Chapter 13 - The Missing Page
Emily returned to the Whitlock estate that night.
Adrian was waiting.
He handed her the missing page.
She read it once.
Then again.
Samuel had written that Emily's mother had returned to him shortly before his death.
But she refused to come home.
She believed someone was watching her.
She also believed someone inside the family had helped orchestrate her disappearance.
The final paragraph was the most disturbing.
Samuel had written:
I finally know who betrayed us.
But the name was missing.
Emily looked at Adrian.
“Who removed it?”
“I don't know.”
“You found this in Eleanor's room.”
“Yes.”
“Then why would she keep it?”
“Maybe she didn't know what it was.”
Emily stared at him.
“Do you believe that?”
“No.”
Adrian looked exhausted.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“Eleanor left the house two hours ago.”
“Where did she go?”
“She took Dad's old car.”
Emily remembered something.
The warehouse.
The photograph.
Thomas Reed.
She suddenly understood.
“The warehouse.”
Adrian nodded.
They drove there.
The building was dark.
Inside, they found Eleanor standing beside the old metal cabinet.
She turned slowly.
“You should not have come.”
Emily stepped forward.
“Where is my mother?”
Eleanor's face hardened.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
Eleanor laughed bitterly.
“You think your father was a saint?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Eleanor looked at Adrian.
“And you?”
Adrian said nothing.
Eleanor continued.
“Your father built his empire by making enemies.”
Emily asked:
“Did you help him?”
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
“I tried to save him.”
“From whom?”
Eleanor looked directly at Emily.
“From the woman who gave birth to you.”
Emily froze.
Before she could respond, the warehouse lights went out.
A door slammed somewhere behind them.
Then a woman's voice echoed through the darkness.
“Eleanor.”
Emily knew that voice.
May you like
She had never heard it in person.
But somehow, she knew.
