Chapter 5: The Man at the East Gate
The following morning, Adrian woke to the sound of someone knocking on his hotel room door.
He had slept for less than two hours.
Lily was still asleep in the bedroom.
He opened the door.
Daniel stood outside with a paper coffee cup and a concerned expression.
"I found him.""
Adrian stepped aside.
"Samuel?""
"Yes. He lives in a small house outside Stamford, Connecticut.""
"How did you find him?""
"His pension records led me to a bank account. The address was listed on an old tax filing.""
Adrian grabbed his jacket.
"We're leaving.""
Daniel looked toward the bedroom.
"What about Lily?""
Adrian glanced at the closed door.
"She's coming if she wants to.""
Lily emerged twenty minutes later wearing the clothes Camille had arranged for her.
Her hair was still undergoing treatment. The stylist had carefully loosened several sections, washed what could safely be washed, and trimmed only the damaged ends with Lily's permission.
The result was far from a complete transformation, but her face was now visible.
She looked younger.
And the resemblance to the little girl in the photograph was even more striking.
Adrian tried not to stare.
"Good morning.""
"Is something happening?""
"We found someone who might know what happened the night you disappeared.""
Lily looked at Daniel.
"Who?""
"Samuel Brooks. He worked at the Whitmore estate.""
She considered this.
"Was he there when I was taken?""
"We don't know," Adrian answered.
"But we believe he was.""
Lily picked up her coat.
"Then let's go.""
The drive to Connecticut took nearly two hours.
Lily sat beside Adrian in the back of the Mercedes.
For most of the journey, she watched the scenery pass through the window.
When they crossed into Connecticut, her fingers tightened around the crescent pendant.
"Have I been here before?"" she asked.
Adrian glanced at her.
"You might have been.""
She shook her head.
"I don't remember anything.""
"How old were you when Margaret took you in?""
"She said I was about eighteen months old.""
"Charlotte disappeared when she was five.""
Lily frowned.
"That means I should remember something.""
"Not necessarily.""
She looked at the fields passing outside.
"Did you used to bring her here?""
"Every summer.""
"What was she like?""
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Impossible.""
Lily turned toward him.
"Impossible?""
"She hated vegetables, stole my baseball caps, and once convinced the gardener that our dog could speak French.""
Despite herself, Lily smiled.
"What?""
"She was five. She had a very convincing argument.""
For a moment, the car felt almost ordinary.
Then Adrian added quietly, "She used to follow me everywhere.""
Lily looked down.
"I wish I remembered.""
Adrian didn't respond.
He was afraid that if he said what he wanted to say, he would start crying.
Samuel Brooks lived on a quiet residential street lined with maple trees.
His house was modest, with peeling white paint and a small porch.
An American flag hung beside the front door.
Adrian knocked.
No answer.
He knocked again.
A curtain moved.
Finally, an elderly man opened the door.
He was thin, with white hair and a slight stoop.
His eyes narrowed when he recognized Adrian.
"Mr. Whitmore.""
"Hello, Samuel.""
The old man's expression changed.
"What do you want?""
"We need to talk.""
"I have nothing to say.""
Adrian held up the photograph.
"Do you remember Charlotte?""
Samuel's gaze dropped to the picture.
His face went white.
He stepped backward.
"Where did you get that?""
"From my mother's belongings.""
Samuel looked past Adrian.
His eyes landed on Lily.
For several seconds, he stared.
Then his hand began trembling.
"Oh, Lord.""
Lily stepped forward.
"Do you know me?""
Samuel didn't answer.
He looked at the birthmark behind her ear.
Then at the silver crescent around her neck.
His lips parted.
"Little Charlotte?""
Lily felt her knees weaken.
Adrian caught her elbow.
Samuel covered his mouth.
"You're alive.""
They sat in Samuel's small living room.
A clock ticked above the fireplace.
Samuel poured tea with shaking hands, spilling some onto the saucer.
Adrian placed the photograph on the coffee table.
"Tell us what happened that night.""
Samuel stared at the picture.
