Chapter 6 - The Empty Estate
Claire arrived at the old Parker estate eleven minutes before midnight.
Evelyn had tried to stop her.
Claire went anyway.
The estate had been abandoned for years.
The gates hung crooked.
The house stood beneath dark trees.
Claire entered alone.
The front door opened before she touched it.
Inside, dust covered the furniture.
A grandfather clock still worked.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Claire followed the sound of footsteps upstairs.
She entered an old bedroom.
Daniel stood beside the window.
For a moment, neither spoke.
He looked older than the photograph.
But he was unmistakably alive.
Claire whispered, "Uncle Daniel."
He smiled sadly.
"You look like your mother."
Claire's expression hardened.
"Don't."
Daniel nodded.
"Fair."
"Why did you disappear?"
"Because disappearing was the only way I could stay alive."
Claire stared.
"Who was after you?"
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
"Your father."
Claire froze.
"Ray?"
Daniel nodded.
"But he wasn't alone."
Claire remembered the photograph.
"The lawyers."
"Some of them."
"And Patricia?"
Daniel looked away.
"Your mother knew."
"Did she help him?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Not in the way you think."
Claire stepped closer.
"Then tell me."
Daniel reached into his coat.
He removed a small notebook.
"Your grandfather discovered that Parker Holdings was being prepared for a hostile takeover."
"By whom?"
Daniel opened the notebook.
"The person behind it had access to every family account."
Claire looked at the names.
There was Ray.
Patricia.
Three lawyers.
Then a blank space.
"Who's missing?"
Daniel closed the notebook.
"The sixth person."
Claire stared.
"You still won't tell me?"
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because the sixth person is still inside the Parker family."
Claire felt a chill.
"Who?"
Daniel looked directly at her.
"I need you to understand something."
"What?"
"Your grandfather didn't make you his heir because he loved you."
Claire's face tightened.
"He made you his heir because you were the only person he believed could survive what comes next."
Claire looked away.
"What's coming?"
Daniel gave her the notebook.
"Tomorrow morning, Parker Holdings will be transferred."
"To whom?"
"That's what your family wants you to think."
Claire opened the notebook.
A final page contained a date.
Tomorrow.
8:00 AM.
She looked up.
"What happens at eight?"
Daniel said nothing.
Then a car engine started outside.
Daniel's expression changed.
"They found us."
Claire moved toward the window.
Headlights appeared through the trees.
Three vehicles.
Daniel grabbed her arm.
"Go."
"Not without you."
"Claire."
"No."
Daniel looked at her.
"They cannot know we met."
"Why?"
"Because if they know, they will stop pretending."
Claire heard doors slam outside.
Daniel pushed open a hidden panel behind the bookcase.
"Take this passage."
Claire refused.
"I'm not leaving you."
Daniel smiled.
"You already did once."
Claire froze.
"What?"
Daniel closed the panel.
"Your mother lied about the night I disappeared."
The panel shut.
Claire stood alone.
Voices echoed downstairs.
She opened the notebook again.
A final handwritten line appeared beneath the date.
Claire must never learn what happened in the car.
She stared at the sentence.
Then she heard Patricia's voice downstairs.
"Daniel!"
May you like
Claire's heart stopped.
Patricia was here.
