Chapter 6: The## Chapter 6: The Night They St Night They Stole My Daughter
For several seconds, Elenaole My Daughter
For several seconds, Elena couldn't understand what Daniel had said.
Andrew Ashford had taken Grace.
Her daughter couldn't understand what Daniel had said.
Andrew Ashford had taken Grace.
Her daughter.
The little girl whose existence had been hidden from her for seven years.
The child whose name her father had written in.
The little girl whose existence had been hidden from her for seven years.
The child whose name her father had written in a letter while begging Robert to keep her safe.
And now Andrew had taken her from a letter while begging Robert to keep her safe.
And now Andrew had taken her from a medical facility.
“Call the police,” Elena said.
Daniel was already reaching for his phone.
“I a medical facility.
“Call the police,” Elena said.
Daniel was already reaching for his phone.
“I need the hospital's incident report, the guardian authorization, and the exact time of discharge. If Andrew used fraudulent need the hospital's incident report, the guardian authorization, and the exact time of discharge. If Andrew used fraudulent documents, we need to establish that immediately.””
“I don't care about paperwork!””
“I know,” documents, we need to establish that immediately.””
“I don't care about paperwork!””
“I know,” Daniel said gently.
“But we need to find her before he realizes how much we know.””
Elena Daniel said gently.
“But we need to find her before he realizes how much we know.””
Elena turned toward Robert.
“Where would he take her?””
Robert looked stunned.
“I don't know.””
“ turned toward Robert.
“Where would he take her?””
Robert looked stunned.
“I don't know.””
“She's your granddaughter.””
“I never knew where she was.””
“But you knew Andrew wasShe's your granddaughter.””
“I never knew where she was.””
“But you knew Andrew was dangerous.””
Robert had no answer.
Elena grabbed the front of his burgundy jacket.
“You knew he threatened me. You knew he framed my father. You knew dangerous.””
Robert had no answer.
Elena grabbed the front of his burgundy jacket.
“You knew he threatened me. You knew he framed my father. You knew he was capable of destroying anyone who stood in his way.
And you still let him walk around this he was capable of destroying anyone who stood in his way. And you still let him walk around this city like he owned every person in it.””
Robert's eyes filled with tears.
“I know.””
“No city like he owned every person in it.””
Robert's eyes filled with tears.
“I know.””
“No. You don't.””
She released him.
“You have spent seven years protecting your son from. You don't.””
She released him.
“You have spent seven years protecting your son from the consequences of his choices. Now my daughter is missing, and you're standing here telling me you don't know where he took her the consequences of his choices. Now my daughter is missing, and you're standing here telling me you don't know where he took her.””
Robert straightened slowly.
For the first time that night, his expression hardened into something other.””
Robert straightened slowly.
For the first time that night, his expression hardened into something other than fear.
“Then we'll find her.””
“How?””
He pulled out his phone.
“I know than fear.
“Then we'll find her.””
“How?””
He pulled out his phone.
“I know every property this family owns. Every driver we've employed. Every security company every property this family owns. Every driver we've employed.
Every security company we've paid. If Andrew is using an Ashford property, I'll we've paid. If Andrew is using an Ashford property, I'll find it.””
Daniel raised a hand.
“Don't contact Andrew's security staff directly. If they're loyal to him, he'll know find it.””
Daniel raised a hand.
“Don't contact Andrew's security staff directly. If they're loyal to him, he'll know we're looking.””
Robert stopped.
“Then what do you suggest?””
“Give we're looking.””
Robert stopped.
“Then what do you suggest?””
“Give me the property records and the names of anyone authorized to access those me the property records and the names of anyone authorized to access those buildings. I'll pass them to the authorities.””
Robert nodded.
“Whatever you need.””
Elena looked at him.
“Don't do this for me.””
He frowned buildings. I'll pass them to the authorities.””
Robert nodded.
“Whatever you need.””
Elena looked at him.
“Don't do this for me.””
He frowned.
“Do what?””
“Don't suddenly pretend you're a good man because the consequences have reached.
“Do what?””
“Don't suddenly pretend you're a good man because the consequences have reached your doorstep.””