"I should have spoken years ago.""
"Why didn't you?""
"Because your father paid me.""
Adrian went still.
"How much?""
"One million dollars.""
Lily stared at him.
"To do what?""
Samuel looked at her.
"To keep quiet.""
Adrian leaned forward.
"About what?""
Samuel rubbed his forehead.
"That night, I was working near the east gate. I heard a car arrive around ten. It wasn't one of the family cars.""
"Who was driving?""
"A woman.""
"Did you recognize her?""
"No. She was wearing a scarf and sunglasses.""
"What happened next?""
Samuel looked at Lily.
"She had a child with her.""
Lily's throat tightened.
"Me?""
Samuel nodded.
"She carried you through the gate. You were crying.""
Adrian's voice became strained.
"Was my father there?""
"Yes.""
The room fell silent.
Samuel continued.
"Mr. Whitmore met the woman near the old carriage house. They argued. I couldn't hear everything, but I heard him say that the arrangement had to be completed before morning.""
"What arrangement?"" Adrian demanded.
"I don't know.""
"Did he take Charlotte?""
Samuel shook his head.
"No. The woman refused to hand you over.""
Lily leaned forward.
"Why?""
"She said you were not safe with him.""
Adrian's face hardened.
"What happened then?""
Samuel closed his eyes.
"Your father ordered me to open the east gate. The woman drove away with you.""
Adrian stared.
"So my father watched someone take my sister away?""
Samuel nodded.
"And then he told the police she had been kidnapped.""
Lily's voice was almost inaudible.
"Who was the woman?""
Samuel looked at her.
"I never knew her name.""
"Did you see her face?""
"Only once. When she removed her scarf.""
He hesitated.
"She looked familiar.""
Adrian leaned closer.
"To whom?""
"To your mother.""
Adrian's heart began pounding.
"Was it my mother?""
Samuel shook his head.
"No. Younger. Dark hair. Same eyes.""
Lily touched her pendant.
"Did she say anything?""
Samuel looked toward the window.
"She told your father that he had promised to leave the child alone.""
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"What did he say?""
Samuel's voice dropped.
"He said, 'I gave you the money. I gave you everything you asked for. You don't get to change the agreement now.''"
Lily felt cold.
"Money?""
Samuel nodded.
"Your father handed her a briefcase.""
Adrian stood.
"Did you see what was inside?""
"Cash. I think.""
"And then?""
"The woman left. Your father told me that if I ever mentioned what I'd seen, my wife and daughter would suffer.""
Samuel's eyes filled.
"I believed him.""
Adrian looked at the old man.
"You let us spend twenty-three years thinking Charlotte was dead.""
"I know.""
"You watched my mother die believing her daughter was gone.""
Samuel bowed his head.
"I know.""
Adrian wanted to shout.
Instead, he looked at Lily.
She was staring at Samuel with an expression he couldn't read.
Finally, she asked, "Did the woman come back?""
Samuel hesitated.
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Three days later.""
Adrian frowned.
"Why?""
"She left something at the gate.""
"What?""
Samuel reached for a drawer beneath the coffee table.
He removed a small, dusty envelope.
"I kept it because I couldn't bring myself to destroy it.""
He handed it to Lily.
Her name was written on the front.
Not Charlotte.
Lily.
She opened it carefully.
Inside was a photograph of a woman holding a toddler.
The woman had dark hair and gray-green eyes.
The toddler wore a pale blue dress.
On the back was a handwritten message.
If she ever asks where she came from, tell her I tried to bring her home.
Lily stared at the photograph.
"Who is this?""
Samuel swallowed.
"I don't know.""
Adrian turned the photograph over again.
The woman's face seemed familiar.
Then he noticed something.
A small crescent-shaped birthmark behind her right ear.
The same mark Lily carried.
The same mark Charlotte had carried.
Adrian looked at the old man.
"Who was she, Samuel?""
Samuel shook his head.
"I never knew her name.""
May you like
Then he whispered something that made Lily's blood run cold.
"But your father did.""
