Chapter 7: The Sister in the Photograph
I stared at the photograph until the edges blurred.
The little girl stood beside the man who was supposed to be my biological father.
She couldn't have been more than six.
Seven at most.
She had dark hair pulled into two braids.
A yellow sweater.
A tiny scar beneath her chin.
And my eyes.
Exactly my eyes.
My mother's hand flew to her mouth.
"No.""
Dad stared at the photograph over my shoulder.
His face changed.
"That's impossible.""
Ethan folded his arms.
"It's not.""
My mother grabbed the photograph from me.
Her fingers trembled so badly that the paper shook.
"Where did you get this?""
"From him.""
"From Adrian?""
Ethan nodded.
The name hit the room like another gunshot.
My father looked at Elena.
"Adrian?""
She didn't answer.
He stepped closer.
"That's his name?""
"Adrian Cole.""
Dad repeated it quietly.
"Adrian Cole.""
I looked at my mother.
"You said he was dead.""
She closed her eyes.
"I believed he was.""
"Since when?""
"Before you were born.""
"And the girl?""
Elena looked at the photograph again.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Her name is Lily.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"She's my sister.""
My mother nodded.
"Your half-sister.""
Ethan shook his head.
"No.""
Everyone turned toward him.
"What?"" I asked.
He pointed to the photograph.
"She's your full sister.""
My mother staggered backward.
"No.""
Ethan's voice remained calm.
"Adrian is her father.""
He looked at me.
"He's yours too.""
Nobody spoke.
I looked at my mother.
She was crying openly now.
"Tell me you're sure.""
She nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
Dad turned away.
He pressed both hands against the wall.
I couldn't tell whether he was angry, devastated, or simply trying to understand the last twelve years of his life.
I stared at the girl again.
"Where is she?""
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
"Dangerous question.""
"I don't care.""
"Daniel," my mother whispered.
"I said I don't care.""
My voice cracked.
"If she's my sister, I want to know where she is.""
Ethan looked toward the tunnel entrance.
Then back at me.
"She's in London.""
My father immediately turned.
"London?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because that's where the trust was moved.""
Dad frowned.
"What does a trust have to do with Lily?""
"Everything.""
Ethan walked to the metal desk.
He opened the old bankbook again.
"There were two accounts.""
He tapped the first page.
"One for Daniel.""
Then the next page.
"One for Lily.""
My mother stared.
"But Lily wasn't born until after Daniel.""
"Correct.""
"Then why did the account exist?""
Ethan looked at me.
"Because the people behind this knew there would be another child.""
I felt cold.
"You mean they knew my mother was pregnant?""
"Not with Lily.""
He paused.
"They knew Adrian had another child coming.""
My mother shook her head.
"I never told anyone.""
Ethan studied her.
"You didn't have to.""
Dad turned.
"What are you saying?""
"Someone was watching you.""
I looked at the old safe.
"Who?""
Ethan reached inside and removed another folder.
"Before Daniel was born, Elena discovered that Adrian had been secretly working with a private investment group.""
My mother frowned.
"He wasn't.""
"He was.""
"No.""
"He was investigating them.""
Ethan slid a photograph onto the desk.
It showed three men standing outside a building.
One was Adrian.
The second was a younger Thomas Reed.
The third man was unfamiliar.
But I knew the face.
I'd seen him before.
On a framed photograph in our living room.
My grandfather.
I stared at it.
"No.""
My father looked over my shoulder.
His face drained of color.
"That's my father.""
Ethan nodded.
"Charles Carter.""
Dad stepped backward.
"My father died eighteen years ago.""
"He did.""
"Then why was he meeting Adrian?""
"Because they were partners.""
My father shook his head.
"My father was a banker.""
"He was more than that.""
"What did he do?""
Ethan opened the folder.
"He built the network that moved the money.""
My mother stared at the photograph.
"Why?""
"Because the money came from insurance settlements, hospital contracts, and offshore accounts.""
Dad whispered,
"And Daniel's trust?""
"Part of that money.""
My stomach turned.
"You put stolen money in my name?""
Ethan looked at me.
"Not stolen.""
He paused.
"Hidden.""
"What's the difference?""
"One gets prosecuted.""
"The other?""
"One gets buried.""
My father rubbed his temples.
"Why put it in the children's names?""
"Because nobody would suspect them.""
My mother shook her head.
"You made children shields.""
Ethan nodded.
"Exactly.""
A siren sounded again.
Closer this time.
Dad looked toward the tunnel.
"We need to move.""
I held up the photograph.
"Not until he tells us where Lily is.""
Ethan nodded.
"That's fair.""
He walked to the far wall.
There was a second metal panel I hadn't noticed.
He pressed a hidden latch.
The panel opened.
Inside was a small video monitor and an old DVD player.