Robert lowered his eyes.
“I'm not asking you to forgive me.””
“Good.””
“I'm asking you to let me help.””
Elena looked toward the dark windows.
Somewhere beyond the glittering towers, a seven-year-old girl might be sitting in a strange room, wondering why the man who had taken her away from the hospital wouldn't your doorstep.””
Robert lowered his eyes.
“I'm not asking you to forgive me.””
“Good.””
“I'm asking you to let me help.””
Elena looked toward the dark windows.
Somewhere beyond the glittering towers, a seven-year-old girl might be sitting in a strange room, wondering why the man who had taken her away from the hospital wouldn't answer her questions.
Elena swallowed the ache in her throat.
“Then answer her questions.
Elena swallowed the ache in her throat.
“Then help us find her.””
Daniel placed the flash drive Victoria had provided into his laptop.
“We need to examine these help us find her.””
Daniel placed the flash drive Victoria had provided into his laptop.
“We need to examine these files.””
Victoria stood beside the dining table, her arms wrapped around herself.
“If Andrew discovers that files.””
Victoria stood beside the dining table, her arms wrapped around herself.
“If Andrew discovers that I gave you those documents, he'll come after me.””
Elena turned toward her.
“Then tell the truth before he gets the I gave you those documents, he'll come after me.””
Elena turned toward her.
“Then tell the truth before he gets the chance.””
Victoria shook her head.
“You don't understand. He has recordings of conversations, copies of private messages chance.””
Victoria shook her head.
“You don't understand. He has recordings of conversations, copies of private messages, financial transfers. He knows everything I've ever done for him.””
“Then you should be very, financial transfers. He knows everything I've ever done for him.””
“Then you should be very interested in making sure he doesn't control the evidence anymore.””
Victoria looked at Daniel.
“Can you protect me?””
“I interested in making sure he doesn't control the evidence anymore.””
Victoria looked at Daniel.
“Can you protect me?””
“I can arrange for you to speak with investigators and explain what you know. I can't promise you won't face consequences for your own actions can arrange for you to speak with investigators and explain what you know. I can't promise you won't face consequences for your own actions.””
Victoria's mouth tightened.
“That's not very reassuring.””
“I'm not here.””
Victoria's mouth tightened.
“That's not very reassuring.””
“I'm not here to reassure you. I'm here to help establish the truth.””
For a moment, Victoria looked as if she to reassure you. I'm here to help establish the truth.””
For a moment, Victoria looked as if she might take back the flash drive.
Instead, she pulled a chair toward might take back the flash drive.
Instead, she pulled a chair toward the table and sat down.
“Open the files.””
Daniel connected the drive.
Three folders appeared.
*FINANCIAL RECORDS.*
** the table and sat down.
“Open the files.””
Daniel connected the drive.
Three folders appeared.
*FINANCIAL RECORDS.*
*STERLING CASE.*
*BENNETT—CONFIDENTIAL.*
Elena leaned forward.
“Open the last one.””
Daniel clicked itSTERLING CASE.**
*BENNETT—CONFIDENTIAL.*
Elena leaned forward.
“Open the last one.””
Daniel clicked it.
Inside were scanned adoption forms, medical documents, and several photographs.
The first photograph showed a newborn wrapped in a pale yellow blanket.
The second.
Inside were scanned adoption forms, medical documents, and several photographs.
The first photograph showed a newborn wrapped in a pale yellow blanket.
The second showed a toddler sitting on a garden swing.
The third showed a little showed a toddler sitting on a garden swing.
The third showed a little girl with dark curls, a small nose, and a serious expression as she held a stuffed rabbit against her chest.
Elena stopped breathing.
She had never girl with dark curls, a small nose, and a serious expression as she held a stuffed rabbit against her chest.
Elena stopped breathing.
She had never seen this child before.
Yet something in the shape of her face felt painfully seen this child before.
Yet something in the shape of her face felt painfully familiar.
Her own childhood photographs had shown the same dark eyes, the same stubborn line familiar.
Her own childhood photographs had shown the same dark eyes, the same stubborn line of the mouth.
“That's her,” Victoria whispered.
