Chapter 11 - Elizabeth
Claire couldn't speak.
Evelyn looked at her with tears in her eyes.
"My father told me about you."
Claire whispered, "Daniel."
"Yes."
"You knew who I was."
"From the beginning."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because your grandfather made me promise."
Claire's expression hardened.
"My grandfather?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"He protected me."
"Why?"
"Because Ray wanted me gone."
Claire looked toward Patricia.
Patricia was crying silently.
"You knew."
Patricia nodded.
"I raised her."
Claire's eyes widened.
"You raised Daniel's daughter."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Patricia whispered.
"Because if Ray discovered she was alive, he would have used her against Daniel."
Claire looked at Elizabeth.
"So Daniel is your father."
"Yes."
"And you were the fifth attorney?"
"No."
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Margaret was."
Claire turned toward Margaret.
"Then why did Daniel send you?"
Margaret answered.
"Because Daniel knew you would need someone you trusted."
Claire looked at Elizabeth.
"Did he tell you what was in the vault?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"Everything."
"Then tell me who the sixth person is."
Elizabeth hesitated.
Claire's voice became firm.
"Now."
Elizabeth looked at Patricia.
Patricia nodded.
Elizabeth whispered.
"Your grandfather."
Claire froze.
"He's dead."
"Yes."
"Then how can he be the sixth person?"
Elizabeth shook her head.
"He wasn't."
Claire's face went blank.
"What?"
Margaret opened another file.
"Your grandfather's death certificate was falsified."
Claire stepped back.
"No."
Patricia whispered, "Claire..."
"No."
She looked at the document.
The signature.
The date.
The official record.
Everything she had believed was collapsing.
Margaret continued.
"Your grandfather disappeared eleven years ago."
Claire stared.
"Then whose funeral did I attend?"
Patricia began sobbing.
"Someone else."
Claire's breathing became uneven.
She looked at Elizabeth.
"Where is my grandfather?"
Elizabeth said nothing.
Margaret answered.
"We don't know."
Claire closed her eyes.
Then her phone rang.
Daniel.
She answered immediately.
"Where are you?"
Daniel's voice sounded exhausted.
"Claire, listen carefully."
"Where is Grandpa?"
Silence.
Then Daniel said:
"He's alive."
Claire's knees nearly gave way.
"Where?"
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because he is the reason I disappeared."
Claire stared at the others.
"What does that mean?"
Daniel whispered.
"It means your grandfather wasn't protecting us."
He paused.
"He was protecting the person who betrayed all of us."
The call ended.
Claire looked at Margaret.
"Who?"
Margaret's expression was devastated.
"We don't know."
Claire looked toward the window.
Outside, a black sedan had stopped.
The same sedan from the old estate.
Elizabeth saw it too.
"They found us."
May you like
Claire stood.
"Then let's stop running."
