Chapter 14 - What Her Father Left Behind
Claire spent the next twenty-four hours trying to reconstruct the missing day.
She contacted the hospital.
The records had been sealed.
She contacted an old nurse.
The nurse refused to speak.
She contacted the attorney who had replaced Daniel.
He claimed he had never heard of the trust.
Every door closed.
Then Rachel arrived.
She looked terrified.
"I remember."
Claire turned.
"Remember what?"
"The hospital."
Claire stared at her.
"You were there?"
Rachel nodded.
"I was seventeen. Mom told me to stay outside."
"What happened?"
Rachel began crying.
"Your father was alive."
Claire's heart stopped.
"When?"
"That night."
"How long?"
"Hours."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought he was going to recover."
"What happened?"
Rachel shook her head.
"Mom came into the room."
"Then?"
"She told Dad that someone had found the money."
Claire stepped closer.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Rachel."
"I heard them arguing."
"What did Dad say?"
Rachel looked down.
"He said the money didn't belong to Thomas."
Claire frowned.
"Then who did it belong to?"
Rachel whispered.
"You."
Claire stared at her.
"What?"
"Your father said everything had been transferred into your name before you were born."
"Why?"
"Because Thomas wanted to control it."
Claire's mind raced.
"What happened after that?"
Rachel wiped her tears.
"Your father gave Mom a key."
Claire froze.
"What key?"
"The brass one."
"Then where did it go?"
Rachel looked at Claire.
"You."
Claire shook her head.
"I don't remember."
"Mom gave you the key."
"Why?"
"She said you had to hide it."
Claire closed her eyes.
Suddenly she remembered.
Her mother kneeling beside her hospital bed.
A brass key in her palm.
Linda whispering:
If anyone asks, you never saw your father.
Claire opened her eyes.
"I remember."
Rachel began crying.
"What?"
"Mom told me to lie."
Rachel nodded.
"Yes."
Claire stood.
"What happened to Dad?"
Rachel whispered.
"He left the hospital."
"Alive?"
"Yes."
"With who?"
Rachel's face changed.
"Daniel."
Claire's heart pounded.
She immediately called Daniel.
No answer.
She called again.
Nothing.
Then a message appeared.
Do not come looking for me.
Claire stared at it.
A second message followed.
Your mother was right about one thing.
You are not ready for the truth.
Claire's phone rang.
This time it was Linda.
Claire answered.
"Mom."
Linda was crying.
"Claire, I need you to listen."
"What happened to Dad?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I swear."
"Then why did you make me forget?"
"Because he asked me to."
"Why?"
Linda was silent.
Then she whispered:
"Because you were the reason he disappeared."
Claire went completely still.
"What?"
"I can't explain over the phone."
"Tell me."
"I will."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
"Where?"
"The old house."
Claire frowned.
"Why there?"
Linda whispered:
"Because that's where he left the final door."
The call ended.
Claire looked at Rachel.
"What final door?"
Rachel shook her head.
May you like
"I don't know."
But her expression said she did.