Elena touched the screen of the mouth.
“That's her,” Victoria whispered.
Elena touched the screen with one finger.
“Grace.””
The little girl in the photograph was smiling at someone outside with one finger.
“Grace.””
The little girl in the photograph was smiling at someone outside the frame.
Elena stared at that smile until the image blurred.
She imagined the first day of the frame.
Elena stared at that smile until the image blurred.
She imagined the first day of school she had missed.
The birthdays.
The scraped knees.
The bedtime stories.
All the ordinary moments school she had missed.
The birthdays.
The scraped knees.
The bedtime stories.
All the ordinary moments that made a childhood.
Seven years of life had passed without her knowing that that made a childhood.
Seven years of life had passed without her knowing that her daughter existed.
She pulled her hand away from the screen.
“Show me the documents.””
Daniel opened the adoption file.
The first page contained the name of her daughter existed.
She pulled her hand away from the screen.
“Show me the documents.””
Daniel opened the adoption file.
The first page contained the name of a private agency that had since dissolved.
The second contained a temporary guardianship agreement.
The third contained a signature.
Elena stared a private agency that had since dissolved.
The second contained a temporary guardianship agreement.
The third contained a signature.
Elena stared at it.
*Thomas Sterling.*
Her father's signature.
She shook her head.
“No.””
Daniel looked at her carefully.
“Elena—”
“My at it.
*Thomas Sterling.*
Her father's signature.
She shook her head.
“No.””
Daniel looked at her carefully.
“Elena—”
“My father signed the agreement?””
“The document appears to bear his signature.””
“He said he father signed the agreement?””
“The document appears to bear his signature.””
“He said he was protecting her.””
“He may have believed that.””
Elena looked at the date.
The agreement had been signed two was protecting her.””
“He may have believed that.””
Elena looked at the date.
The agreement had been signed two days before her father was arrested.
At the bottom of the page, someone had added days before her father was arrested.
At the bottom of the page, someone had added a handwritten condition.
**Guardianship may be terminated only upon written authorization from the original trustee or a handwritten condition.
*Guardianship may be terminated only upon written authorization from the original trustee or the beneficiary's biological mother.*
Elena read it twice.
“That's why the the beneficiary's biological mother.**
Elena read it twice.
“That's why the bank contacted me.””
Daniel nodded.
“The trust appears to have retained a legal mechanism for restoring your rights bank contacted me.””
Daniel nodded.
“The trust appears to have retained a legal mechanism for restoring your rights as the child's mother.””
Robert leaned closer.
“My father insisted that the original trust as the child's mother.””
Robert leaned closer.
“My father insisted that the original trust include protections for future generations. He believed the family should never be able to use money to separate a parent from a child.””
El include protections for future generations. He believed the family should never be able to use money to separate a parent from a child.””
Elena looked at him.
“Your family ignored that rule.””
“Yes.””
“And now Andrew has taken her anyway.””
ena looked at him.
“Your family ignored that rule.””
“Yes.””
“And now Andrew has taken her anyway.””
Daniel scrolled down.
“There is a medical authorization attached to the discharge recordDaniel scrolled down.
“There is a medical authorization attached to the discharge record.””
He opened it.
The document claimed that Grace had been transferred to a specialist facility outside Manhattan.
The signature at the bottom belonged to.””
He opened it.
The document claimed that Grace had been transferred to a specialist facility outside Manhattan.
The signature at the bottom belonged to a physician Elena had never heard of.
Daniel frowned.
“This doesn't look right.””
a physician Elena had never heard of.
Daniel frowned.
“This doesn't look right.””
“What do you mean?”” Elena asked.
“The hospital's discharge record says Grace left with“What do you mean?”” Elena asked.
“The hospital's discharge record says Grace left with an authorized guardian. But the medical transfer document lists a different facility, and the authorization number doesn't an authorized guardian. But the medical transfer document lists a different facility, and the authorization number doesn't match the hospital's usual format.””
“Can you verify it?””
“I can ask the hospital to confirm the match the hospital's usual format.””
“Can you verify it?””
“I can ask the hospital to confirm the record with the appropriate authorities.””