He inserted a disc.
The screen flickered.
Then a little girl appeared.
Lily.
She was older now.
Maybe thirteen.
She sat at a kitchen table.
Her hair was longer.
But the eyes were unmistakable.
Mine.
She looked directly into the camera.
"Hi.""
My chest tightened.
She smiled nervously.
"My name is Lily Cole.""
Elena started crying.
The video continued.
"I don't know who will watch this.""
Lily took a breath.
"Adrian told me my brother might come looking for me someday.""
I stared at the screen.
Brother.
Me.
"He said I had a brother named Daniel.""
My hands curled into fists.
Lily continued.
"He said our mother loved us.""
Elena covered her mouth.
"He said people lied about her.""
Lily looked down.
"And he said if I ever met Daniel, I should tell him something.""
The video flickered.
Then she looked directly into the camera.
"Mom never abandoned us.""
My mother broke down.
Dad looked away.
Lily continued.
"She tried to protect us.""
The screen went black.
The room was silent.
Then a final message appeared.
*PLAY PART TWO?*
Ethan reached for the remote.
"There's more.""
I caught his hand.
"Play it.""
He did.
The screen came back.
This time, Lily was standing outside.
Snow covered the ground.
She was holding an envelope.
"If Daniel is watching this, I need him to know that Dad is scared.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because they found us.""
The recording stopped.
A new image appeared.
A map.
London.
One location circled in red.
My mother stepped closer.
"That's St. Agnes.""
Ethan nodded.
"Yes.""
Dad looked at him.
"Why would Lily be there?""
"Because Adrian brought her there for protection.""
"From whom?""
Ethan stared at the screen.
"From the man who owns the hospital.""
My father went still.
"Dr. Vance?""
"No.""
Ethan shook his head.
"A man above him.""
"Who?""
Ethan looked at me.
"Your grandfather.""
Dad froze.
"My father is dead.""
"His name is still alive.""
"What does that mean?""
Ethan pulled out another paper.
A corporate registration.
He pointed to a signature.
*Charles Carter Family Holdings.*
Dad stared.
"That company still exists.""
"Yes.""
"Who runs it?""
Ethan didn't answer.
My father stepped closer.
"Who?""
Ethan finally said it.
"Diane.""
The room went silent.
Every pair of eyes turned toward her.
Diane stood near the tunnel entrance.
She looked terrified.
"No.""
Dad stared.
"You run my father's company?""
"I didn't know what it was.""
"You've been lying to me.""
"I was protecting you.""
"You have always said that.""
She shook her head.
"I swear.""
Ethan looked at her.
"Then tell him who gave you the envelope.""
Diane backed away.
"I can't.""
"Tell him.""
She looked at me.
Then at my father.
Then down at the floor.
"Your grandfather.""
Dad's voice became quiet.
"My father has been dead for eighteen years.""
"I know.""
"Then who gave you the envelope?""
Diane began to cry.
"Your uncle.""
Dad frowned.
"I don't have an uncle.""
She whispered,
"You do.""
He stared at her.
"My father's brother died before I was born.""
"No.""
Diane shook her head.
"He was never dead.""
Ethan suddenly looked toward the tunnel.
"He's here.""
My father's face hardened.
"Who?""
A slow clap echoed from the darkness.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then a man stepped into the light.
He was older than Dad.
Silver hair.
Dark suit.
A thin scar across his cheek.
He smiled at my father.
"Hello, Mark.""
My father went completely still.
The man looked at me.
Then at Elena.
And finally at the photograph of Lily in my hand.
"You found her.""
My mother stepped backward.
"Victor.""
The man smiled.
"You remember me.""
Dad's voice shook.
"You died.""
Victor laughed softly.
"Apparently, everyone has been dying a little too conveniently in this family.""
He looked at me.
"Daniel.""
I couldn't move.
He smiled.
"I'm your father's brother.""
My father stepped in front of me.
"What do you want?""
Victor's smile disappeared.
"The same thing I've wanted since the day you were born.""
He pointed at me.
"The trust.""
Then he looked toward the screen.
"And the girl.""
My blood ran cold.
"You know where Lily is?""
Victor nodded.
"Of course.""
"Where?""
He smiled.
"Exactly where I need her to be.""
Elena stepped forward.
"Don't touch my daughter.""
Victor's expression hardened.
"Too late.""
He looked at me.
"Because tomorrow, Daniel, you're going to London.""
My father shook his head.
"No.""
Victor smiled.
"You don't get to decide anymore.""
He raised a phone.
A live video appeared on the screen.
Lily was sitting in a dark room.
Her hands were tied.
And someone behind her held a gun to her head.
My mother screamed.
Victor looked directly at me.
"You wanted to meet your sister.""
May you like
He smiled.
"Now you can save her.""
