Chapter 5: The Chapter 5: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
The telephone kept ringing.
Gloria stood Dead
The telephone kept ringing.
Gloria stood beneath the greenhouse doorway, staring beneath the greenhouse doorway, staring at the screen as though the small device had become a loaded weapon.
Daniel held Evelyn against his chest.
“Mother,” he said at the screen as though the small device had become a loaded weapon.
Daniel held Evelyn against his chest.
“Mother,” he said, “who is calling?””
Gloria didn't answer.
“Mother!””
She finally looked up.
“Dr. Harris.””
Daniel frowned.
, “who is calling?””
Gloria didn't answer.
“Mother!””
She finally looked up.
“Dr. Harris.””
Daniel frowned.
“Ada's doctor?””
“Yes.””
“Then answer it.””
Gloria's fingers trembled“Ada's doctor?””
“Yes.””
“Then answer it.””
Gloria's fingers trembled as she accepted the call and pressed the phone to her ear.
“Hello?””
For as she accepted the call and pressed the phone to her ear.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was nothing but static.
Then a woman's voice emerged.
“Gloria?””
Gloria closed her eyes.
“Oh several seconds, there was nothing but static.
Then a woman's voice emerged.
“Gloria?””
Gloria closed her eyes.
“Oh, God.””
“It's been six years,” the woman said.
“I thought you'd never answer.””
Daniel moved, God.””
“It's been six years,” the woman said.
“I thought you'd never answer.””
Daniel moved closer.
“Mother, put it on speaker.””
Gloria hesitated.
“Do closer.
“Mother, put it on speaker.””
Gloria hesitated.
“Do it,” he insisted.
She obeyed.
The voice became clearer.
“This is Dr. Eleanor it,” he insisted.
She obeyed.
The voice became clearer.
“This is Dr. Eleanor Harris. I need to speak to Daniel Mercer immediately.””
Daniel took the phone.
“This is Daniel.””
A breath caught Harris. I need to speak to Daniel Mercer immediately.””
Daniel took the phone.
“This is Daniel.””
A breath caught on the other end.
“Daniel, thank goodness. I've been trying to reach your family for months.””
“Why?””
“Because I found on the other end.
“Daniel, thank goodness. I've been trying to reach your family for months.””
“Why?””
“Because I found something in Ada's medical records. Something that should never have been removed.””
something in Ada's medical records. Something that should never have been removed.””
Daniel looked at Gloria.
“What records?””
“Your wife's final examination reports. The official copiesDaniel looked at Gloria.
“What records?””
“Your wife's final examination reports. The official copies don't match the originals.””
The rain battered the roof above them.
Daniel don't match the originals.””
The rain battered the roof above them.
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Tell me what you found.””
“An alteration to her medication schedule's voice dropped.
“Tell me what you found.””
“An alteration to her medication schedule. Someone authorized a change that wasn't approved by me.””
Daniel. Someone authorized a change that wasn't approved by me.””
Daniel felt Evelyn stiffen in his arms.
“Are you saying someone changed Ada's medication?””
“ felt Evelyn stiffen in his arms.
“Are you saying someone changed Ada's medication?””
“I'm saying the records suggest that happened. I cannot establish who did it or why withoutI'm saying the records suggest that happened. I cannot establish who did it or why without further investigation.””
“Who had access?””
“Your wife, the nursing staff, and the person listed as her primary family further investigation.””
“Who had access?””
“Your wife, the nursing staff, and the person listed as her primary family contact.””
Daniel knew the answer before he asked.
“Ruth.””
“R contact.””
Daniel knew the answer before he asked.
“Ruth.””
“Ruth's name appears on the authorization form.””
A terrible silence followed.
Daniel looked at hisuth's name appears on the authorization form.””
A terrible silence followed.
Daniel looked at his wife.
Ruth had been standing beside the greenhouse table, but now she was edging wife.