He photographed the document and sent it to a contact handling record with the appropriate authorities.””
He photographed the document and sent it to a contact handling the case.
A few minutes later, his phone rang.
He listened carefully.
“Understood,” he said.
“Please preserve the the case.
A few minutes later, his phone rang.
He listened carefully.
“Understood,” he said.
“Please preserve the original and notify the responding officers.””
He ended the call.
“What did they say?”” Elena asked.
“The receiving original and notify the responding officers.””
He ended the call.
“What did they say?”” Elena asked.
“The receiving facility has no record of Grace.””
Victoria covered her mouth.
Robert gripped facility has no record of Grace.””
Victoria covered her mouth.
Robert gripped the back of a chair.
“So Andrew lied.””
“Yes,” Daniel said.
“And the back of a chair.
“So Andrew lied.””
“Yes,” Daniel said.
“And if the document was deliberately falsified, this may be much more serious than an if the document was deliberately falsified, this may be much more serious than an unauthorized transfer.””
Elena stood.
“Where would he take her?””
Robert began pacing.
“Andrew has a country house in Westchester. There are several apartments held unauthorized transfer.””
Elena stood.
“Where would he take her?””
Robert began pacing.
“Andrew has a country house in Westchester. There are several apartments held through companies he controls. There's also a property near the Connecticut border that through companies he controls. There's also a property near the Connecticut border that belonged to my brother.””
“Which one has a private medical room?”” Elena asked.
Robert stopped.
“What?””
“Andrew wouldn't take a child who belonged to my brother.””
“Which one has a private medical room?”” Elena asked.
Robert stopped.
“What?””
“Andrew wouldn't take a child who needs medical attention to an ordinary apartment. The hospital made it clear that she had been receiving treatment.””
Robert looked at Daniel.
“Richard's old estate needs medical attention to an ordinary apartment. The hospital made it clear that she had been receiving treatment.””
Robert looked at Daniel.
“Richard's old estate had a private clinic on the lower floor. My brother had it built after a heart condition forced had a private clinic on the lower floor. My brother had it built after a heart condition forced him to spend several months recovering at home.””
“Where is it?””
“North of Bedford. It's been empty for years.””
him to spend several months recovering at home.””
“Where is it?””
“North of Bedford. It's been empty for years.””
Victoria suddenly stood.
“No.””
Everyone turned toward her.
SheVictoria suddenly stood.
“No.””
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked frightened.
“Andrew wouldn't take her there.””
“Why not?”” Elena demanded.
“Because that property looked frightened.
“Andrew wouldn't take her there.””
“Why not?”” Elena demanded.
“Because that property is where he keeps the records he doesn't want anyone to find.””
Daniel closed the laptop.
“Do is where he keeps the records he doesn't want anyone to find.””
Daniel closed the laptop.
“Do you have the address?””
Robert nodded.
“I can provide it.””
“We'll you have the address?””
Robert nodded.
“I can provide it.””
“We'll send it to the authorities immediately. Nobody goes there alone.””
Elena reached for her handbag.
“I need to see my send it to the authorities immediately. Nobody goes there alone.””
Elena reached for her handbag.
“I need to see my daughter.””
“And you will,” Daniel said.
“But we need to do this safely.””
“What if Andrew moves daughter.””
“And you will,” Daniel said.
“But we need to do this safely.””
“What if Andrew moves her again?””
“That's why we're contacting the police now.””
Elena wanted to argue.
Every instinct told her to run out of the her again?””
“That's why we're contacting the police now.””
Elena wanted to argue.
Every instinct told her to run out of the penthouse, find the nearest car, and drive until she reached the estate.
But she remembered her father's final penthouse, find the nearest car, and drive until she reached the estate.
But she remembered her father's final letter.
The child must remain safe until I can prove the truth.
She had spent seven years trying to honor a letter.
The child must remain safe until I can prove the truth.
She had spent seven years trying to honor a promise she hadn't even known existed.
She wasn't going to put Grace in greater danger because she couldn't bear another minute of waiting.
promise she hadn't even known existed.
