Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Man Who Had Been Looking for Me
For: The Man Who Had Been Looking for Me
For twenty-five years, I had believed my father was twenty-five years, I had believed my father was a man who had died before I could remember his face.
Now I was standing in a hotel archive, holding a man who had died before I could remember his face.
Now I was standing in a hotel archive, holding a photograph of my missing mother, while two different men were claiming places in my life.
And somewhere in a photograph of my missing mother, while two different men were claiming places in my life.
And somewhere in the city, a man named Edward Hayes had just become Simone Bellmont's next target.
I the city, a man named Edward Hayes had just become Simone Bellmont's next target.
I looked at Walter.
"Where is he?""
Walter didn't answer.
"Where is Edward Hayes?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"I haven't looked at Walter.
"Where is he?""
Walter didn't answer.
"Where is Edward Hayes?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"I haven't spoken to him in years.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Walter looked at the laboratory report again.
"Edward was the financial director spoken to him in years.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Walter looked at the laboratory report again.
"Edward was the financial director of this hotel when I founded it. He was brilliant with numbers. He also had a relationship with Denise before she of this hotel when I founded it.
He was brilliant with numbers. He also had a relationship with Denise before she started working here.""
"Was he my father?""
"I don't know, Avery.""
"Did you know started working here.""
"Was he my father?""
"I don't know, Avery.""
"Did you know she loved him?""
Walter nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why did you tell me you were my she loved him?""
Walter nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why did you tell me you were my father?""
His expression crumbled.
"Because I wanted it to be true.""
I stared at him.
He continued father?""
His expression crumbled.
"Because I wanted it to be true.""
I stared at him.
He continued, his voice unsteady.
"I loved Denise. I loved you before you were born. When Edward disappeared, I believed I could give, his voice unsteady.
"I loved Denise. I loved you before you were born. When Edward disappeared, I believed I could give you the life he couldn't.
I convinced myself that being your father was more important than knowing whether I was biolog you the life he couldn't. I convinced myself that being your father was more important than knowing whether I was biologically your father.""
"That wasn't your decision to make.""
"No. It wasn't.""
Darius interrupted.
"Mr.ically your father.""
"That wasn't your decision to make.""
"No. It wasn't.""
Darius interrupted.
"Mr. Bellmont, we need to move. I've just received confirmation that the photograph was taken inside a Bellmont, we need to move. I've just received confirmation that the photograph was taken inside a private property owned by the Hayes family.""
I turned toward him.
"Can you locate it?""
"Already private property owned by the Hayes family.""
I turned toward him.
"Can you locate it?""
"Already have.""
Walter grabbed his jacket.
"Let's go.""
But Darius raised his hand.
"There's a problem have.""
Walter grabbed his jacket.
"Let's go.""
But Darius raised his hand.
"There's a problem. Two vehicles have been seen outside the property. One belongs to the Bellmont Foundation.""
. Two vehicles have been seen outside the property. One belongs to the Bellmont Foundation.""
Simone.
Again.
I took my phone and called Margaret.
She answered immediately.
"Avery, where are you?""
"On my way toSimone.
Again.
I took my phone and called Margaret.
She answered immediately.
"Avery, where are you?""
"On my way to find Edward Hayes. Tell me where he is.""
My aunt started crying.
"Please don't go there.""
"Why?""
"Because find Edward Hayes. Tell me where he is.""
My aunt started crying.
"Please don't go there.""
"Why?""
"Because he made a promise to Denise.""
"What promise?""
"That if anything happened to her, he would protect you.""
he made a promise to Denise.""
"What promise?""
"That if anything happened to her, he would protect you.""
I stopped walking.
"Then why has he never contacted me?""
"Because he thought contactingI stopped walking.
"Then why has he never contacted me?""
"Because he thought contacting you would put you in danger.""
"That's what everyone keeps saying! Everyone has been protecting me by lying you would put you in danger.""
"That's what everyone keeps saying! Everyone has been protecting me by lying to me!""
Margaret sobbed.
"You're right.""
For the first time, she didn't defend herself.
"I was to me!""
Margaret sobbed.
"You're right.""
For the first time, she didn't defend herself.
"I was wrong, Avery. I was frightened. Simone threatened to destroy our family if I told wrong, Avery.
