Chapter 9 - Northstar Holdings.My father's company.
The place I'd visited since I was a child.
The place where he'd taught me to stay quiet.
The place where I'd signed the documents.
I drove there.
Daniel tried to stop me.
I ignored him.
When I entered the lobby, the receptionist looked surprised.
“Ms. Parker?”
“I need the executive floor.”
She hesitated.
Then looked at the security guard.
I knew something was wrong.
I walked to the elevator.
The doors opened.
No security stopped me.
That was worse.
Someone wanted me upstairs.
Dad was waiting.
His office door was open.
“You came.”
“Where is Emma?”
“I don't have her.”
“Then who does?”
Dad looked at me.
“You're getting close.”
“To what?”
He sat down.
“To the reason your grandfather built that trust.”
I placed the Orion file on his desk.
His eyes changed.
“Where did you find that?”
“Under his house.”
He stared.
“You opened the archive.”
“Yes.”
He whispered:
“You shouldn't have.”
“Why?”
“Because now they know you have it.”
“Who are they?”
He leaned back.
“The people who funded Northstar.”
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
I slammed my hand onto the desk.
“Where is my daughter?”
He looked genuinely frightened.
“I told you, I don't know.”
Then he said something unexpected.
“Your mother does.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Ask her where she was the night of your accident.”
My heart dropped.
I pulled out my phone.
Called Mom.
She answered immediately.
“Elizabeth?”
“Where was I when I was seventeen?”
Silence.
“Mom.”
“I can't.”
“Tell me.”
“You aren't ready.”
“I nearly died.”
She began crying.
“Your father wanted you gone.”
I stared at the wall.
“Why?”
“Because your grandfather changed his will.”
I already knew that.
“What changed?”
“He left everything to you.”
“Only that?”
She didn't answer.
“What else?”
“He left you controlling shares in Northstar.”
I stopped.
“What?”
“You were supposed to take control when you turned twenty-five.”
That explained everything.
Dad hadn't been protecting the company.
He'd been protecting his position.
I whispered:
“So that's why.”
Mom sobbed.
“He couldn't let you discover the trust.”
“Did he order my accident?”
Silence.
Then:
“He hired someone.”
My chest tightened.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You know enough.”
“I was there after.”
My blood ran cold.
“Where?”
She cried.
“At the lake.”
I shut my eyes.
“Were you the one who found me?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Her answer came in a whisper.
“Jessica.”
I opened my eyes.
Jessica.
My sister.
The favorite child.
The beneficiary of everything my parents had stolen.
I hung up.
Then looked at Dad.
“Jessica found me.”
He said nothing.
“Did she know?”
Still nothing.
I grabbed my coat.
“Where is she?”
Dad stood.
“Don't go after your sister.”
“Why?”
“Because she isn't the one who took Emma.”
I stopped.
“Then who did?”
Dad looked at the Orion file.
“The same person who ordered your accident.”
My phone buzzed.
A text from an unknown number.
A single sentence.
Your sister has been waiting nine years to tell you the truth.
Then a location appeared.
A roadside motel.
Room 214.
I stared at the screen.
Dad whispered:
“Don't go.”
I looked at him.
May you like
“Why?”
“Because that's where Jessica was hiding the night you were supposed to die.”
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