She wasn't going to put Grace in greater danger because she couldn't bear another minute of waiting.
“Call them,” she told Daniel.
He stepped into the corridor to make“Call them,” she told Daniel.
He stepped into the corridor to make the necessary arrangements.
Robert stood silently beside the table.
the necessary arrangements.
Robert stood silently beside the table.
Elena turned toward him.
“Why did my father trust you with that letter?””
Robert stared at the floor.
“Because he believed I still had a conscience.””
Elena turned toward him.
“Why did my father trust you with that letter?””
Robert stared at the floor.
“Because he believed I still had a conscience.””
“Did you?””
He looked up.
“I think I did. But I was too afraid“Did you?””
He looked up.
“I think I did. But I was too afraid to use it.””
Elena nodded slowly.
“At least that's honest.””
She picked up the photograph of Grace to use it.””
Elena nodded slowly.
“At least that's honest.””
She picked up the photograph of Grace and slipped it into her handbag.
Then she noticed something in the corner of the image.
A small and slipped it into her handbag.
Then she noticed something in the corner of the image.
A small framed picture hung on the wall behind the child.
It showed two men standing outside the original Sterling office.
One was framed picture hung on the wall behind the child.
It showed two men standing outside the original Sterling office.
One was her grandfather.
The other was Robert's father.
But someone had drawn a red circle around a third person standing at her grandfather.
The other was Robert's father.
But someone had drawn a red circle around a third person standing at the far edge of the photograph.
Elena enlarged the image on the laptop.
The third person was a young man in a dark suit.
the far edge of the photograph.
Elena enlarged the image on the laptop.
The third person was a young man in a dark suit.
She recognized him immediately.
AndrewShe recognized him immediately.
Andrew.
The photograph had been taken decades before he could have been old enough to work for the company.
“That can't be right,” she whispered.
Robert moved closer.
“What is it?””
Elena pointed at the picture.
.
The photograph had been taken decades before he could have been old enough to work for the company.
“That can't be right,” she whispered.
Robert moved closer.
“What is it?””
Elena pointed at the picture.
“Look at the man standing behind your father.””
Robert stared.
Then his face drained of color.
“That photograph was taken in“Look at the man standing behind your father.””
Robert stared.
Then his face drained of color.
“That photograph was taken in 1989.””
“Andrew wasn't born until 1991.””
“Exactly.””
Victoria leaned 1989.””
“Andrew wasn't born until 1991.””
“Exactly.””
Victoria leaned over the screen.
“Maybe it's someone who looks like him.””
Robert over the screen.
“Maybe it's someone who looks like him.””
Robert shook his head.
“No. Look at the scar above the left eyebrow.””
Elena looked again.
The man in the photograph had a thin scar running just above his left eyebrow.
Andrew had the same scar.
She had noticed it earlier shook his head.
“No. Look at the scar above the left eyebrow.””
Elena looked again.
The man in the photograph had a thin scar running just above his left eyebrow.
Andrew had the same scar.
She had noticed it earlier that night when he entered the dining room.
Daniel returned, that night when he entered the dining room.
Daniel returned, his phone still in his hand.
“What happened?””
Robert pointed at the photograph.
Daniel examined it.
“Where did this image come from?””
“The adoption file,” Elena answered.
“It was stored with Grace's records.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“That's not a coincidence.””
Robert slowly lowered himself into his phone still in his hand.
“What happened?””
Robert pointed at the photograph.
Daniel examined it.
“Where did this image come from?””
“The adoption file,” Elena answered.
“It was stored with Grace's records.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“That's not a coincidence.””
Robert slowly lowered himself into a chair.
“My father told me once that someone had been using a false identity to access the original trust records. He said the person had connections to the company long before Andrew became general counsel.””
Elena looked at him.
“Who?””
Robert shook his head.
“I never knew.””
“Then why does Andrew appear in a photograph taken before he was born?””
Nobody answered.
Daniel enlarged the image again.
A faint inscription appeared a chair.
“My father told me once that someone had been using a false identity to access the original trust records. He said the person had connections to the company long before Andrew became general counsel.””
Elena looked at him.
“Who?””
Robert shook his head.
