Chapter 14 - THE MEETING
Nora drove to the abandoned property.
She found Julian's car outside.
The door was open.
The house appeared empty.
She stepped inside.
“Julian?”
No answer.
“Claire?”
Silence.
Then a light switched on.
David Vance stood at the end of the hallway.
Nora froze.
He looked older than the photograph.
But his eyes were the same.
“You shouldn't have come.”
Nora stared at him.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“Where is my husband?”
“Safe.”
“Where is Claire?”
“Also safe.”
Nora's anger rose.
“You've been manipulating all of us.”
“No.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
David looked toward the stairs.
“The truth is much worse than the story you've been told.”
“What story?”
“That Claire died.”
Nora swallowed.
“She didn't.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because your father needed her alive.”
“Why?”
David hesitated.
“Because she had the original evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
“Everything.”
Nora stepped closer.
“Everything means nothing.”
David finally looked at her.
“Your father didn't steal the trust money.”
Nora frowned.
“Then who did?”
David said nothing.
“Who?”
“The person who took control after your father disappeared.”
Nora's mind raced.
“Eleanor?”
“No.”
“Julian?”
“No.”
“Claire?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
David's expression darkened.
“Someone who has been inside your family for decades.”
Nora felt cold.
“Who?”
Before David could answer, footsteps sounded upstairs.
Julian appeared.
His face was bruised from a struggle but he was conscious and standing.
Nora ran toward him.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“I found Claire.”
“Where is she?”
Julian looked toward David.
“She left.”
“Why?”
“Because she discovered something.”
“What?”
Julian pulled a document from his jacket.
“This.”
Nora opened it.
It was an original trust agreement.
But the beneficiary name had been altered.
Nora read it.
Then she looked up.
“That's my name.”
Julian nodded.
“What does it mean?”
David answered.
“It means Chloe was never the final beneficiary.”
Nora stared.
“Then who was?”
David looked directly at her.
“You.”
Nora couldn't speak.
“But why?”
“Because your father believed you would eventually uncover the truth.”
Nora looked at Julian.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
David stepped closer.
“There is one final document.”
“Where?”
“Claire has it.”
“Then where is she?”
David's expression changed.
“I don't know.”
Nora looked around the room.
Then she noticed something on the floor.
A pearl necklace.
Eleanor's necklace.
Nora picked it up.
Julian stared.
“She was here.”
Nora whispered:
“Who?”
David didn't answer.
Then Nora heard a voice behind her.
“Me.”
May you like
She turned.
Eleanor stood in the doorway.
