Chapter 4 - The File Called Second Son)
Morrell House changed after midnight.
The orchestra left.
The champagne stopped flowing.
Police vehicles replaced luxury cars in the driveway.
Guests were interviewed and released one by one.
By two in the morning, only family members, staff, security, and investigators remained.
Grace should have taken Lily home.
Instead Adrian asked her to stay.
He found her inside a small sitting room near the kitchen.
Lily was asleep across two chairs beneath Grace's coat.
Adrian entered alone.
His anger had faded into exhaustion.
"Ms. Ellis."
"Grace is fine."
He nodded.
"Grace, I need you to tell me exactly what you found."
She did.
Everything.
The prosthetic bellies.
The ultrasound report.
Samuel Voss.
The photograph at her apartment.
The phone call.
Adrian said nothing until she mentioned Richard Morrell's connection to Voss.
"My father knew him?"
"I found a picture online."
Adrian looked toward the floor.
"My father knew thousands of people."
"There was another picture in Vanessa's room."
"Lily saw it."
Grace nodded.
"Vanessa. Voss. Your father."
Adrian's face tightened.
"How long ago?"
"I don't know."
He stood and walked toward the window.
Outside, police lights reflected against the glass.
"My father met Vanessa once."
Grace waited.
"At least that's what she told me."
"When?"
"Years ago. A charity dinner. She said they barely spoke."
Adrian laughed without humor.
"I suppose I should stop believing things she told me."
Grace felt sympathy despite everything.
"Did you know the baby changed the family trust?"
He turned.
"How do you know that?"
"It was on the news."
Adrian nodded.
"My grandfather designed the trust. He was obsessed with bloodlines."
He seemed embarrassed by the word.
"When a direct descendant of my generation produces a biological child, part of the family's controlling stock moves into a protected line. I would remain trustee until the child turned twenty five."
"What happens if something happens to you?"
Adrian looked at her.
"The other legal parent could become temporary co trustee."
Grace understood.
"Vanessa."
"After marriage, yes."
"So the fake pregnancy gave her access to the shares."
"Potentially."
"But only after the child was born."
Adrian's expression darkened.
"Unless I signed an amendment before then."
"Did she ask you to?"
He was silent.
Grace felt cold.
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
The reception had been designed partly to celebrate the upcoming wedding and partly to gather members of the Morrell family and board before a private legal signing the following morning.
Vanessa had almost reached the final step.
Grace looked at sleeping Lily.
"If she only wanted money, why steal your father's file?"
"That's what I intend to find out."
The sitting room door opened.
Eleanor Morrell entered.
She was sixty two, elegant, silver haired, and controlled in a way Grace found intimidating.
"Adrian."
Her gaze moved toward Grace.
"This is a family matter."
Adrian did not turn.
"Grace stays."
Eleanor's expression tightened.
"Why?"
"Because at the moment she has lied to me less than my family."
The words landed hard.
Eleanor closed the door.
Adrian faced her.
"What was Project Second Son?"
"I told you, I don't know."
"You reacted when you saw the file name."
"I reacted because the archive had been violated."
"Don't."
Eleanor stared.
Adrian's voice lowered.
"Not tonight."
Grace expected Eleanor to become angry.
Instead something in her expression softened.
Fear.
"I need you to understand something," she said. "Your father had secrets."
"I know."
"No. You know he had affairs. You know he moved money through private companies. You know he could be ruthless."
Adrian's face hardened.
"What don't I know?"
Eleanor looked toward Grace.
Adrian said, "Tell me."
Eleanor took a breath.
"Your mother lost a baby before you were born."
Adrian frowned.
"I know."
"A boy."
"Yes."
"That is what you were told."
The room became quiet.
Eleanor continued.
"Caroline did not miscarry."
Adrian stared at her.
"What?"
"The baby was born."
Grace felt the hair rise along her arms.
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
"He was premature. Very small. There were complications."
"My mother told me she miscarried."
"Your mother was told he died."
Adrian did not move.
Eleanor looked older suddenly.
"Richard wasn't sure."
"What does that mean?"
"The hospital records were confused. There was a transfer. Your father became obsessed with the possibility that the baby had survived."
Adrian looked toward the hallway.
The stolen file.
Project Second Son.
"You think my brother lived."
"I think your father spent years trying to find out."
"Why did you never tell me?"
"Because Richard made me swear not to."
"He's dead."
"I know."
"Then why continue lying?"
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
"Because six months before your father died, he told me he had finally found something."
Adrian's anger disappeared.
"What?"
"He wouldn't say."
"Why?"
"He said he needed proof."
Grace thought about Vanessa.
Samuel Voss.
The stolen file.
"Was Dr. Voss involved?"
Eleanor turned toward her.
"Who?"
"Samuel Voss."
Recognition flashed across Eleanor's face.
Adrian saw it.
"You know him."
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"He worked at St. Catherine's Hospital the year your brother was born."
The room seemed to shrink.
Grace whispered, "And Vanessa knew him."
Adrian's phone rang.
Security.
He answered.
His expression changed while listening.
"Where?"
He ended the call.
"What happened?" Eleanor asked.
Adrian looked at Grace.
"They found Vanessa."
"Where?"
"At the old greenhouse."
Grace stood.
"Is she alive?"
"Yes."
Adrian's expression was unreadable.
"But she's not alone."
"Voss?"
He shook his head.
"They found a man with her."
"Who?"
May you like
Adrian looked toward Eleanor.
"His driver's license says Daniel Morrell."