“I never knew.””
“Then why does Andrew appear in a photograph taken before he was born?””
Nobody answered.
Daniel enlarged the image again.
A faint inscription appeared along the bottom edge.
*Sterling Foundation, 1989. Original trustees and beneficiaries.*
B along the bottom edge.
*Sterling Foundation, 1989. Original trustees and beneficiaries.*
Beneath it, someone had written a name in faded ink.
**A. Vale.eneath it, someone had written a name in faded ink.
*A. Vale.*
Robert stood so abruptly that the chair scraped across the floor.
“No.””
Elena looked at him**
Robert stood so abruptly that the chair scraped across the floor.
“No.””
Elena looked at him.
“Who is A. Vale?””
Robert's hands began to shake.
“A man my father claimed.
“Who is A. Vale?””
Robert's hands began to shake.
“A man my father claimed had died before the company was founded.””
“Who was he?””
Robert stared at the photograph as had died before the company was founded.””
“Who was he?””
Robert stared at the photograph as though it had opened a grave.
“Alexander Vale was my father's business partner before your grandfather joined though it had opened a grave.
“Alexander Vale was my father's business partner before your grandfather joined the company. He disappeared after a warehouse fire in 1987. My father believed he had died in the company.
He disappeared after a warehouse fire in 1987. My father believed he had died in the fire.””
Daniel looked back at the image.
“But if that's him, he the fire.””
Daniel looked back at the image.
“But if that's him, he survived.””
“And if he survived,” Robert whispered, “then the entire history of the trust may be a survived.””
“And if he survived,” Robert whispered, “then the entire history of the trust may be a lie.””
Elena's phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
She opened the message.
It contained a photograph of Grace sitting in the back lie.””
Elena's phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
She opened the message.
It contained a photograph of Grace sitting in the back seat of a black car.
The little girl was awake, clutching her stuffed rabbit.
A man's hand rested on the seat beside her.
B seat of a black car.
The little girl was awake, clutching her stuffed rabbit.
A man's hand rested on the seat beside her.
Beneath the photograph were seven words.
*Come alone if you want your daughter back.*
eneath the photograph were seven words.
*Come alone if you want your daughter back.*
A second message appeared.
**Ask Robert whoA second message appeared.
*Ask Robert who your your real real father was.*
Elena stared at the screen.
Then she looked at Robert.
He was already reading the message over her shoulder.
And the expression on his face told her that the next truth would be worse than anything she had learned that night.
“Robert,” she whispered.
“Who was my father?””
He opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, Daniel's phone rang.
He listened for a few seconds, then turned toward Elena.
“The police have reached the Westchester estate.””
Her heart leaped.
“Did they find Grace?””
Daniel's face was grim.
“They found the car.””
“And my daughter?””
He looked at her.
“The house is empty.””
A moment later, another message arrived on Elena's phone.
This time, it contained a short video.
Grace sat in a dimly lit room, holding her father was.**
Elena stared at the screen.
Then she looked at Robert.
He was already reading the message over her shoulder.
And the expression on his face told her that the next truth would be worse than anything she had learned that night.
“Robert,” she whispered.
“Who was my father?””
He opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, Daniel's phone rang.
He listened for a few seconds, then turned toward Elena.
“The police have reached the Westchester estate.””
Her heart leaped.
“Did they find Grace?””
Daniel's face was grim.
“They found the car.””
“And my daughter?””
He looked at her.
“The house is empty.””
A moment later, another message arrived on Elena's phone.
This time, it contained a short video.
Grace sat in a dimly lit room, holding her rabbit against her chest.
She looked directly into the camera.
“Mommy?”” she whispered.
Elena's knees nearly gave way.
Grace blinked back tears.
“Please come get me.””
The video ended.
Then a final message appeared.
*You have one hour, Elena. After that, you'll never see her again.*
rabbit against her chest.
She looked directly into the camera.
“Mommy?”” she whispered.
Elena's knees nearly gave way.
Grace blinked back tears.
“Please come get me.””
The video ended.
May you like
Then a final message appeared.
*You have one hour, Elena. After that, you'll never see her again.*