Ruth had been standing beside the greenhouse table, but now she was edging toward the entrance.
“Stop,” he said.
She froze.
He turned back to the phone.
“Doctor, why are toward the entrance.
“Stop,” he said.
She froze.
He turned back to the phone.
“Doctor, why are you calling now?””
“Because I received an envelope last week. It contained copies of documents I thought had been destroyed. There you calling now?””
“Because I received an envelope last week. It contained copies of documents I thought had been destroyed. There was also a note asking me to find Evelyn.””
Evelyn lifted her head.
“That's my name.””
Daniel held was also a note asking me to find Evelyn.””
Evelyn lifted her head.
“That's my name.””
Daniel held her more tightly.
“Who sent it?””
“I don't know. There was no return address. But the her more tightly.
“Who sent it?””
“I don't know. There was no return address. But the handwriting matched Ada's.””
Gloria covered her mouth.
The doctor continued.
“I was told that Evelyn had died handwriting matched Ada's.””
Gloria covered her mouth.
The doctor continued.
“I was told that Evelyn had died shortly after birth. I never saw a death certificate. I trusted the information shortly after birth.
I never saw a death certificate. I trusted the information I was given, and I should have investigated further.””
Daniel stared at his mother.
“You told me Ada had one child.””
Gl I was given, and I should have investigated further.””
Daniel stared at his mother.
“You told me Ada had one child.””
Gloria began to cry.
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“From what? Theoria began to cry.
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“From what? The truth?””
“From the man who wanted Evelyn. From what Ruth threatened truth?””
“From the man who wanted Evelyn. From what Ruth threatened to do. From the scandal that would have destroyed Ada's reputation.””
“You protected your to do. From the scandal that would have destroyed Ada's reputation.””
“You protected your reputation instead of a child!””
The words struck reputation instead of a child!””
The words struck Gloria like a physical blow.
She lowered her head.
“I know.””
For the first time, Daniel saw no Gloria like a physical blow.
She lowered her head.
“I know.””
For the first time, Daniel saw no defense in his mother's face.
Only shame.
Ruth seized the moment.
“This is absurd. defense in his mother's face.
Only shame.
Ruth seized the moment.
“This is absurd. A doctor calling in the middle of the night with unverified accusations doesn't prove anything.””
Daniel turned A doctor calling in the middle of the night with unverified accusations doesn't prove anything.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“Then you won't mind staying while the toward her.
“Then you won't mind staying while the police examine those records.””
Her face tightened.
“You're calling the police on your own wife?””
“I'm calling them because police examine those records.””
Her face tightened.
“You're calling the police on your own wife?””
“I'm calling them because a child was hidden behind a locked door, another child may be missing, and my first a child was hidden behind a locked door, another child may be missing, and my first wife may have been harmed.””
Ruth gave a cold laugh.
“You've lost your mind.””
“Perhaps. wife may have been harmed.””
Ruth gave a cold laugh.
“You've lost your mind.””
“Perhaps. But I haven't lost my eyes.””
He looked at the security camera above the greenhouse entrance.
“Everything that happened tonight was But I haven't lost my eyes.””
He looked at the security camera above the greenhouse entrance.
“Everything that happened tonight was recorded. You can explain your side to the authorities.””
For the first time, Ruth appeared to understand that recorded. You can explain your side to the authorities.””
For the first time, Ruth appeared to understand that she was no longer controlling the conversation.
She turned toward Gloria.
“Tell him what happens if he she was no longer controlling the conversation.
She turned toward Gloria.
“Tell him what happens if he opens the archive.””
Gloria said nothing.
“Tell him!””
Daniel stepped forward opens the archive.””
Gloria said nothing.
“Tell him!””
Daniel stepped forward.
“What archive?””
Ruth's breathing quickened.
Then she smiled again.
“What archive?””
Ruth's breathing quickened.
Then she smiled again, though her eyes had begun to shine with tears that looked more, though her eyes had begun to shine with tears that looked more like rage than grief.
