Chapter 8
I gripped the phone.
“You’re Thomas?”
“Yes.”
“Prove it.”
There was silence.
Then he said, “Daniel broke his left wrist when he was nine because he jumped off the garage roof wearing a Superman cape.”
I had heard that story.
Daniel had never told it publicly.
Thomas continued.
“He blamed the neighbor’s trampoline.”
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
That sounded exactly like Daniel.
“Where is he?”
“At the storage facility.”
“Is Patricia with him?”
“Yes.”
“Did she hurt him?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’m watching.”
My skin crawled.
“From where?”
“Emily, listen carefully.”
“No. You listen to me. Everyone in your family keeps telling me to listen while refusing to explain anything.”
Thomas went silent.
Then said, “You’re right.”
I hadn't expected that.
“I've spent years hiding.”
“Yes.”
“I told myself I was protecting Daniel.”
“You abandoned him.”
“Yes.”
The immediate admission disarmed me.
“He mourned you.”
“I know.”
“He carried your coffin.”
“I know.”
“He blamed himself for not visiting you the week before you died.”
Thomas’s voice cracked.
“I know.”
My anger didn't disappear.
But I heard his pain.
“What do you want?”
“To stop Patricia from finding the ledger.”
“Why?”
“Because she will destroy it.”
“And you want it?”
“Yes.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
Again.
The honesty.
“Then what?”
“Trust Daniel.”
“What does that mean?”
“He already found what Robert left.”
My heart stopped.
“The dollhouse?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Inside the roof.”
I turned toward Laura.
She was watching my face.
I put the phone on speaker.
Thomas continued.
“Robert hollowed out the wooden chimney.”
Laura gasped.
“You knew Robert?”
Thomas heard her.
“Laura.”
Her face changed.
“Thomas.”
Thirty-three years vanished from both voices.
“You’re alive,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
Laura started crying.
“You coward.”
“I know.”
“You could have exposed them.”
“I tried.”
“No. You ran.”
Thomas didn't defend himself.
I stepped in.
“Where is Daniel?”
“Patricia cornered him in the storage building.”
“Police?”
“On the way.”
“How do you know?”
“I called.”
“Then why are you calling me?”
“Because Daniel found more than the ledger.”
My heart pounded.
“What?”
“A letter.”
“From my father?”
“Yes.”
“To who?”
“You.”
My throat tightened.
“Daniel opened it?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“I can see him.”
“Again, from where?”
Thomas sighed.
“Across the street.”
“You’re there?”
“Yes.”
I nearly screamed.
“Then help your son!”
“I will.”
“What are you waiting for?”
“For Patricia’s accomplice to show himself.”
The black SUV.
The men at our house.
“You’re using Daniel as bait.”
“No.”
“That’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“I've been tracking the man who financed Patricia’s bail.”
“Who?”
“Dr. Martin Vale.”
Laura stopped breathing.
“The doctor who told me Emily died.”
“Yes.”
Laura’s face went white.
“He’s still alive?”
“Yes.”
“How old is he?”
“Seventy-eight.”
“And he’s still involved?”
“He has everything to lose.”
I looked at Laura.
Her hands were shaking.
Thomas said, “Police are thirty seconds away.”
Then I heard shouting on his end.
“Thomas?”
“Stay at the hospital.”
The call disconnected.
I immediately called Daniel.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Rachel.
No answer.
Richard.
No answer.
Laura grabbed her coat.
“We’re going.”
“No.”
She stared at me.
“You just gave birth.”
“And my husband is being threatened.”
“You can't leave the hospital.”
I hated that she was right.
So I called the police.
They confirmed officers were responding to the storage facility.
That was all they would tell me.
Those fifteen minutes were the longest of my life.
Then Daniel called.
I answered before the first ring finished.
“Daniel!”
“I’m okay.”
I started crying.
“What happened?”
“Mom had a gun.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“She didn't fire it.”
“Where is she?”
“Police have her.”
“Rachel?”
“Fine.”
“Richard?”
“Fine.”
“Thomas?”
Silence.
“Daniel?”
“I saw him.”
His voice broke.
“My dad.”
I covered my mouth.
“He’s alive.”
“Yes.”
“How are you?”
“I don't know.”
“Come back.”
“I will.”
“Now.”
He breathed out.
“I have something for you.”
“The letter.”
“How do you know?”
“Thomas called.”
Daniel went quiet.
“Of course he did.”
“What happened with Patricia?”
“She followed us inside.”
“With a gun?”
“She said she needed the ledger.”
“Did you find it?”
“Yes.”
“Is it safe?”
“Police have it.”
I closed my eyes.
Finally.
Evidence.
Truth.
Maybe justice.
Then Daniel said, “There was something else.”
“What?”
“A photograph.”
“Of what?”
He hesitated.
“Your father.”
“Robert?”
“Yes.”
“With who?”
“My dad.”
That didn't surprise me anymore.
But Daniel continued.
“And Dr. Vale.”
My stomach tightened.
