Chapter 13 - Nobody slept.The nursery footage was real.
Helen had someone inside our house.
Someone close.
The police returned us to a secure location.
Every entrance was guarded.
Every phone checked.
Every vehicle searched.
Still, I couldn't stop thinking about what Helen had said.
Your real father.
My biological father.
I had assumed it was Maria's husband.
But Maria had never named him.
When I asked, she said only:
“He died before you were born.”
Then she refused to say more.
I knew immediately that she was lying.
Not because she was cruel.
Because she looked afraid.
Dad finally told the truth.
“He isn't dead.”
My chest tightened.
“Who?”
Maria turned toward him.
“You promised.”
“I know.”
“Thirty years.”
“I know.”
“What changed?”
He looked at Lily.
“She almost lost her baby.”
Maria closed her eyes.
“My father is alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Dad looked at Elliot.
Elliot nodded.
“He's in Virginia.”
My heart raced.
“What is his name?”
Elliot answered:
“Samuel Cross.”
The name meant nothing.
But Maria reacted.
“You found him.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Elliot looked at me.
“In prison.”
I stared.
“For what?”
“Murder.”
Whose?
Elliot's answer was quiet.
“Victor Hale.”
I felt cold.
“Then why is he in prison?”
“Because he confessed.”
“To killing Victor?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“To killing Maria.”
Maria looked at me.
“He confessed to killing me.”
My blood ran cold.
“But you're alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why did he confess?”
Maria whispered:
“To protect you.”
It was becoming impossible to tell which lies were meant to protect and which were meant to control.
We went to the prison.
Samuel Cross was older than I expected.
Gray hair.
Strong hands.
Eyes that looked like mine.
The same jaw.
The same expression when he became angry.
When he saw me, he stood.
“I know you.”
“You've never met me.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Because I've spent thirty years looking at your photograph.”
He reached beneath the table.
A faded photograph.
Me as a toddler.
Maria beside me.
Samuel behind them.
I began crying.
“You are my father.”
He nodded.
“I am.”
“Why didn't you find me?”
“I did.”
“Then why?”
“Because Helen threatened your life.”
“You believed her?”
“I believed Victor.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor had my sister.”
“Your sister?”
Samuel closed his eyes.
“Elliot knows.”
I turned.
Elliot stepped forward.
“Samuel's younger sister was Helen.”
I stared.
My mother.
My father was my father's brother's old enemy.
Everything was tangled beyond reason.
Samuel continued:
“Helen was not alone.”
“What do you mean?”
“She had Victor.”
“And?”
“A third person.”
“Who?”
Samuel looked at Maria.
Maria whispered:
“Your grandmother.”
I froze.
“My grandmother was involved?”
“Yes.”
“She was dead before I knew her.”
“She arranged the adoption.”
I stared.
The family line I had imagined as love and tradition was built from manipulation.
Money.
Fear.
Secrets.
The detective interrupted.
“We have an update.”
Everyone turned.
“Helen didn't escape by herself.”
He placed a photograph on the table.
Security footage.
A man escorting her through a service corridor.
The man's face was clear.
My heart stopped.
Daniel.
Not my husband.
Daniel Hale.
Victor's son.
He had escaped custody.
He was working with Helen.
And he had taken someone.
The detective showed another image.
Clara.
Her hands bound.
A black hood over her head.
Then another.
Rebecca.
Taken separately.
My world collapsed.
Two of my sisters were missing.
Helen had them.
The phone rang.
A distorted voice answered.
“You have one hour.”
“What do you want?”
“Bring the trust documents.”
“I don't have them.”
“You have the key.”
I froze.
The crypt key.
“How do you know?”
“We know everything.”
“Where are they?”
“Old Bennett farm.”
The place from my recovered memory.
The voice continued:
“Come alone.”
“No.”
A pause.
“Then your sisters die.”
The call ended.
Dad grabbed my arm.
“You can't go.”
“I have to.”
Maria shook her head.
“No.”
“She's my family.”
“You're walking into a trap.”
“I know.”
Daniel stepped beside me.
“Then don't walk alone.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
“I mean it.”
“My sisters are there.”
“I know.”
“We may not come back.”
He took my hand.
“Then we're coming back together.”
The police prepared a tactical team.
The old farm was surrounded.
But as we approached the house, the barn door opened.
Helen stepped outside.
She held a gun.
Behind her stood Rebecca and Clara.
Both bound.
Helen smiled.
“You came.”
I stepped forward.
“Let them go.”
She shook her head.
“First, you need to hear what your father did.”
She raised the gun toward Dad.
“He is the reason Maria disappeared.”
Dad looked at me.
And for the first time, he didn't deny it.
May you like
He said:
“She is right.”
