Chapter 13: The Daughter Victor Tried to Erase
Rachel## Chapter 13: The Daughter Victor Tried to Erase
Rachel didn't cry.
That was the first thing I noticed after Victor ended the call.
She simply stood in the hospital archive room, staring at the black screen as though she could still see the man who had spent her entire life pretending she didn't exist.
Then she didn't cry.
That was the first thing I noticed after Victor ended the call.
She simply stood in the hospital archive room, staring at the black screen as though she could still see the man who had spent her entire life pretending she didn't exist.
Then she laughed.
It was a small, broken sound.
“He knows,” she whispered.
“He finally knows I know laughed.
It was a small, broken sound.
“He knows,” she whispered.
“He finally knows I know.””
Daniel stepped toward her.
“Rachel, are you sure you're Victor's daughter?””
She reached into her bag and pulled out a folded document.
“DNA results. My father arranged the test before he died. He suspected Victor had another child, but he never had enough evidence to prove it.””
She placed the report on the table.
I looked at the names.
Victor Hale.
Rachel Morris.
Probability of paternity: 99.99 percent.
Hammer shook his head.
“So Victor had a daughter all along.””
Rachel nodded.
“He knew my mother was pregnant. But she refused to let him control the baby. She escaped to another state with my father's help.””
“Why didn't she raise you?”” I asked gently.
Rachel looked down.
“She died during childbirth. My father took me home. He told everyone I was his daughter.””
Daniel studied the report.
“Then why did Victor's father name an unborn male.””
Daniel stepped toward her.
“Rachel, are you sure you're Victor's daughter?””
She reached into her bag and pulled out a folded document.
“DNA results. My father arranged the test before he died. He suspected Victor had another child, but he never had enough evidence to prove it.””
She placed the report on the table.
I looked at the names.
Victor Hale.
Rachel Morris.
Probability of paternity: 99.99 percent.
Hammer shook his head.
“So Victor had a daughter all along.””
Rachel nodded.
“He knew my mother was pregnant. But she refused to let him control the baby. She escaped to another state with my father's help.””
“Why didn't she raise you?”” I asked gently.
Rachel looked down.
“She died during childbirth. My father took me home. He told everyone I was his daughter.””
Daniel studied the report.
“Then why did Victor's father name an unborn male child as the heir?””
“Because Victor lied to him,” Rachel answered.
“He claimed his wife had given birth to a boy. When the baby died, he planned to use Noah's identity as a replacement.””
Hammer slammed his palm against the filing cabinet.
“That bastard.””
Rachel continued.
“My father helped falsify the hospital records because Victor threatened him. But he kept copies. He wanted to confess before he died.””
“Why didn't he?”” I asked.
“Fear. Shame. And because Victor threatened to expose his medical license.””
Daniel picked up the original hospital file.
“Then we have everything we need.””
Rachel shook her head.
“Not everything.””
She pulled out another document.
It was a notarized statement dated eight years earlier.
The signature belonged to Victor child as the heir?””
“Because Victor lied to him,” Rachel answered.
“He claimed his wife had given birth to a boy. When the baby died, he planned to use Noah's identity as a replacement.””
Hammer slammed his palm against the filing cabinet.
“That bastard.””
Rachel continued.
“My father helped falsify the hospital records because Victor threatened him. But he kept copies. He wanted to confess before he died.””
“Why didn't he?”” I asked.
“Fear. Shame. And because Victor threatened to expose his medical license.””
Daniel picked up the original hospital file.
“Then we have everything we need.””
Rachel shook her head.
“Not everything.””
She pulled out another document.
It was a notarized statement dated eight years earlier.
The signature belonged to Victor Hale.
The document stated that if the biological heir could not be identified, the trust would pass to the next living descendant of the Hale family.
Rachel pointed to the final paragraph.
“Victor's father added this after learning about the pregnancy. If his biological grandchild was not properly identified, the trust would remain under independent control until the child's Hale.
The document stated that if the biological heir could not be identified, the trust would pass to the next living descendant of the Hale family.
Rachel pointed to the final paragraph.
“Victor's father added this after learning about the pregnancy. If his biological grandchild was not properly identified, the trust would remain under independent control until the child's identity was established.””
Hammer frowned.
“So neither Victor nor Noah automatically gets the money?””