“When?”
“Three days before Robert died.”
I went cold.
“Where?”
“At Mill Creek.”
The place my father died.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Emily, I think my father knows what happened to Robert.”
I whispered, “Bring him here.”
“He's coming.”
“Patricia too?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Emily.”
“What?”
“My father said something before the police arrived.”
“What?”
“He said Mom didn't kill Robert.”
I closed my eyes.
“Then who did?”
“He wouldn't say.”
Daniel arrived an hour later.
He walked into my room looking older than when he left.
His clothes were dusty.
There was a cut on his cheek.
I immediately reached for him.
He hugged me carefully.
Then he kissed my forehead.
“You and Charlotte?”
“She’s stable.”
He closed his eyes in relief.
Rachel entered behind him.
Then Richard.
Thomas came last.
For a moment, I understood why Daniel had believed his father was dead.
Thomas looked different.
Thinner.
Gray beard.
A scar across the left side of his neck.
But the resemblance to Daniel was unmistakable.
Daniel stood between us.
Not protectively.
More like he didn't know where else to stand.
Thomas looked at me.
“Emily.”
“You knew me when I was a child.”
“Yes.”
“You helped arrange my adoption.”
“Yes.”
“You knew it was illegal?”
“Not at first.”
“When did you know?”
“When you were seven.”
“Same time as my parents?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you go to police?”
His eyes lowered.
“Because my father was still alive.”
“That’s your excuse?”
“No.”
He looked at Daniel.
“I was a coward.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“At least you’re consistent.”
Thomas flinched.
Daniel looked away.
I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
“Tell me about my father’s death.”
Thomas sat down.
“Robert called me that night.”
“What did he want?”
“He had found evidence connecting Vale to multiple infant deaths that weren't deaths.”
“Like mine.”
“Yes.”
“He was going to expose him?”
“Yes.”
“Then what?”
“We met near Mill Creek.”
“Patricia was there?”
“She followed me.”
“Why?”
“She thought Robert was going to expose her blackmail too.”
“Was he?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“Good.”
Thomas almost smiled.
“He agreed.”
“What happened?”
“Robert left first.”
“And then?”
“Patricia and I argued.”
“About?”
“Everything.”
Daniel crossed his arms.
“Was that when you told her Robert was dead because she wouldn't leave it alone?”
Thomas looked at his son.
“You remember.”
“I remember too much.”
Thomas swallowed.
“Robert drove down Mill Creek Road.”
My heart pounded.
“I followed about ten minutes later.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to apologize.”
“And?”
“I found his car.”
My fingers curled around the blanket.
“Was he alive?”
Thomas hesitated.
“Barely.”
I stopped breathing.
“He was alive?”
“For a few minutes.”
Tears blurred my vision.
“What did he say?”
Thomas looked directly at me.
“He said Vale.”
Laura made a broken sound.
“No.”
Thomas nodded.
“Robert said Vale ran him off the road.”
My chest collapsed.
I had been told my father lost control in the rain.
It wasn't an accident.
It was murder.
“Why didn't you tell the police?”
“I did.”
Everyone stared at him.
“What?”
“I gave a statement.”
Richard frowned.
“I never knew that.”
“Because the detective destroyed it.”
“Who?”
Thomas looked at Daniel.
“Patricia’s brother.”
Daniel went pale.
“Uncle Frank?”
“Yes.”
Frank Miller.
Retired police captain.
The man who spoke at Thomas’s funeral.
The man who hugged Daniel.
The man who told us Patricia was “difficult but harmless.”
I felt sick.
Thomas continued.
“Frank buried the investigation.”
“Why?”
“To protect Patricia.”
“But Patricia didn't kill Robert.”
“No.”
“Then why protect her?”
“Because if Vale was investigated, the foundation would be exposed.”
Daniel whispered, “And Mom’s blackmail.”
“Yes.”
Silence filled the room.
Then Thomas looked at the letter in Daniel’s hand.
“Robert knew there was a chance he wouldn't survive.”
Daniel gave it to me.
My name was written on the front.
Emily.
Just Emily.
My father’s handwriting.
I started crying before I opened it.
Inside were three pages.
I read them slowly.
Robert told me he loved me.
He told me Susan loved me.
He admitted they learned the truth when I was seven.
He admitted they made mistakes because they were terrified of losing me.
Then I reached the final paragraph.
If you ever learn all of this, there is one thing I need you to understand.
Being your father was not something I purchased.
It was not something a foundation gave me.
It was not something blood decided.
It was the greatest privilege of my life.
I pressed the letter against my chest and sobbed.
Daniel held me.
Laura cried across the room.
Even Thomas looked away.
Then I read the final line.
And everything changed again.
There is one more person you need to find.
Your biological father.
His name is Michael Bennett.
Laura stopped breathing.
I looked up.
“Bennett?”
Her face went white.
“Laura?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“What?”
“Michael Bennett was my brother.”
May you like
The room froze.
And suddenly the story of my birth became darker than anything we had imagined.
