Chapter 5 - THE PHOTOGRAPH CHARLES NEVER MEANT HER TO SEE
Jonathan did not sleep that night.
Neither did Lila.
By sunrise they had turned every document over to investigators.
Charles was asked about Marcus Vale.
His answer was immediate.
"He handled private legal matters."
Jonathan laughed bitterly.
"Is that what we're calling your secrets now?"
Charles avoided his eyes.
Marcus had served the Whitmore family for almost thirty years.
He handled trusts, settlements, confidential medical matters, and problems Charles did not want appearing in court.
Lila asked the obvious question.
"Did Marcus know about me?"
Charles hesitated.
"Yes."
"Did he know Evelyn found Ruth?"
Another hesitation.
"I believe so."
Jonathan slammed his fist against the desk.
Charles flinched.
"You have one chance to stop lying."
The old man closed his eyes.
"When Evelyn began reopening the records, I asked Marcus to discourage her."
"Discourage?"
"I wanted him to explain what exposure would do to the family."
Lila stared at Charles.
"What exactly did you tell him?"
"Stop her."
The words hung in the room.
Jonathan stepped forward.
"What did Marcus think that meant?"
"I don't know."
"Your daughter died forty-eight hours later."
Charles's hands began shaking.
"I did not order anyone to hurt Evelyn."
Lila believed that.
But it did not make Charles innocent.
"What did Marcus say after she died?"
Charles looked toward the window.
"Nothing important."
Lila knew he was lying.
"Look at me."
Charles slowly did.
"What did he say?"
For the first time, the old man looked frightened.
"The morning after the accident, Marcus came into my study."
Jonathan waited.
"He put a file on my desk."
"What file?"
"The adoption records Evelyn had collected."
Lila's breath caught.
"And?"
Charles whispered, "He told me the problem had been resolved."
Jonathan turned away before his rage overwhelmed him.
Lila remained still.
"You suspected him."
Charles said nothing.
"You suspected Marcus had something to do with Evelyn's death."
"I had no proof."
"So you stayed quiet."
"I had just lost my daughter."
"No."
Lila's voice became cold.
"You lost her years earlier when you decided you owned her choices."
Charles looked devastated.
But Lila was finished protecting him from pain.
She picked up the photograph.
"I'm going to find out what happened."
Charles stared at her.
"If Marcus was involved, he will not want you investigating."
Lila slipped the photograph into her bag.
"Good."
Charles frowned.
"Good?"
She looked directly at him.
"For twenty-three years, everyone in this story was afraid of men like you."
May you like
She opened the door.
"Maybe it's time one of you became afraid of me."