“Correct. The trust belongs to the legitimate beneficiary. Victor cannot control it.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“And if Rachel is the biological child, she has a identity was established.””
Hammer frowned.
“So neither Victor nor Noah automatically gets the money?””
“Correct. The trust belongs to the legitimate beneficiary. Victor cannot control it.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“And if Rachel is the biological child, she has a claim.””
Rachel looked at him.
“I'm not interested in his money.””
“Then why risk coming here?””
She looked toward the phone.
“Because he kidnapped a child.””
I felt tears sting my eyes.
For the first time that night, I reached out and took her hand.
“Thank you.””
Rachel squeezed my fingers.
“Let's get Noah home.””
Hammer checked his watch.
“We need a plan.””
Daniel shook his head.
“ claim.””
Rachel looked at him.
“I'm not interested in his money.””
“Then why risk coming here?””
She looked toward the phone.
“Because he kidnapped a child.””
I felt tears sting my eyes.
For the first time that night, I reached out and took her hand.
“Thank you.””
Rachel squeezed my fingers.
“Let's get Noah home.””
Hammer checked his watch.
“We need a plan.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Victor said Emily has to come alone. He'll expect her to bring the original file.””
“And you think she'll walk into his property without backup?”” Hammer asked.
Daniel looked at me.
“I think Victor believes she will.””
I understood immediately.
“He wants me frightened.””
“He wants you desperate,” Daniel replied.
“Then we'llVictor said Emily has to come alone. He'll expect her to bring the original file.””
“And you think she'll walk into his property without backup?”” Hammer asked.
Daniel looked at me.
“I think Victor believes she will.””
I understood immediately.
“He wants me frightened.””
“He wants you desperate,” Daniel replied.
“Then we'll give him exactly what he expects.””
Hammer frowned.
“Emily, I don't like this.””
“Neither do I. But Noah is my son. I'm not waiting another hour.””
Rachel opened her bag and removed a small recording device.
“My father gave me this. It's connected to the give him exactly what he expects.””
Hammer frowned.
“Emily, I don't like this.””
“Neither do I. But Noah is my son. I'm not waiting another hour.””
Rachel opened her bag and removed a small recording device.
“My father gave me this. It's connected to the original hospital archive.””
Daniel examined it.
“What does it do?””
“It records conversations and automatically sends copies to a secure server.””
Hammer nodded.
“Good. We need Victor talking.””
I looked at the documents.
“Can we get the police involved?””
Rachel nodded.
“I've already contacted a federal investigator my father trusted. He has been looking original hospital archive.””
Daniel examined it.
“What does it do?””
“It records conversations and automatically sends copies to a secure server.””
Hammer nodded.
“Good. We need Victor talking.””
I looked at the documents.
“Can we get the police involved?””
Rachel nodded.
“I've already contacted a federal investigator my father trusted. He has been looking into Victor's companies for months.””
Hammer picked up his phone.
“Then let's make sure he gets everything.””
into Victor's companies for months.””
Hammer picked up his phone.
“Then let's make sure he gets everything.””
Within minutes, the documents were photographed, copied, and sent to the investigator.
The original records went into a sealed evidence folder.
But there was one more thing.
My mother.
I called her.
She answered immediately.
“Emily?””
“Mom, where are you?””
“At the hospital.””
“Don't go anywhere. The police need your statement.””
She began crying.
“I know.””
“Mom, I need you to tell them everything. Every document you signed. Every conversation you had with Margaret. Everything.””
“I will.””
I paused.
“Why did you do it?””
Her breathing became unsteady.
“Because Victor threatened to have you arrested for fraud if I refused. He told me he'd make sure you lost Noah.””
I closed my eyes.
“You should have trusted me.””
“I know.””
“I needed you to be my mother, not his messenger.””
“I know, sweetheart.””
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she said something that made my heart ache.
“Emily, I kept every birthday photograph you sent me. Every picture of Noah. I never missed a single one. I just couldn't bring myself to tell you what I had done.””
I swallowed.
“I can't forgive you tonight.””
“I understand.””
“But you can still help us bring him home.””
“I will.””
I ended the call.
Hammer was waiting beside the door.
“Ready?””
I looked at Daniel.
He was pale, exhausted, and still bleeding through his bandage.
But his eyes were focused.
