Chapter 10 - The Family Bought Into Silence
Victoria insisted she had never known about three million dollars.
Arthur called her a liar.
For once, Clara did not know which parent to believe.
Naomi separated everyone.
She photographed the label, sealed it in an evidence bag, and called a private investigator she trusted.
Within hours they had a possible identity.
David and Laura Hollis.
Their son had been born on the same day as Matthew.
Same hospital.
Same floor.
The Hollises moved out of state four months later.
Their son’s name:
Ethan.
Clara sat in the hotel room staring at the screen.
A photograph showed a dark-haired boy standing beside a baseball fence.
Same age as Matthew.
Different face.
Different smile.
She felt guilty simply looking at him.
Naomi sat nearby.
“Do not make assumptions.”
“How can I not?”
“Because right now you have evidence of record irregularities, not evidence the children were switched.”
“Arthur said Grandma paid them.”
“Arthur lies.”
“He lies when it protects him.”
“And tells partial truth when it hurts someone else.”
Clara rubbed her eyes.
Daniel arrived with another discovery.
“The three-million-dollar payment exists.”
Clara looked up.
“From Grandma?”
“From Eleanor’s estate trust.”
“To the Hollises?”
“A company owned by David Hollis.”
The transaction had occurred two months after Matthew’s birth.
Memo:
CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT.
Naomi whispered, “That’s bad.”
Clara stood.
“Find them.”
“Clara.”
“Find them.”
“They may not want to be found.”
“My father threatened my son. My mother tried to remove him from school. Someone photographed him outside the building. I’m done respecting secrets other people created around him.”
Naomi nodded.
“I’ll find them.”
The next morning, Chloe came to the hotel.
She looked terrible.
No makeup.
Sweatshirt.
Hair pulled back.
Clara had never seen her younger sister look so ordinary.
“I want out.”
“Out of what?”
“Dad.”
Clara studied her.
Chloe sat.
“He controlled my accounts.”
“You let him.”
“I thought he was helping.”
“He always calls control help.”
Chloe looked down.
“I found four credit cards in my name.”
Clara frowned.
“You knew you had cards.”
“Not these.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred thousand.”
Clara swore.
“And one business loan.”
“For what?”
“Vance Legacy Holdings.”
“You’re listed as borrower?”
“Guarantor.”
“Amount?”
Chloe swallowed.
“Four point six million.”
Clara stared.
Chloe’s eyes filled.
“I thought he loved me more than you.”
The words were childish.
Painfully honest.
Clara said nothing.
Chloe laughed through tears.
“I know how that sounds.”
“I don’t think he loves either of us in the way we wanted.”
“He gave me everything.”
“No. He gave you rewards for staying easy to use.”
Chloe nodded slowly.
“What do I do?”
“Tell the truth.”
“To who?”
“Everyone who asks.”
That afternoon, bank compliance contacted Naomi.
Accounts associated with Vance Legacy Holdings had been frozen pending review.
Arthur called Clara within three minutes.
She answered.
“You froze my company.”
“No. The bank froze an account after learning the signatures might be forged.”
“You have no idea what you’ve triggered.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because you keep proving it.”
“Who are the Hollises?”
Arthur exhaled.
“Leave them alone.”
“No.”
“If they contact you, do not meet them.”
“Why?”
“Clara, listen to me.”
“Why?”
Arthur’s voice changed.
For once, it sounded less like a command.
More like fear.
“Because David Hollis is dead.”
Clara went still.
“When?”
“Five years ago.”
“How?”
“Car accident.”
“And Laura?”
“Missing.”
Clara closed her eyes.
“What about Ethan?”
A pause.
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I don’t care what you believe.”
May you like
Arthur breathed slowly.
“But if you find Ethan Hollis, Grant will find him too.”
