Chapter 9: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
My mother didn't deny it.
She didn't explain.
She simply sat on the sofa with both hands pressed against her mouth, staring at the photograph on my phone.
Lauren took it from me.
"That's Thomas?""
My mother nodded.
"Yes.""
Lauren's voice cracked.
"Why is he at Dad's hospital?""
My mother closed her eyes.
"Because he was there when Robert died.""
I looked at the photograph again.
There was no doubt.
The man standing beside my mother was the same man in the old construction photograph.
Thomas Bennett.
Lauren's biological father.
The man my mother had claimed disappeared decades ago.
"Is he alive?"" I asked.
My mother looked at me.
"Yes.""
I laughed in disbelief.
"You told us he disappeared.""
"I thought it was better that way.""
"You told Lauren her biological father was gone.""
"He left.""
"But he's alive.""
My mother nodded.
I felt a strange mixture of anger and exhaustion.
"Where is he now?""
"I don't know.""
"Don't lie to me.""
"I'm not.""
Lauren walked toward the fireplace.
"Why did he come back?""
My mother stared at the photograph.
"Because Robert contacted him.""
I frowned.
"Why would Dad contact the man who supposedly stole from his company?""
My mother swallowed.
"Because Robert discovered the original trust had been altered.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Altered by whom?""
My mother looked at me.
"Thomas.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't make sense. Dad trusted him enough to contact him?""
"Your father believed Thomas had returned to correct what he'd done.""
Lauren turned.
"Then why was he at the hospital?""
My mother began crying again.
"Because Robert wanted to confront him.""
I sat down.
"Tell us exactly what happened.""
My mother took a deep breath.
"Thomas arrived at the house around eight that evening. Robert was already angry. They argued about the company, the trust, and the money.""
"Did they fight?""
"No.""
"Did Thomas hurt Dad?""
"No.""
"Then what happened?""
My mother stared at her hands.
"Robert suddenly became unwell. He started sweating. He said his chest hurt.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Then what?""
"I called Daniel.""
I shook my head.
"Why not emergency services?""
"I did both. I called Daniel because he knew about the medication.""
Lauren stepped forward.
"What did Thomas do?""
My mother looked at her.
"He tried to help.""
"How?""
"He checked Robert's pulse. He told me to get the medication.""
I stared at her.
"Which medication?""
"The bottle Daniel had brought.""
The room seemed to grow colder.
My mother continued.
"Thomas looked at the bottle and told me not to give Robert anything else. He said we needed to wait for the paramedics.""
I frowned.
"Then why is Dad wearing his wedding ring in a photograph taken at the hospital?""
My mother looked confused.
"What?""
I showed her the photograph again.
She studied it.
Then her face changed.
"That's not the hospital.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
She took my phone.
"That's the private clinic.""
Lauren moved closer.
"Which clinic?""
My mother whispered the name.
It was a small medical facility outside the city.
I'd never heard of it.
I looked at her.
"Why was Dad there?""
My mother shook her head.
"He wasn't supposed to be.""
I stood.
"Mom, stop. I need you to tell me the truth.""
She looked at me.
"Your father was taken there after the ambulance arrived. Daniel said the hospital was overcrowded and that the clinic had a specialist who could treat him.""
I felt sick.
"Was Dad alive when they took him there?""
My mother began crying.
"I don't know.""
"You don't know?""
"Thomas said he was still breathing when they left the house. Daniel said he had already died.""
I stared at her.
"Which one was right?""
She shook her head.
"I never found out.""
Lauren grabbed the back of a chair.
"You're telling us you never saw Dad again?""
My mother nodded.
"Daniel told me the clinic had taken care of everything. He said there was no point making things more difficult.""
I felt something cold move through my chest.
"Then who identified his body?""
My mother looked at me.
"Daniel.""
I sat down.
My father had supposedly died at home.
But according to my mother, he'd been transported to a private clinic.
Daniel had identified the body.
And somehow, a man who had supposedly disappeared years earlier had been standing beside my mother that night.
I picked up my phone.
The unknown number was still on the screen.
I called it.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then a man's voice answered.
"Claire.""
I froze.
I recognized the voice from the recording.
It was the man who had spoken in the background when my mother called earlier.
The family attorney.
"Who is this?"" I asked.
"My name is Richard Collins.""
I looked toward the bank documents still in my handbag.
"You're the attorney who handled my father's estate.""
"Yes.""
"Why are you contacting me from an unknown number?""
"Because your husband has been monitoring the family's communications.""
I looked at Lauren.
She mouthed, What?
I moved toward the window.
"Where is Thomas Bennett?""
There was a pause.
Then Richard answered.
"With me.""
I closed my eyes.
"Is he alive?""
"Very much so.""
"Why has nobody told me?""
"Because he asked us not to.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Apparently everyone in my family has been making decisions about what I should know.""