“Ask your mother where she keeps Ada's letters.””
Gloria went rigid.
Daniel looked at her.
“ like rage than grief.
“Ask your mother where she keeps Ada's letters.””
Gloria went rigid.
Daniel looked at her.
“Where?””
His mother slowly reached into her handbag.
She withdrew a small envelopeWhere?””
His mother slowly reached into her handbag.
She withdrew a small envelope, yellowed at the edges, sealed with a strip of faded blue tape.
“I, yellowed at the edges, sealed with a strip of faded blue tape.
“I kept them in my bedroom,” she whispered.
“I was going kept them in my bedroom,” she whispered.
“I was going to give them to you when I thought you were ready.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Ready?””
to give them to you when I thought you were ready.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Ready?””
“I know how that sounds.””
“It sounds like you've“I know how that sounds.””
“It sounds like you've been deciding which parts of my life I'm allowed to know.””
Gl been deciding which parts of my life I'm allowed to know.””
Gloria handed him the envelope.
“Read them. All of them.””
Heoria handed him the envelope.
“Read them. All of them.””
He tucked the envelope into his jacket.
Then he looked at Ruth.
“Where tucked the envelope into his jacket.
Then he looked at Ruth.
“Where is the other girl?””
Ruth's expression went blank.
“I have no idea what is the other girl?””
Ruth's expression went blank.
“I have no idea what you're talking about.””
Evelyn clutched Daniel's collar.
“She knows.””
Ruth snapped you're talking about.””
Evelyn clutched Daniel's collar.
“She knows.””
Ruth snapped toward her.
“You will be quiet!””
Evelyn flinched so violently that Daniel toward her.
“You will be quiet!””
Evelyn flinched so violently that Daniel stepped between them.
“Don't speak to her like that.””
Ruth stared at him.
“ stepped between them.
“Don't speak to her like that.””
Ruth stared at him.
“She's a liar. She always has been.””
Evelyn began shaking.
DanielShe's a liar. She always has been.””
Evelyn began shaking.
Daniel crouched beside her.
“You don't have to say anything else tonight.””
“But she said she'd crouched beside her.
“You don't have to say anything else tonight.””
“But she said she'd come back for me.””
“Who?””
Evelyn swallowed.
“The woman come back for me.””
“Who?””
Evelyn swallowed.
“The woman who took the other girl.””
Gloria suddenly sat down on an overturned planter who took the other girl.””
Gloria suddenly sat down on an overturned planter.
“Oh, no.””
Daniel turned.
“Mother?””
Gloria pressed both.
“Oh, no.””
Daniel turned.
“Mother?””
Gloria pressed both hands against her face.
“Ruth didn't just hide Evelyn. She arranged for another child to be hands against her face.
“Ruth didn't just hide Evelyn. She arranged for another child to be taken from the estate.””
“When?””
“After Ada died.””
Ruth's taken from the estate.””
“When?””
“After Ada died.””
Ruth's face hardened.
“You're making accusations you can't prove.””
Gloria face hardened.
“You're making accusations you can't prove.””
Gloria looked up.
“I watched you carry that baby through the looked up.
“I watched you carry that baby through the side entrance.””
Daniel felt the world shift beneath him.
“A baby?””
Gloria nodded side entrance.””
Daniel felt the world shift beneath him.
“A baby?””
Gloria nodded.
“A little girl. Barely six months old. Ada.
“A little girl. Barely six months old. Ada had been caring for her. She told me the child belonged to someone who needed protection.””
Daniel stared at had been caring for her. She told me the child belonged to someone who needed protection.””
Daniel stared at her.
“How many children were involved in this?””
“I don't know,” Gloria her.
“How many children were involved in this?””
“I don't know,” Gloria whispered.
“I only know that Ada believed all of them were in danger.””
R whispered.
“I only know that Ada believed all of them were in danger.””
