Chapter 9: The Daughter Richard Whitmore Erased
"Your grandfather had another child.""
Emily stared at Michael.
The words made no sense.
"Another child?""
Michael nodded.
"Yes.""
James looked furious.
"Don't do this.""
Michael ignored him.
Emily stepped closer.
"Who?""
Michael looked toward Margaret.
The old woman had closed her eyes.
Her face was filled with grief.
Michael answered.
"Her name was Claire.""
James went completely still.
Emily turned toward him.
"Who is Claire?""
James looked away.
Thomas Reed lowered his head.
Even Daniel seemed uncomfortable.
Emily looked at Michael again.
"Is she alive?""
Michael hesitated.
"That's what we've been trying to find out.""
James laughed bitterly.
"Trying? You know exactly what happened.""
Michael's eyes narrowed.
"Then tell her.""
James remained silent.
Emily looked between them.
"Somebody needs to explain this family to me before I lose my mind.""
Michael placed the black case on the desk.
"Claire was Richard Whitmore's daughter from his first marriage. She was born six years before James.""
Emily looked at Margaret.
"Grandma?""
Margaret nodded.
Michael continued.
"Richard's first wife died when Claire was young. Margaret helped raise her. For years, Claire believed Richard loved her.""
James spoke quietly.
"He didn't.""
Michael looked at him.
"She discovered the foundation accounts.""
Emily's stomach tightened.
"Like my mother?""
"Exactly.""
"Did he send her away?""
Michael nodded.
"Claire found evidence that Richard was transferring charitable funds into private accounts. She threatened to expose him. Shortly afterward, she disappeared.""
Emily looked at James.
"Was she dead?""
James shook his head.
"No one knew.""
Michael opened the black case.
He removed a photograph of a young woman with shoulder-length brown hair.
She stood beside a white horse, smiling at the camera.
On the back was a name.
*CLAIRE WHITMORE — AGE 26.*
Emily studied the picture.
"Why does my grandfather's document mention her?""
Michael placed another paper beside it.
"Because Claire was the original beneficiary of the Falcon Trust.""
Emily frowned.
"I thought the trust belonged to me.""
"It does now. But it was originally created to protect Claire.""
James looked at Michael.
"Father transferred the trust to Anna after Claire disappeared.""
Michael nodded.
"Because Anna threatened to expose him.""
Emily looked at the document.
"So why did he put my name on it?""
"Because Anna insisted. She believed Richard would never hurt his own granddaughter.""
Thomas gave a bitter laugh.
"He was wrong.""
Daniel shifted near the doorway.
"Can we finish this?""
Everyone turned.
He still held the gun.
Michael looked at him.
"Put it down.""
Daniel shook his head.
"I've spent my entire life being told that my father abandoned me. Then I find out he was protecting people who destroyed our family.""
Thomas stepped forward.
"Daniel, I never abandoned you.""
"You disappeared.""
"I had to.""
"You left my mother to raise me alone.""
Thomas's expression broke.
"I know.""
Daniel's hand trembled.
"Do you know how many times I waited for you?""
Thomas said nothing.
Daniel pointed the gun toward the documents.
"Give me the case.""
James stepped between him and Emily.
"You're making a mistake.""
Daniel laughed.
"You're the last person who should talk about mistakes.""
Emily looked at him.
"Who hired you?""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Someone who promised me answers.""
"Who?""
He looked toward Michael.
"Your father.""
Emily froze.
Michael shook his head.
"That's impossible.""
Daniel removed a photograph from his pocket.
He threw it onto the desk.
It showed Michael standing beside a woman outside a hospital.
The woman was holding a small child.
Emily picked it up.
The child had a tiny black falcon on her wrist.
But it wasn't Emily.
The photograph was dated two years after her birth.
"Who is that child?"" Emily whispered.
Michael's face changed.
"Claire's daughter.""
Emily stared.
"Claire had a child?""
Michael nodded.
"She gave birth shortly before she disappeared.""
James looked at the photograph.
"Father knew.""
Michael's voice became bitter.
"He knew everything.""
Emily looked at the child.
"Where is she?""
Daniel smiled faintly.
"That's what your grandfather wanted to know.""
Thomas stepped toward his son.
"Daniel, listen to me. Richard is dead.""
"His money isn't.""
Emily looked at him.
"Are you working for someone who inherited his accounts?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Michael suddenly moved.
He grabbed Daniel's wrist.
The gun fired.
The sound exploded through the underground chamber.
Helen screamed.
Margaret's wheelchair tipped sideways.
Emily dropped to the floor.
James rushed toward his mother.
Thomas tackled Daniel.
The gun slid across the stone.
Michael grabbed the black case.
"Emily! Run!""
Emily crawled toward Margaret.
"Grandma!""
Helen was already trying to lift the wheelchair.
James helped her.
Thomas wrestled Daniel against the wall.
"Don't move!""
Daniel struck him in the face.
Thomas stumbled.
Daniel reached for the gun.
Emily saw it.
"THOMAS!""
Thomas turned.
Daniel grabbed the weapon.
But before he could raise it, Michael slammed a metal chair into his arm.
