Chapter 8: The Man Rachel Buried
I stared at Claire.
“What did you just say?””
She looked like she wanted to take the words back.
“Daniel, Sophie shouldn’t hear this.””
I turned to Martin.
“Take her into the living room.””
“No,” Sophie said immediately.
I knelt.
“I’ll be right here.””
“You promise?””
“I promise.””
Claire took her hand.
“I’ll sit with you.””
Sophie reluctantly went with her.
The moment she was gone, I faced Claire again.
“Talk.””
Claire swallowed.
“Rachel told you her father died when she was twenty-four.””
“Yes.””
“He didn’t.””
“That’s impossible.””
“I met him.””
The room tilted.
“When?””
“After Rachel’s funeral.””
I stared at her.
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
“You attended the funeral with me.””
“Not Rachel’s funeral. Three days later.””
I stepped closer.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Rachel made me promise.””
“Rachel was dead.””
“She made me promise before she died.””
Anger surged through me.
“What else did my wife hide?””
Claire flinched.
“She was trying to protect Sophie.””
“From what?””
“Her father.””
Martin entered.
“Daniel.””
“Not now.””
“You need to hear this.””
He held his phone toward me.
A corporate registry page was open.
ALDER CREEK HOLDINGS.
Founder: Thomas Alder.
Rachel’s maiden name was Alder.
“Thomas Alder,” Martin said.
“Rachel’s father.””
I looked toward the backyard.
“That man?””
“If Claire recognized him correctly.””
Claire nodded.
“I’m sure.””
“Why would Rachel tell me he was dead?””
Claire sat slowly.
“Because to her, he was.””
Then she told me.
Thomas Alder had built his fortune through real estate.
But money hadn’t made him kind.
Rachel had spent most of her childhood controlled by him.
Every choice.
Every friend.
Every dollar.
When she finally left home, Thomas threatened to cut her off completely.
Rachel told him to do it.
“He became obsessed with getting her back under his control,” Claire said.
“How do you know all this?””
“Rachel told me when she got sick.””
“Why you?””
“Because she was afraid you’d confront him.””
“She was right.””
Claire almost smiled.
Almost.
“Rachel knew that.””
Then her face darkened.
“She said Thomas believed family money belonged to the family patriarch. When he learned she had placed assets beyond his control for Sophie, he became furious.””
“Why fake his death?””
“She didn’t fake his death legally. She told you he was dead because she had cut him out of her life years before you met.””
I remembered Rachel refusing to discuss her childhood.
Whenever I asked about her father, she would say, “He’s gone.””
I had interpreted that literally.
“She lied to me.””
“She was scared.””
“Of him?””
Claire nodded.
Martin interrupted.
“If Thomas is alive, he may still have some connection to Alder Creek.””
We searched corporate records.
Several layers of companies.
Trusts.
Old partnerships.
Then Martin found something.
“Here.””
Thomas Alder remained listed as a minority stakeholder.
Eleven percent.
“That gives him no right to Sophie’s share,” Martin said, “but it gives him a reason to care who controls it.””
My phone rang.
Officer Ramirez.
“We located the man who fled your property.””
“Thomas Alder?””
Silence.
“How did you get that name?””
“Because he’s sitting in the back of a patrol car.””
My skin prickled.
“Bring him here.””
“I’d rather you come to the station.””
“I’m not leaving Sophie.””
“Then I’ll come back.””
Twenty minutes later, Ramirez entered.
Alone.
“Where is Thomas?””
“At the station.””
“Did he admit breaking in?””
“No.””
“You saw him.””
“I saw someone matching his build. We’re checking evidence.””
“Why was he outside my house?””
“He claims he came to warn you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“By wearing a mask?””
“He says the masked person wasn’t him.””
Claire stepped closer.
“I saw his face.””
Ramirez nodded.
“He admits being outside.””
“But not inside?””
“Correct.””
“What warning?””
Ramirez took out a recorder.
“He says Vanessa isn’t running this operation.””
I stared at him.
“Then who is?””
“He wouldn’t tell us.””
“Why?””
“He says he’ll speak only to you.””
“No.””
Everyone turned.
Sophie stood in the doorway.
She was staring at Ramirez.
“No what, sweetheart?”” I asked.
“The old man.””
My heart tightened.
“You’ve seen him?””
She nodded.
“Where?””
“With Vanessa.””
“When?””
“At our house.””
Claire went pale.
“What was he doing?””
Sophie walked toward me.
“He gave Vanessa a black envelope.””
“When?””
“A long time ago.””
“How long?””
“Before Christmas.””
“What did he say?””
Sophie thought.
“He said, ‘Your job is to marry him.’”
Silence.
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
Vanessa had targeted me because of Sophie’s inheritance.
But maybe the idea hadn’t started with Vanessa.
“Did he say anything else?””
Sophie nodded.
“He told her not to fall in love.””
I closed my eyes.
Three years.
Every kiss.
Every vacation.
Every promise.
An assignment.
Martin whispered, “Thomas recruited her.””
Ramirez’s phone rang.
He answered.
“Yes?””
His expression sharpened.
“Where?””
He walked toward the window.
“Keep everyone away from it.””
He hung up.
“What happened?”” I asked.
“There’s been an explosion.””
My stomach dropped.
“Where?””
“St. Anne’s.””
Nathan.
“What exploded?””
“A vehicle in the physician parking garage.””
“Whose?””
Ramirez looked at Linda’s contact information on his notes.
“Nathan Mercer’s.””
Claire covered her mouth.
“Was he inside?””
“They don’t know yet.””
Then Ramirez received another call.
This time he listened without speaking for nearly a minute.
When he ended it, he looked directly at me.
“Thomas Alder wants to make a deal.””
“What deal?””
“He says he can prove who ordered the explosion.””
“And what does he want?””
Ramirez hesitated.
“He wants ten minutes alone with Sophie.””
“No.””
“Daniel—”
“No.””
Sophie grabbed my hand.
Then she whispered something that stopped all of us.
“I know why.””
I looked down.
“Why?””
“Because the old man told Vanessa I have something he needs.””
“What?””
Sophie reached inside Bunny’s torn fabric ear.
May you like
Her tiny fingers pulled out a small brass key.
“I found it inside Bunny after Mommy died.””
