Chapter 8: The Signature
My father sat down.
For the first time in my life, he looked old.
Not angry.
Not powerful.
Old.
I stared at him.
“Who signed Grandpa's death certificate?””
He said nothing.
“Dad.””
His hands began shaking.
“I did.””
The room went silent.
Daniel stepped forward.
“You signed it?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Dad looked at me.
“Because your grandfather wasn't dead.””
I couldn't breathe.
“What?””
“He was alive when we buried him.””
Harris's expression hardened.
“Where is the body?””
Dad looked at him.
“Not in that grave.””
My stomach twisted.
“Then whose body was buried?””
Dad closed his eyes.
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“No.””
“Then how could you sign the certificate?””
“Because they told me to.””
“Who?””
He shook his head.
“I never saw his face.””
I stared at him.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I expect you to hate me.””
He looked directly into my eyes.
“I deserve that.””
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I whispered:
“Tell me everything.””
Dad looked at Harris.
“Your grandfather discovered the Family Office had been using his trust to move money.””
“Whose money?””
“Politicians. Corporations. Foreign accounts. People who didn't want their names connected to anything.””
Harris frowned.
“That's a serious allegation.””
“I have records.””
“Where?””
“The second file.””
“But Michael has it.””
Dad nodded.
“He took it when he disappeared.””
“Why did he disappear?””
“Because they came for him.””
I looked at the photograph again.
Four men.
My grandfather.
Michael.
My father.
Daniel's father.
“Why was Daniel's father involved?””
Dad's face tightened.
“He wasn't just involved.””
“What?””
“He created the network.””
Daniel stepped backward.
“No.””
“My father told me he was a consultant.””
“He was the architect.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You're lying.””
“I wish I were.””
Daniel's breathing became heavy.
“My mother said he was killed.””
“He wasn't.””
“Then where is he?””
Dad looked at him.
“He died five years ago.””
Daniel stared.
“How?””
“Cancer.””
Daniel's face collapsed.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me?””
“You were safer believing he was dead.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“So everyone lied to me.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because your father was still being watched.””
I looked between them.
“Watched by whom?””
Dad didn't answer.
Harris's radio crackled.
“Detective, we've got movement outside.””
Everyone froze.
Harris moved toward the window.
“Where?””
“Parking garage.””
He looked back.
“How many?””
“Three vehicles.””
Dad stood.
“They found her.””
“Who?””
He looked at me.
“The people who want the trust.””
Daniel stepped toward the door.
Harris blocked him.
“Nobody leaves this room.””
The hospital lights flickered again.
A nurse hurried in.
“Detective, security says someone has cut the cameras on this floor.””
Harris swore under his breath.
Dad whispered:
“They're already inside.””
Footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Slow.
Measured.
Then a woman's voice called from the hallway.
“Sarah?””
I knew it immediately.
Emily.
Daniel looked at me.
“No.””
My sister appeared in the doorway.
She was wearing a gray coat.
The same coat from the security footage.
Her face was pale.
Her hands were empty.
“Sarah,” she whispered.
Harris raised his weapon.
“Step away from the door.””
Emily lifted both hands.
“I didn't hurt her.””
I stared at her.
“You kicked me.””
“I know.””
“You tried to poison me.””
“I didn't.””
“You gave me those supplements.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because Mom told me to.””
Dad cursed.
Emily looked at him.
“She said it wouldn't kill the baby.””
I felt sick.
“What would it do?””
“Slow the pregnancy.””
Dr. Patel stared at her.
“That is not how this works.””
“I didn't know.””
“You knew enough to give it to me.””
Emily started crying.
“I was scared.””
I looked at her.
“Of what?””
She glanced toward the hallway.
Then whispered:
“They said if Lily was born under the trust, they would kill everyone.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Who said that?””
Emily looked at him.
“Your father.””
Daniel froze.
“He's dead.””
“I know.””
“Then who?””
Emily shook her head.
“I never saw him.””
Dad stepped closer.
“Where's your mother?””
Emily began crying harder.
“She’s gone.””
“Where?””
“She left me.””
“When?””
“After the police arrived.””
“Where did she go?””
Emily looked at me.
“To the old house.””
My blood ran cold.
“What old house?””
“The one your grandfather owned before he died.””
Dad's face changed.
“No.””
“What?””
He looked at Harris.
“She knows about the vault.””
“What vault?””
Emily whispered:
“Grandpa's underground room.””
I stared at her.
“There was no underground room.””
Emily shook her head.
“There was.””
“Have you been there?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Last night.””
My heart pounded.
“What did you see?””
Emily swallowed.
“Your mother was there.””
“With what?””
“A suitcase.””
“What was inside?””
Emily looked toward my stomach.
“The original trust.””
Dad stepped forward.
“No.””
“And a gun.””
The room went silent.
Harris immediately called for backup.
Then Emily whispered the words that made every hair on my arms rise.
“She wasn't alone.””
“Who was with her?””
Emily looked directly at Daniel.
“Your father.””
Daniel went completely still.
“That’s impossible.””
Emily shook her head.
“I saw him.””
“Where?””
“At the old house.””
“When?””
“An hour ago.””
Daniel stared at her.
“My father died five years ago.””
Emily nodded.
“I know.””
She looked at me.
“And he told your mother…”
May you like
Her voice broke.
“He told her the baby has to die before sunrise.””