Ruth suddenly rushed toward the entrance.
Daniel's security manager appeareduth suddenly rushed toward the entrance.
Daniel's security manager appeared in the doorway, blocking her path.
“Mrs. Mercer, I'm afraid you need to stay in the doorway, blocking her path.
“Mrs. Mercer, I'm afraid you need to stay here.””
“Get out of my way!””
“Mr. Mercer has instructed us to secure the property.””
here.””
“Get out of my way!””
“Mr. Mercer has instructed us to secure the property.””
Ruth slapped his hand away.
“You work for me!””
“I work for the estate, maRuth slapped his hand away.
“You work for me!””
“I work for the estate, ma'am.””
“And I am the woman who pays your salary!””
Daniel'am.””
“And I am the woman who pays your salary!””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Not anymore.””
Ruth turned toward him, stepped forward.
“Not anymore.””
Ruth turned toward him, her face twisted with fury.
“You think you can take her face twisted with fury.
“You think you can take everything from me? This house? Your money? Your name?””
“I think you've taken enough from everyone else.””
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then everything from me? This house? Your money? Your name?””
“I think you've taken enough from everyone else.””
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Ruth lowered her voice.
“You don't understand what Ada was doing. She wasn't the woman you remember.””
Daniel's eyes Ruth lowered her voice.
“You don't understand what Ada was doing. She wasn't the woman you remember.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?””
“She was planning to leave you.””
He said narrowed.
“What does that mean?””
“She was planning to leave you.””
He said nothing.
Ruth pressed on.
“She was going to take Lucy, Evelyn, and the other child nothing.
Ruth pressed on.
“She was going to take Lucy, Evelyn, and the other child away. She had already arranged everything. The money, the documents, the new identities.””
“ away. She had already arranged everything. The money, the documents, the new identities.””
“Why?””
“Because she knew the truth about the family.””
“What truth?””
Ruth glancedWhy?””
“Because she knew the truth about the family.””
“What truth?””
Ruth glanced at Gloria.
“Ask your mother who Evelyn's father really is.””
Daniel turned at Gloria.
“Ask your mother who Evelyn's father really is.””
Daniel turned.
Gloria's face had gone deathly pale.
“Mother?””
She shook her head.
.
Gloria's face had gone deathly pale.
“Mother?””
She shook her head.
“Not here.””
Ruth laughed bitterly.
“Of course. You never tell the truth unless there's nowhere left to hide.””
Daniel grabbed his“Not here.””
Ruth laughed bitterly.
“Of course. You never tell the truth unless there's nowhere left to hide.””
Daniel grabbed his mother's arm.
“Who is Evelyn's father?””
Gloria stared at the floor.
Then she whispered a name.
“ mother's arm.
“Who is Evelyn's father?””
Gloria stared at the floor.
Then she whispered a name.
“Michael Vale.””
Daniel's blood ran cold.
Michael Vale had been his father'sMichael Vale.””
Daniel's blood ran cold.
Michael Vale had been his father's business partner. A wealthy, influential man who had disappeared from public life years ago after a private scandal business partner. A wealthy, influential man who had disappeared from public life years ago after a private scandal.
Daniel remembered the rumors.
The accusations.
The sudden sale.
Daniel remembered the rumors.
The accusations.
The sudden sale of his company shares.
But most of all, he remembered the night Michael had visited the Mercer estate, six months of his company shares.
But most of all, he remembered the night Michael had visited the Mercer estate, six months before Ada died.
His father had called it a business dinner.
Ada had called it a mistake before Ada died.
His father had called it a business dinner.
Ada had called it a mistake.
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“Did you ever meet a man named Michael?””
.
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“Did you ever meet a man named Michael?””
She shook her head.
“Mommy said he wasn't safe.””
Gloria nodded miserShe shook her head.
“Mommy said he wasn't safe.””
Gloria nodded miserably.
