Chapter 7: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
“That's Richard Whitmore.””
Daniel stepped away from the window as though the old man could see straight through the glass.
Outside, Richard stood beside the black car, one hand resting on his silver walking stick. His gray hair was neatly combed, and his expensive dark coat looked untouched by the rain.
Victoria stood beside him.
She wasn't crying anymore.
She was smiling.
Rose looked at Grace.
“Mom, how does he know we're here?””
Grace rushed toward the door.
“He's been watching me for years.””
Daniel grabbed her arm.
“Wait. We need to call the police.””
“You don't understand,” Grace whispered.
“Richard has friends everywhere. If he knows we're here, the police could be the first people through that door.””
Rose looked at the window again.
Victoria raised her phone.
A second later, Rose's own phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She opened the message.
Come outside, Rose. Your mother has lied to you for nineteen years. I can prove it.
A photograph appeared beneath the words.
It showed Rose as a little girl, sitting on a hospital bed.
Her mother stood beside her.
And behind them, partially hidden by the doorway, was Richard Whitmore.
Rose's fingers went numb.
“Mom.””
Grace looked at the screen.
Her face crumpled.
“He was there.””
Daniel turned.
“What?””
“He was at the hospital. I thought Evelyn had arranged everything. I didn't know Richard was watching.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Grace, I swear I never knew.””
Grace looked at her.
“You keep saying that.””
“I was trying to protect Rose.””
“Then why did you let me disappear?””
Evelyn had no answer.
A loud knock struck the hotel door.
Everyone froze.
Then came another.
Three deliberate knocks.
“Daniel!”” a man's voice called from the corridor.
Richard.
Daniel reached for his phone.
“I'm calling the police.””
Grace grabbed his wrist.
“Not yet.””
“Why?””
“Because he wants us to panic. That's how he gets people to make mistakes.””
The knocking stopped.
Then Richard spoke again.
“I know you're in there, Daniel. Open the door. We have a great deal to discuss.””
Daniel moved toward the entrance.
Rose caught his sleeve.
“Don't.””
He looked at her.
“That's my uncle.””
“Your uncle is supposed to be dead.””
Daniel stared at the floor.
Then he stepped back.
Grace approached the door.
“Richard, leave.””
A soft chuckle came from the corridor.
“Grace. After all these years, you still have that charming voice.””
“You have no business being here.””
“On the contrary. I have every business being here.””
Victoria's voice joined his.
“Rose, sweetheart, please open the door. We can settle everything.””
Rose almost laughed.
The woman who had tried to make her mother-in-law fall to her death was now calling her sweetheart.
“Go away, Victoria.””
“Daniel needs to understand what his mother has done.””
Evelyn moved toward the door.
“Don't use my son.””
Richard chuckled again.
“Evelyn, darling. You always were too sentimental.””
Daniel finally spoke.
“Why did you tell everyone you were dead?””
Silence.
Then Richard answered.
“Because your father wanted it that way.””
“My father?””
“Yes. Your father knew about the accounts. He knew about Thomas.
He knew about Grace. And he knew what would happen if the truth became public.””
Daniel's voice hardened.
“Did you kill Thomas Carter?””
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he said:
“Open the door, Daniel. I'll explain everything.””
“No.””
“Then I'll explain it to the police.””
Rose looked at Grace.
Her mother shook her head.
“That's a threat.””
Richard continued.
“Perhaps you'd like to know what happened to Thomas's original ledger. Or perhaps you'd prefer to learn why your father left his entire estate to a woman nobody in this family was supposed to remember.””
Daniel went pale.
“What do you want?””
“The trust documents.””
Rose stepped forward.
“They're mine.””
Richard laughed.
“Ah. The little girl has grown up.””
“Stop calling me that.””
“Your father would be proud of you, Rose. He always believed you were stronger than your mother.””
Grace's eyes flashed.
“Don't you dare speak about Thomas!””
Richard's voice became cold.
“Then give me the ledger.””
Grace looked toward the cabinet.
Rose followed her gaze.
Something inside the cabinet clicked.
A small hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a thin black folder.
Grace reached for it.
But before her fingers touched the folder, the lights went out.
A crash sounded in the corridor.
Daniel shouted.
“Everyone stay together!””
The emergency lights flickered on.
The hotel door swung open.
Two men in dark clothing rushed inside.
One grabbed Daniel.
The other reached for the folder.
Rose screamed as Grace pulled her behind the cabinet.
Evelyn picked up a heavy glass lamp and struck the second man's arm.
The folder fell.
Daniel struggled against the first attacker.
“Get away from them!””
The man shoved him into the wall.
Rose grabbed the folder and ran toward the bathroom.
But Victoria appeared in the doorway.
She held a small silver pistol.
“Give it to me.””
Rose stopped.
Victoria's eyes were cold.
“You should have listened when I told you to stay out of this family.””
Rose clutched the folder.
“You tried to kill Evelyn.””
Victoria smiled.
“And you saved her. Congratulations.””
“Why?””
“Because she knew too much.””
Rose stared at her.
“What did she know?””
Victoria stepped closer.
“That your mother was never supposed to survive the fire.””
Behind her, Richard appeared.
He looked at the folder in Rose's hands.
“Give it to me, child.””
Rose backed away.
Then a voice came from the bathroom behind her.
“Don't move.””
Everyone turned.
Grace stood in the doorway holding a small black device.
Her thumb rested on a red button.
Richard's smile disappeared.
“Grace. What have you done?””
Grace looked at Rose.
“I told you I had something they could never destroy.””
She pressed the button.
A tiny green light appeared on the device.
Then a voice filled the hotel room.
Richard's voice.
But it wasn't coming from the hallway.
It was coming from the device.
“Thomas is dead. The girl is still alive. We need to make sure neither of them can testify.””
Daniel stared.
Richard's face went gray.
May you like
Grace looked directly at him.
“This time, Richard, the whole world is listening.””