I was frightened. Simone threatened to destroy our family if I told you what happened. I thought keeping you away from the truth was the only way to keep you alive.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did my mother ask you to tell me she you what happened. I thought keeping you away from the truth was the only way to keep you alive.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did my mother ask you to tell me she was dead?""
"No.""
"Did she know I was alive?""
"She knew you were with me. Walter arranged was dead?""
"No.""
"Did she know I was alive?""
"She knew you were with me. Walter arranged it.""
"Then why did you never let us meet?""
Margaret's voice broke.
"Because Simone told me she would have it.""
"Then why did you never let us meet?""
Margaret's voice broke.
"Because Simone told me she would have you taken away again. And she had enough influence to make that happen.""
I swallowed.
"Did you ever visit Denise?""
"Once.""
"When you taken away again. And she had enough influence to make that happen.""
I swallowed.
"Did you ever visit Denise?""
"Once.""
"When?""
"About ten years ago.""
"What did she say?""
My aunt was quiet.
Then she whispered:
"She asked whether?""
"About ten years ago.""
"What did she say?""
My aunt was quiet.
Then she whispered:
"She asked whether you still liked strawberry cake.""
I couldn't speak.
"She remembered your first birthday," you still liked strawberry cake.""
I couldn't speak.
"She remembered your first birthday," Margaret continued.
"She remembered everything. She had a little notebook filled with things she wanted to do with you when Margaret continued.
"She remembered everything. She had a little notebook filled with things she wanted to do with you when she got better.""
I pressed my fingers against my lips.
"She never forgot me.""
"Never, sweetheart.""
she got better.""
I pressed my fingers against my lips.
"She never forgot me.""
"Never, sweetheart.""
I ended the call.
For the first time that night, I wished I could go back to being the girl who believed herI ended the call.
For the first time that night, I wished I could go back to being the girl who believed her mother was dead.
At least that girl knew where to put her grief.
The Hayes property was an old estate on mother was dead.
At least that girl knew where to put her grief.
The Hayes property was an old estate on the outskirts of the city.
A tall iron gate stood between two stone pillars. Behind it, a long driveway the outskirts of the city.
A tall iron gate stood between two stone pillars. Behind it, a long driveway disappeared beneath rows of trees.
Darius parked several hundred feet disappeared beneath rows of trees.
Darius parked several hundred feet away.
"Nobody gets out until I check the perimeter," he said.
Walter looked impatient.
"We don't have time.""
"We have even less time if we away.
"Nobody gets out until I check the perimeter," he said.
Walter looked impatient.
"We don't have time.""
"We have even less time if we walk into an ambush.""
Darius contacted the police.
I watched the property through the windshield.
A light was walk into an ambush.""
Darius contacted the police.
I watched the property through the windshield.
A light was on upstairs.
Then I noticed a black vehicle leaving through a side gate.
"That's on upstairs.
Then I noticed a black vehicle leaving through a side gate.
"That's them.""
Darius looked up.
"What?""
"The vehicle. The Bellmont Foundation logo.""
He started the them.""
Darius looked up.
"What?""
"The vehicle. The Bellmont Foundation logo.""
He started the engine.
But Walter caught his arm.
"Wait.""
The vehicle stopped at the main road.
Its rear door opened.
A man engine.
But Walter caught his arm.
"Wait.""
The vehicle stopped at the main road.
Its rear door opened.
A man stepped out.
He was tall, perhaps in his late sixties, with silver hair and a walking stick.
He looked directly toward our stepped out.
He was tall, perhaps in his late sixties, with silver hair and a walking stick.
He looked directly toward our car.
Then he began walking toward us.
Walter went pale.
"Edward.""
I opened my door car.
Then he began walking toward us.
Walter went pale.
"Edward.""
I opened my door.
Darius immediately stepped out beside me.
The old man stopped several feet.
Darius immediately stepped out beside me.
The old man stopped several feet away.
His eyes moved from Walter to me.
And then he saw my face.
For a long moment, he couldn't speak away.
His eyes moved from Walter to me.
And then he saw my face.
For a long moment, he couldn't speak.
Finally, he whispered:
"Denise's eyes.""
I stepped forward.
"Are you Edward Hayes?""
He nodded.
"My name is Avery.
Finally, he whispered:
"Denise's eyes.""
I stepped forward.
"Are you Edward Hayes?""
He nodded.
"My name is Avery Cole.""
His walking stick slipped slightly in his hand.