“He believed Evelyn was his daughter. When Ada escaped him, sheably.
“He believed Evelyn was his daughter. When Ada escaped him, she changed her name and tried to disappear. I helped her.””
changed her name and tried to disappear. I helped her.””
Daniel's mind raced.
“And Ruth?””
“Ruth worked for Michael.Daniel's mind raced.
“And Ruth?””
“Ruth worked for Michael. She knew where Ada was hiding.””
Ruth's silence confirmed it.
Daniel stepped She knew where Ada was hiding.””
Ruth's silence confirmed it.
Daniel stepped away from her.
“You married me to get access away from her.
“You married me to get access to this family.””
Ruth lifted her chin.
“I married you because you needed someone.””
“Someone who could keep to this family.””
Ruth lifted her chin.
“I married you because you needed someone.””
“Someone who could keep the children hidden?””
“Someone who understood the danger.””
“Then why did the children hidden?””
“Someone who understood the danger.””
“Then why did you let Evelyn live in that room?””
Ruth's eyes flashed.
“Because you let Evelyn live in that room?””
Ruth's eyes flashed.
“Because Michael wanted her found. And as long as I kept her here, I could control who knew she Michael wanted her found. And as long as I kept her here, I could control who knew she was alive.””
Evelyn began to cry again.
Daniel held her close.
“You was alive.””
Evelyn began to cry again.
Daniel held her close.
“You're finished, Ruth.””
“No,” she whispered.
“You are.””
She reached into her pocket and're finished, Ruth.””
“No,” she whispered.
“You are.””
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small black device.
Before Daniel could stop her, she pressed a button.
A sir pulled out a small black device.
Before Daniel could stop her, she pressed a button.
A siren sounded somewhere in the mansion.
The security manager touched his earpiece.
“Mren sounded somewhere in the mansion.
The security manager touched his earpiece.
“Mr. Mercer, we have a problem.””
“What is it?””
“Someone has breached the east. Mercer, we have a problem.””
“What is it?””
“Someone has breached the east gate.””
Daniel turned toward the garden.
Through the rain-streaked glass, gate.””
Daniel turned toward the garden.
Through the rain-streaked glass, headlights swept across the trees.
A black car rolled slowly toward the house.
The security headlights swept across the trees.
A black car rolled slowly toward the house.
The security manager's face drained of color.
“Sir, the vehicle belongs to Michael Vale.””
Ruth smiled.
“ manager's face drained of color.
“Sir, the vehicle belongs to Michael Vale.””
Ruth smiled.
“Now you understand.””
She looked at Evelyn.
“Now you understand.””
She looked at Evelyn.
“Your father has come to take you home.””
Evelyn screamedYour father has come to take you home.””
Evelyn screamed.
“He isn't my father!””
Ruth's smile vanished.
Daniel lifted the little girl.
“He isn't my father!””
Ruth's smile vanished.
Daniel lifted the little girl and ran toward the house, shouting for the staff and ran toward the house, shouting for the staff to secure every door.
Behind him, Gloria stumbled after them.
But to secure every door.
Behind him, Gloria stumbled after them.
But as Daniel reached the back entrance, his phone vibrated.
An unknown as Daniel reached the back entrance, his phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed Lucy sitting in her bedroom, number.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed Lucy sitting in her bedroom, holding her rabbit.
Behind her stood a woman Daniel recognized holding her rabbit.
Behind her stood a woman Daniel recognized immediately.
Ada.
The message beneath the photograph contained only seven immediately.
Ada.
The message beneath the photograph contained only seven words.
**If you want Lucy alive, bring me Evelyn words.
*If you want Lucy alive, bring me Evelyn.*
Daniel stopped breathing.
Because the photograph was not old.
The timestamp showed it had been taken less than one.**
Daniel stopped breathing.
Because the photograph was not old.
May you like
The timestamp showed it had been taken less than one minute ago.
And Lucy was still upstairs.