Within minutes, the documents were photographed, copied, and sent to the investigator.
The original records went into a sealed evidence folder.
But there was one more thing.
My mother.
I called her.
She answered immediately.
“Emily?””
“Mom, where are you?””
“At the hospital.””
“Don't go anywhere. The police need your statement.””
She began crying.
“I know.””
“Mom, I need you to tell them everything. Every document you signed. Every conversation you had with Margaret. Everything.””
“I will.””
I paused.
“Why did you do it?””
Her breathing became unsteady.
“Because Victor threatened to have you arrested for fraud if I refused. He told me he'd make sure you lost Noah.””
I closed my eyes.
“You should have trusted me.””
“I know.””
“I needed you to be my mother, not his messenger.””
“I know, sweetheart.””
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she said something that made my heart ache.
“Emily, I kept every birthday photograph you sent me. Every picture of Noah. I never missed a single one. I just couldn't bring myself to tell you what I had done.””
I swallowed.
“I can't forgive you tonight.””
“I understand.””
“But you can still help us bring him home.””
“I will.””
I ended the call.
Hammer was waiting beside the door.
“Ready?””
I looked at Daniel.
He was pale, exhausted, and still bleeding through his bandage.
But his eyes were focused.
“I'm coming with you,” he said.
“No.””
“Emily—”
“You can barely stand.””
“I won't leave Noah.””
“Then stay alive long enough to see him.””
Daniel looked at me for a long moment.
Finally, he nodded.
Hammer stepped closer.
“I'll go with“I'm coming with you,” he said.
“No.””
“Emily—”
“You can barely stand.””
“I won't leave Noah.””
“Then stay alive long enough to see him.””
Daniel looked at me for a long moment.
Finally, he nodded.
Hammer stepped closer.
“I'll go with you.””
I shook my head.
“Victor specifically said alone.””
Hammer gave me a humorless smile.
“Then he'll see you alone.””
He held up a small communication device.
“But you won't be.””
Rachel placed the recording you.””
I shook my head.
“Victor specifically said alone.””
Hammer gave me a humorless smile.
“Then he'll see you alone.””
He held up a small communication device.
“But you won't be.””
Rachel placed the recording device inside my coat.
Then she handed me the original photograph of Noah as a newborn.
“Show him this if he tries to deny what happened.””
I slipped it into my pocket.
As we left the archive building, Daniel caught my hand.
“Emily.””
I turned.
He struggled to find the device inside my coat.
Then she handed me the original photograph of Noah as a newborn.
“Show him this if he tries to deny what happened.””
I slipped it into my pocket.
As we left the archive building, Daniel caught my hand.
“Emily.””
I turned.
He struggled to find the words.
“I know I can't ask you to love me again.””
I looked at him.
“Then don't.””
He nodded.
“But I need you to know that every day I stayed away, I thought about the two of you.””
I studied words.
“I know I can't ask you to love me again.””
I looked at him.
“Then don't.””
He nodded.
“But I need you to know that every day I stayed away, I thought about the two of you.””
I studied his face.
“Then when this is over, you'll have eight years of questions to answer.””
“I will.””
“And Noah gets to decide what kind of father you become.””
Daniel swallowed.
“That's fair.””
I walked toward his face.
“Then when this is over, you'll have eight years of questions to answer.””
“I will.””
“And Noah gets to decide what kind of father you become.””
Daniel swallowed.
“That's fair.””
I walked toward Hammer's truck.
For the first time since this nightmare began, I wasn't carrying the entire truth alone.
But as we drove toward the Hale estate, my phone vibrated.
A new message.
It came from an unknown number.
**Emily, Victor has already prepared Hammer's truck.
For the first time since this nightmare began, I wasn't carrying the entire truth alone.
But as we drove toward the Hale estate, my phone vibrated.
A new message.
It came from an unknown number.
*Emily, Victor has already prepared a confession in your name. If you enter that estate, he plans to make sure you never leave.*
I showed Hammer.
He read it twice.
Then he looked toward the road.
“Good.””
I stared at him.
“Good?””
His hands tightened around the steering wheel a confession in your name. If you enter that estate, he plans to make sure you never leave.**
I showed Hammer.
He read it twice.
Then he looked toward the road.
“Good.””
I stared at him.
“Good?””
May you like
His hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“Now we know he's scared.””
