Chapter 5: The Woman Who Came Back
Daniel caught Martin Hale in the foyer.
“Stop.””
Martin stopped.
He turned slowly.
“I was going to check on the officers.””
“No, you weren't.””
Martin's expression remained composed.
“You've had a difficult day.””
“You knew about my twin.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Vivian Cross.””
“Yes.””
“You knew my grandfather was involved.””
Martin's face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Daniel stepped closer.
“What did my grandfather do?””
Martin looked toward Eleanor.
She stood halfway down the staircase.
“Martin,” she said quietly.
He didn't answer.
Daniel's voice hardened.
“Tell me.””
Martin exhaled.
“Your grandfather died twenty-two years ago.””
“I didn't ask when he died.””
“I understand.””
“Then answer me.””
Martin looked older suddenly.
Not weaker.
Just tired.
“Your grandfather believed the Mercer family needed an heir who could be controlled.””
Daniel felt something inside him go still.
“What does that mean?””
“He had a vision for the family.””
“A vision?””
“Power. Assets. Political influence. He believed your father was too sentimental.””
Eleanor descended another step.
“Martin.””
“Enough,” Daniel said.
“You don't get to stop him now.””
Eleanor's face hardened.
Martin looked at Daniel.
“Your grandfather knew about the twins before they were born.””
“Why?””
“Because Thomas told him.””
Daniel's stomach turned.
“My father told him?””
“Thomas believed his father would help.””
“And he didn't.””
“No.””
“What happened?””
Martin glanced toward Officer Shaw, who had entered the foyer.
“Perhaps we should discuss this with counsel present.””
Daniel laughed.
“You've had thirty-eight years to discuss it.””
Martin looked away.
Officer Shaw stepped closer.
“Mr. Hale, I think everyone would benefit from some clarity.””
Martin nodded reluctantly.
They returned to the library.
Eleanor remained standing.
Daniel sat opposite her.
For once, she looked like his mother rather than the formidable Eleanor Mercer whose name appeared in newspapers.
“Tell me everything,” Daniel said.
Eleanor stared into the fireplace.
“When Evelyn became pregnant, Thomas wanted to acknowledge the children.””
“The twins.””
“Yes.””
“But your grandfather refused.””
“He said a child born outside the family structure could never inherit.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why?””
“Because Evelyn wasn't considered legitimate.””
“She was your sister.””
“That didn't matter to him.””
“What mattered?””
Eleanor's voice trembled.
“Control.””
Martin spoke quietly.
“Your grandfather had already arranged a trust that would eventually control the Mercer holdings. He feared that if Thomas recognized both children, the inheritance could be challenged.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“So what did Eleanor do?””
His mother looked at him.
“I did what I thought would save you.””
“You took me.””
“I protected you.””
“You took me from my mother.””
“I believed Evelyn would destroy you.””
“Why?””
Eleanor looked toward Martin.
He answered.
“Because Evelyn knew who your biological father was.””
Daniel frowned.
“What?””
Martin nodded.
“Thomas wasn't your biological father.””
The words landed like a physical blow.
Daniel stared at him.
“Then who was?””
Eleanor whispered, “A man named Jonathan Cross.””
Daniel looked at the name.
Cross.
Vivian Cross.
Evelyn Cross.
It was becoming a web.
“Who was Jonathan?””
Martin's face tightened.
“Your grandfather's chief financial officer.””
Daniel's pulse quickened.
“What happened to him?””
“He disappeared.””
“When?””
“Three days after you were born.””
Daniel stared at his mother.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“And you let me grow up believing Thomas was my father.””
“I let you grow up believing you belonged to a family that could protect you.””
Daniel stood.
“You don't get to call that protection.””
Eleanor flinched.
The library doors opened.
Officer Shaw stepped inside.
“Mr. Mercer.””
Daniel turned.
“We have a problem.””
“What?””
“Your daughter is missing.””
Every thought vanished.
“What?””
Shaw's voice remained controlled.
“Rosa was in the nursery with Lily. She stepped into the adjoining bathroom for less than a minute. When she came back, Lily was gone.””
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“No.””
He ran.
Shaw followed.
They reached the nursery.
The window was open.
The white curtains moved in the breeze.
Lily's stuffed rabbit lay on the floor.
Daniel grabbed it.
“Where's Rosa?””
“In the hall.””
She was crying.
“I only looked away for a second.””
Daniel shook his head.
“This isn't your fault.””
He turned toward the open window.
“We have cameras.””
Shaw nodded.
“We're pulling the footage now.””
Miller appeared with his radio.
“Front gate is locked. No vehicles left the property.””
“Then she's still here,” Daniel said.
They searched the nursery, bathroom, closets, and adjoining rooms.
Nothing.
Daniel's breathing became shallow.
“Lily!””
No answer.
He ran downstairs.
Eleanor stood in the foyer.
When she saw his face, she immediately understood.
“Where is she?””
“She's gone.””
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“Of course.””
Daniel stopped.
“What does that mean?””
“I knew this would happen.””
“You knew someone would take my daughter?””
“I knew they would come for her.””
“Who?””
Eleanor looked at him.
“The people your father spent his final years trying to escape.””
Daniel's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Where is my daughter?””
A man's voice replied.
“Safe.””
“Who are you?””
“Someone your family forgot.””
“Put Lily on the phone.””
A pause.
Then a small voice.
“Daddy?””
Daniel's knees almost gave out.
“Lily! Baby, are you okay?””
“I'm okay.””
“Where are you?””
“I don't know.””
The man came back on the line.
“She's unharmed.””
“If you touch her—”
“I don't want to hurt her.””
“Then bring her back.””
“I will.””
“When?””
“When you give me what your father stole.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“What did he steal?””
The man laughed softly.
“Not what he stole.””
A pause.
“What he hid.””
Daniel looked at Eleanor.
She was staring at the phone.
The color had drained from her face.
“Who are you?”” Daniel demanded.
The man's voice became colder.
“Ask your mother about the second birth certificate.””
The call ended.
Daniel stared at the screen.
“What second birth certificate?””
Eleanor didn't answer.
Martin Hale suddenly stood.
“Daniel—”
“No.””
Daniel pointed at him.
“You knew.””
Martin's silence was enough.
“Where is it?””
Eleanor whispered, “It's gone.””
“What is?””
“The certificate.””
“What certificate?””
“The one proving which child was born first.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why would that matter?””
Eleanor looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“Because your grandfather didn't care which twin inherited.””
She took a shaky breath.
“He cared which one was legally alive.””
Daniel felt the blood drain from his face.
“What does that mean?””
Before Eleanor could answer, the front doors opened.
A woman stood outside in the rain.
She was in her late fifties, wearing a dark coat.
Her hair was streaked with gray.
Her face was wet with rain.
Daniel recognized her immediately from the photograph on his father's desk.
Vivian Cross.
She stepped inside.
May you like
And the first words she spoke were:
“Daniel, your daughter isn't the child they took.””
