Chapter 7: My Uncle's Name Was on the Threat
For several seconds, Thomas couldn't speak.
He stood beside my mother's hospital bed, holding the folded paper between his fingers.
His name was written at the bottom.
His signature.
The same signature he used on birthday cards, Christmas presents, and the little notes he sometimes left in my lunchbox.
I stared at it.
“Uncle Thomas?””
He didn't look at me.
“That's your name,” I whispered.
“I know.””
“Did you tell someone to hurt me?””
Thomas's head snapped toward me.
“No, Lily. Absolutely not.””
“Then why is your name there?””
He looked at my mother.
Elizabeth was crying silently.
“Thomas,” she whispered, “I need you to believe me. I didn't write that signature.””
Thomas studied the handwriting.
“I didn't write it either.””
Rebecca approached the bed.
“Let me see.””
He handed her the paper.
She examined it carefully.
Then her face changed.
“That's not Thomas's handwriting.””
Thomas looked at her.
“You're sure?””
“I've worked with your family for years. I've seen your signature on hundreds of documents.””
Rebecca pointed to the final letters.
“Someone copied it.””
Thomas took the paper back.
“But why use my name?””
Elizabeth wiped her cheeks.
“Because Victoria wanted Daniel to believe his own brother was threatening his daughter.””
Thomas slowly sat down.
I had never seen him look so broken.
He had always been the strong one.
The person who carried me when I was tired.
The person who helped Daddy build my dollhouse.
The person who promised to take me fishing when I turned eight.
Now he looked like a man who had lost something he could never recover.
“Daniel came to see me two days before he died,” Thomas whispered.
Elizabeth looked up.
“What?””
“He asked me whether I had been talking to Victoria about his plans.””
Rebecca frowned.
“What did you say?””
“I told him no.””
Thomas rubbed his face.
“But he didn't believe me.””
Elizabeth reached for his hand.
“Why?””
“Because someone had shown him messages supposedly sent from my phone. Messages saying I knew about the trust transfers. Messages saying I wanted control of Lily's inheritance.””
Thomas looked at the paper again.
“I thought he was accusing me of something I hadn't done.””
Elizabeth nodded slowly.
“He was being manipulated.””
Thomas stood abruptly.
“Then we need to find the original messages.””
Rebecca opened her handbag.
“I may be able to help.””
Thomas turned.
“With what?””
“Daniel gave me a backup drive before he died. He said it contained copies of every communication related to Victoria's financial activities.””
“Where is it?””
Rebecca hesitated.
“I left it at my apartment.””
Thomas shook his head.
“Why didn't you mention this earlier?””
“Because I was afraid Victoria would discover it.””
He stared at her.
“You've been hiding evidence while my brother's daughter has been living with the woman who stole her inheritance?””
Rebecca lowered her head.
“I know.””
Thomas walked toward the window.
“We're going to get it.””
My mother gripped his sleeve.
“Thomas, wait.””
He turned.
“Elizabeth, we don't have time.””
“Victoria isn't the only person involved.””
He frowned.
“What do you mean?””
My mother looked at the photograph of the woman in the cream coat.
“Daniel told me he had discovered that the person helping Victoria had access to the family accounts, the hospital records, and his private correspondence.””
Rebecca's face went pale.
Thomas slowly turned toward her.
“Who?””
Elizabeth shook her head.
“I don't know. Daniel never told me the name.””
Thomas looked at the brass key in my hand.
“Then the room beneath the old study is our next stop.””
Rebecca nodded.
“I'll get the drive.””
Thomas looked at Margaret.
“Can you keep Elizabeth safe?””
Margaret nodded.
“We'll arrange additional security and restrict visitors.””
Thomas crouched in front of me.
“Lily, I need you to stay with Mommy.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Sweetheart—”
“I want to find out what Daddy left.””
Thomas looked at my mother.
Elizabeth gently stroked my braids.
“Let her come.””
He sighed.
“Fine. But you stay beside me the entire time.””
I nodded.
Before we left, my mother kissed my forehead.
“Lily, there's something I want you to remember.””
“What?””
“Whatever you discover, your father loved you. Nothing Victoria says can ever change that.””
I hugged her.
“I love you, Mommy.””
“I love you more than all the stars.””
For the first time in years, I felt like I had a family again.
But the feeling didn't last.
When we reached the hospital entrance, Thomas received a phone call.
He answered immediately.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Mr. Cole? This is Detective Harris.””
Thomas straightened.
“Yes?””
“We've been reviewing your brother's accident.””
Thomas stopped walking.
“Why?””
“Because something new has come to light.””
“What?””
“The vehicle involved in the accident had a second set of fingerprints on the passenger-side door.””
Thomas's face tightened.
“Whose?””
The detective paused.
“We're still confirming the identification. But there's something else.””
Thomas gripped his phone.
“What?””
“Your brother's vehicle was reported as having a mechanical failure before the collision. The repair records show that someone requested an inspection two days earlier.””
“Who requested it?””
“The appointment was made under your name.””
Thomas looked as though someone had punched him.
“My name?””
“Yes, sir.””
“I never requested any inspection.””
“That's what we need to establish.””
Thomas glanced at me.
“Detective, I think someone is deliberately framing me.””
The detective's voice became serious.
“Mr. Cole, we need you to come in as soon as possible.””
Thomas ended the call.
Rebecca stared at him.
“What happened?””
He looked at the paper in his hand.
Then at me.
“Someone has been using my identity to cover up what happened to Daniel.””
He took a breath.
“And I think I know where they got my information.””
“Where?”” Rebecca asked.
Thomas looked at her.
“From the person who had access to all our family records.””
Rebecca swallowed.
Before anyone could speak, a black SUV pulled into the hospital driveway.
Victoria stepped out.
This time, she wasn't smiling.
She was holding a thick folder.
And behind her were two police officers.
“Thomas Cole?”” one officer called.
Thomas immediately stepped in front of me.
“Yes?””
“We need you to come with us.””
Rebecca gasped.
“For what?””
The officer looked at his paperwork.
“Questioning in connection with the death of Daniel Carter.””
Thomas stared at Victoria.
She slowly lifted her chin.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“I'm sorry, Thomas. But your brother's daughter deserves to know who really killed her father.””
May you like
And as the officers approached my uncle, Victoria looked directly at me.
“Now, Lily, perhaps you'll finally understand why your father was afraid of the people closest to him.””
