Chapter 9 - THE DEALWe received the location twenty minutes later.
A warehouse outside the city.
Cross called for backup.
But Claire stopped him.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“She'll kill Rachel.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
Claire stared at me.
“We give her what she wants.”
“Lily?”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“We give her the trust.”
I understood.
“We transfer it.”
Claire nodded.
“Then we trace the account.”
Cross stared at us.
“That transfer could take hours.”
“We don't have hours.”
He made the call.
I signed the digital authorization with shaking hands.
The money moved.
Evelyn received exactly what she expected.
Five minutes later, she called.
“You were always easier to control than Claire.”
I said nothing.
“Bring Lily.”
“No.”
“Then Rachel dies.”
I looked at Claire.
She mouthed:
Don't give in.
I kept the line open.
“You want the money,” I said.
“I want what belongs to my family.”
“You already have it.”
Evelyn laughed.
“You really don't understand.”
“What?”
“You're not Lily's father.”
The world seemed to stop.
Claire closed her eyes.
I stared at her.
She didn't look surprised.
“Claire?”
She whispered:
“I found out after Lily was born.”
My hands tightened.
“Who is?”
Evelyn answered for her.
“Thomas.”
Silence.
I looked at Claire.
“That DNA report…”
She nodded.
“Your father isn't Lily's biological grandfather.”
My mind raced.
“Then why is Lily named in his trust?”
“Because Thomas believed she was his granddaughter.”
Evelyn laughed again.
“He was wrong.”
The call ended.
I turned toward Claire.
“Who is Lily's father?”
Claire's face went pale.
“I don't know.”
A message arrived.
A photograph.
A hospital record.
The birth certificate showed a different surname.
Lily Thomas Vance.
But beneath it was a handwritten correction.
Biological father: UNKNOWN.
Rachel suddenly called.
Her voice was barely audible.
“Mark…”
“Rachel!”
“Listen to me.”
I heard Evelyn in the background.
“Don't.”
Rachel continued anyway.
“Your father knew who Lily's father was.”
“What?”
A gunshot exploded over the phone.
The line went dead.
I stared at the screen.
Claire grabbed my arm.
“We're out of time.”
Cross looked toward the door.
His backup had arrived.
“Then we go now.”
As we rushed toward the cars, my phone received one final message.
May you like
From Rachel.
THE FATHER IS SOMEONE YOU SEE EVERY DAY.
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