Chapter 44 - The Wrong Daughter
Police moved toward the pantry.
Olivia emerged with her hands raised.
She had left the reservoir before Rachel’s group, following Dr. Cole through the maintenance tunnel.
“Cole came here,” she said. “He took something from the underground room.”
“The room was empty.”
“Not beneath the shelves.”
Rachel remembered that the underground chamber had originally contained engineering plans, negatives and document cases. The shelves were bolted to the floor.
Officers removed them.
Underneath was a metal plate containing a narrow slot shaped like the source cartridge.
Rachel inserted the key.
The wall became a projection screen.
Her father’s recorded message continued.
“Project Bennett was designed to force every hidden participant into the same room. Evelyn approved the legal dispute, but she never approved Marcus’s marriage. Victor changed the operation after learning the house had accepted Rachel.”
Rachel looked at her mother.
“You knew someone would target me.”
“I believed the court case would end before you were harmed.”
“You watched Marcus move into my house.”
“I was told he would only request refinancing.”
“You let strangers build my marriage.”
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
“It was the greatest mistake of my life.”
The recording revealed that the trust had recognized Rachel years earlier, when she unknowingly activated the pantry entrance as a child.
Olivia had never been the target.
She had been the protection.
By making both women appear to be potential beneficiaries, James forced Northline to divide its attention.
“Then Rachel is the beneficiary,” Olivia said.
“Not exactly,” Evelyn replied.
The screen displayed a family tree.
Miriam and Evelyn appeared beneath Eleanor Anne Vale.
Olivia’s name was linked to Miriam.
Rachel’s name was linked to Evelyn.
But a red line crossed Rachel’s legal birth record.
Beneath it was another name.
RACHEL ELAINE COLE.
Everyone turned toward Evelyn.
Rachel’s mother closed her eyes.
“Adrian was not only our doctor,” she whispered.
A vehicle crashed through the garden gate.
May you like
Victor had returned.
And Dr. Cole was sitting beside him.
