
"Why?""
"Because he wasn't acting alone.""
I looked toward the basement door.
"Who else?""
Arthur lowered his voice.
"Someone who knew your family before Danielle ever became your wife.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*LEAVE ARTHUR WHITMORE ALONE. HE KNOWS WHY DANIELLE'S FIRST HUSBAND DISAPPEARED.*
I stared at the screen.
Danielle had never been married before me.
At least, that was what she had told me.
I slowly raised my eyes toward Arthur.
"Who was Danielle's first husband?""
Arthur closed his eyes.
Then he answered:
"Dr. Harrison.""
The room went silent.
I felt as though someone had punched me in the chest.
"What?""
"Danielle was married to him for eleven months before she met you.""
I looked at Robert.
He was equally stunned.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Arthur shook his head.
"She changed her surname after the divorce. She wanted to leave that part of her life behind.""
I looked at the letter in my hands.
For the first time, I wondered whether the woman I had loved for years had been hiding something much bigger than a medical secret.
Arthur leaned toward me.
"Marcus, there's another reason Harrison wants those basement files.""
"What reason?""
May you like
He looked directly into my eyes.
"Because Danielle didn't die without leaving evidence of what he had done to her.""