Richard sighed.
"Claire, I understand your anger. But you need to listen carefully.""
"Go ahead.""
"Your father did not die in the way the death certificate describes.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"What does that mean?""
"It means the circumstances surrounding his death were deliberately concealed.""
"By whom?""
Another pause.
"Your husband.""
I looked toward Lauren.
She was staring at me.
Richard continued.
"Daniel arranged the private transfer. He also arranged for the death certificate to be issued through a doctor who had a financial relationship with Bennett Family Holdings.""
I covered my mouth.
"Was my father already dead?""
"We don't know.""
"How can you not know?""
"Because the original medical records disappeared.""
I felt tears gathering in my eyes.
"Then what happened to him?""
Richard lowered his voice.
"That's why Thomas wants to meet you.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Where?""
"Tomorrow morning. Nine o'clock. The old development office.""
I recognized the address.
It was the building my father had used before expanding the company.
"Why there?""
"Because that's where the original trust documents are kept.""
I swallowed.
"Who has access?""
"Only three people.""
"Who?""
Richard answered.
"Thomas Bennett. Margaret Bennett. And Daniel Mercer.""
I closed my eyes.
"Daniel.""
"Yes.""
I heard a door open somewhere on Richard's end.
Then a man's voice spoke.
"Is that Claire?""
Richard said something I couldn't make out.
The man came closer.
Then he spoke directly into the phone.
"Claire, this is Thomas.""
My heart began pounding.
I looked at Lauren.
She had moved closer.
"Are you really Lauren's biological father?"" I asked.
"Yes.""
"Why did you disappear?""
He exhaled.
"Because your father and I made a terrible mistake.""
"What mistake?""
"We created a company that was supposed to protect our families. Instead, it became something much darker.""
I stared at the wall.
"Did you steal the money?""
"No.""
"Did you alter the trust?""
"No.""
"Did you know Daniel was involved?""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't you stop him?""
Thomas was silent.
Then he said:
"Because Daniel wasn't working for me.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"Daniel was working for someone else.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"Who?""
Thomas hesitated.
Then he said:
"The person who has controlled Bennett Family Holdings from the beginning.""
I looked at the photograph of my mother.
"Who?""
Thomas answered:
"Your mother.""
I stared at the phone.
"That's impossible. She told me she didn't know where the money went.""
Thomas gave a tired laugh.
"Claire, Margaret has never been a victim in this arrangement. She was the person who designed it.""
My stomach turned.
"Why?""
"Because she wanted control of the company. And because she knew something your father never told you.""
"What?""
Thomas lowered his voice.
"Your father had another daughter.""
I looked at Lauren.
"Lauren?""
"No.""
The word was immediate.
"Then who?""
Thomas took a breath.
"Your mother had a child before you and Lauren. A child who was never included in the family photographs.""
I felt the room spinning.
"Where is she?""
Thomas didn't answer.
Instead, he said:
"Ask Margaret why she kept three birth certificates in your father's study.""
The call ended.
I stood motionless.
Three birth certificates.
My mother.
My sister.
Me.
And another daughter?
Lauren took my hand.
"Claire, what is he talking about?""
I looked at her.
"I don't know.""
But then I remembered something.
A locked drawer in my father's study.
When I was twelve, I'd found a small silver key beneath his desk.
I'd asked him what it opened.
He'd smiled and told me it was a secret he would explain when I was older.
He never did.
I looked at my mother.
"Where is Dad's old study key?""
She froze.
For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she slowly walked toward the cabinet.
She opened the bottom drawer and removed a small wooden box.
Inside was a silver key.
The same key.
She placed it in my palm.
"Your father wanted you to have this.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you give it to me before?""
"Because I was afraid of what you'd find.""
I closed my fingers around it.
"What's in the drawer?""
My mother began crying.
"Everything.""
I turned toward Lauren.
"We're going to Dad's office.""
My mother stood abruptly.
"No.""
I looked at her.
"Move.""
"Claire, you don't understand. If you open that drawer, there will be no going back.""
I stepped closer.
"Mom, there hasn't been a way back since you helped Daniel bury the truth.""
She grabbed my arm.
"Please. There is something you don't know about the baby.""
I went still.
"What baby?""
My mother released me.
Her face crumpled.
Then she whispered:
"The first daughter wasn't given away, Claire.""
I stared at her.
"Then what happened?""
My mother looked directly into my eyes.
"She was taken from me.""
Before I could respond, Lauren's phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Then she turned pale.
"Claire.""
"What?""
She held out her phone.
The message was from Daniel.
Your mother is lying to you. Ask her who paid the doctor to change the birth records.
A second message appeared.
And ask her why your father's original will names someone called Emily.
I looked at my mother.
Her lips began trembling.
"Who is Emily?""
My mother sat down.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Your oldest sister.""