"I know.""
My throat tightened.
"Are you Cole.""
His walking stick slipped slightly in his hand.
"I know.""
My throat tightened.
"Are you my father?""
Edward closed his eyes.
Then he looked at Walter.
"Did you finally tell her?""
Walter nodded my father?""
Edward closed his eyes.
Then he looked at Walter.
"Did you finally tell her?""
Walter nodded.
Edward took a shaky breath.
"Then we need to talk.""
I looked at the house.
"Where is my mother?""
Edward's expression changed.
"She's not here.""
"Then.
Edward took a shaky breath.
"Then we need to talk.""
I looked at the house.
"Where is my mother?""
Edward's expression changed.
"She's not here.""
"Then where?""
He looked down the road.
"Simone took her to a place nobody would think to where?""
He looked down the road.
"Simone took her to a place nobody would think to search.""
"Where?""
Edward leaned closer.
"The original Bellmont maternity clinic.""
search.""
"Where?""
Edward leaned closer.
"The original Bellmont maternity clinic.""
Walter frowned.
"That clinic closed twenty years ago.""
"Officially," Edward replied.
"But SimoneWalter frowned.
"That clinic closed twenty years ago.""
"Officially," Edward replied.
"But Simone still owns the building.""
Darius immediately reached for his radio.
"Police units, change destination. We still owns the building.""
Darius immediately reached for his radio.
"Police units, change destination. We have a possible location.""
Edward caught my hand.
"Wait, Avery.""
I turned.
He looked directly into my eyes.
have a possible location.""
Edward caught my hand.
"Wait, Avery.""
I turned.
He looked directly into my eyes.
"Before you see your mother, you need to understand something.""
"What?""
He swallowed.
"The night you were born, I was"Before you see your mother, you need to understand something.""
"What?""
He swallowed.
"The night you were born, I was at the hospital.""
I felt my heart pound.
"Why did you leave?""
"Because someone brought me a photograph of at the hospital.""
I felt my heart pound.
"Why did you leave?""
"Because someone brought me a photograph of a little girl in a hospital cot and told me she had died.""
"Who?""
Edward's eyes moved a little girl in a hospital cot and told me she had died.""
"Who?""
Edward's eyes moved toward Walter.
Then he answered.
"Simone.""
Walter staggered backward.
I stared at Edward.
"She told you I toward Walter.
Then he answered.
"Simone.""
Walter staggered backward.
I stared at Edward.
"She told you I was dead?""
"Yes.""
"And you believed her?""
"I was shown a death certificate. I was shown hospital records was dead?""
"Yes.""
"And you believed her?""
"I was shown a death certificate. I was shown hospital records. I even attended a funeral.""
My stomach twisted.
"Whose funeral?""
Edward's face crumpled.
"A baby's. I even attended a funeral.""
My stomach twisted.
"Whose funeral?""
Edward's face crumpled.
"A baby's.""
He paused.
"Only later did I discover the coffin had been empty.""
I looked at Walter.
He couldn't meet my eyes.
Edward reached into his coat and produced a small.""
He paused.
"Only later did I discover the coffin had been empty.""
I looked at Walter.
He couldn't meet my eyes.
Edward reached into his coat and produced a small photograph.
It showed a young man standing outside a hospital.
Beside him was Denise.
She was holding a newborn baby.
On the back, she photograph.
It showed a young man standing outside a hospital.
Beside him was Denise.
She was holding a newborn baby.
On the back, she had written:
For Edward. Our daughter. Our second chance.
My fingers trembled.
Edward's voice had written:
For Edward. Our daughter. Our second chance.
My fingers trembled.
Edward's voice broke.
"I've been looking for you ever since.""
Before I could answer, Darius's radio crackled.
"Control to Darius. We have confirmation broke.
"I've been looking for you ever since.""
Before I could answer, Darius's radio crackled.
"Control to Darius. We have confirmation. The old maternity clinic is occupied.""
"By whom?""
A pause.
Then the voice replied:
"Miss Bellmont is. The old maternity clinic is occupied.""
"By whom?""
A pause.
Then the voice replied:
"Miss Bellmont is on site.""
Edward looked at me.
And whispered:
"She's going to make sure your mother never tells you on site.""
Edward looked at me.
May you like
And whispered:
"She's going to make sure your mother never tells you the truth.""