The gun fell again.
James kicked it beneath the desk.
"Everyone out!""
They rushed toward the staircase.
But Emily stopped.
The photograph of Claire's child remained on the floor.
She picked it up.
Then she noticed something written on the back.
If you find Emily, tell her I know what happened to Anna.
Beneath it was an address.
And a name.
*CLAIRE HAYES.*
Emily turned toward Michael.
"Is Claire alive?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Where is she?""
Michael looked toward the stairs.
"At Blackwater House.""
Emily stared.
"Then we need to go there.""
James shook his head.
"Not until we get security.""
Daniel laughed from the floor.
"You don't understand.""
He was bleeding from his forehead.
But he was smiling.
"Blackwater House isn't waiting for you.""
Emily looked at him.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel slowly raised his head.
"It means Claire already left.""
Michael's face went pale.
"When?""
Daniel glanced at his watch.
"Twenty minutes ago.""
Thomas grabbed his son by the collar.
"Where is she going?""
Daniel laughed.
"To the airport.""
James pulled out his phone.
"Which airport?""
Daniel looked directly at Emily.
"She's going to London.""
Emily felt a terrible sense of urgency.
"Why?""
Daniel's smile disappeared.
"Because someone told her that her sister had finally been found.""
Emily's stomach dropped.
"Her sister?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
Then he looked at James.
"Didn't you tell her?""
James went pale.
Michael stepped forward.
"Tell her what?""
Daniel looked at Emily.
"Claire believes you're the reason her mother died.""
Silence.
Emily turned toward James.
"Who is Claire's mother?""
James looked at Margaret.
The old woman's face crumpled.
Then she signed slowly.
Emily watched.
My daughter.
Emily stared.
"Anna?""
Margaret shook her head.
Then she signed another name.
Eleanor.
James finally spoke.
"Claire was my mother's daughter from her first marriage.""
Emily froze.
Michael looked confused.
"Margaret had a daughter before Richard?""
James nodded.
"Claire was adopted by Richard after he married my mother. He raised her as his own.""
Emily looked at Margaret.
"Then why did he erase her?""
James's voice dropped.
"Because Claire wasn't just a threat to the foundation.""
He paused.
"She was the only person who knew what really happened to my mother.""
Emily turned toward Margaret.
The old woman began shaking.
Her hands moved desperately.
I didn't disappear.
Emily leaned closer.
"What?""
Margaret signed again.
Richard told everyone I was dead.
James's face went white.
Emily looked at him.
"Your father told everyone Grandma was dead?""
James nodded slowly.
"He told me she had suffered a breakdown and died in a private clinic.""
Margaret began crying.
Emily looked at Michael.
"Then why is she here?""
Michael's voice was barely audible.
"Because Richard didn't kill her.""
He looked toward James.
"Your father locked her away.""
Emily felt the floor shift beneath her.
James shook his head.
"No.""
Michael pointed toward the documents.
"The Falcon Trust contains the original medical records. Richard had Margaret declared incompetent so he could control her shares.""
Emily looked at the old woman.
All those years.
Unable to speak.
Unable to defend herself.
Unable to tell anyone what had happened.
She took Margaret's hand.
"Grandma...""
Margaret squeezed her fingers.
Then she signed something Emily would never forget.
Claire saw him take me.
Emily's blood ran cold.
"Claire witnessed it?""
Margaret nodded.
James looked devastated.
"That's why Father sent her away.""
Michael nodded.
"Claire was the only person who could prove Margaret was imprisoned against her will.""
Emily looked at the photograph of Claire.
A young woman who had spent decades believing her mother had been killed.
A woman who now believed Emily was somehow responsible.
Suddenly, Emily understood why her grandfather had hidden the family.
He hadn't simply been protecting money.
He had been controlling people.
And the Falcon Trust was the only thing that could expose him.
Thomas picked up the black case.
"We need to leave.""
James nodded.
"Get the car.""
Daniel suddenly laughed.
"You're all too late.""
Thomas turned.
"What?""
Daniel reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small phone and pressed a button.
A video appeared on the screen.
A woman sat in a dimly lit room.
Her wrists were tied.
Her dark hair fell across her face.
Emily recognized her immediately.
Anna.
Her mother.
Alive.
Emily rushed forward.
"Mom!""
The woman lifted her head.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Then she looked directly into the camera.
"Emily, if you're watching this, don't come looking for me.""
A man's voice sounded off-screen.
"Tell her the truth.""
Anna closed her eyes.
Then she whispered:
"Your grandfather didn't die naturally.""
The video ended.
Emily stared at the blank screen.
James slowly stepped backward.
Michael looked at him.
"James?""
James said nothing.
Then Emily saw something in his hand.
A second phone.
Its screen displayed an incoming call.
The caller's name was unmistakable.
*RICHARD WHITMORE.*
Emily looked at the screen.
Then at James.
"Your father is dead.""
James's face was drained of color.
He answered.
A familiar elderly voice came through the speaker.
"Hello, James.""
A pause.
May you like
Then the voice continued.
"Bring my granddaughter home.""
