Chapter 19: The Last Bargain
I read the message again.
Then I read it a third time.
MEET ME ALONE TOMORROW, OR YOUR BROTHER DISAPPEARS.
Nathan took the phone from my hand.
"No.""
I looked at him.
"You don't even know what I was going to say.""
"I know exactly what you're thinking.""
Daniel was already speaking to the police. Within minutes, hospital security had been instructed to protect Ethan, and officers were stationed outside his room.
But the photograph had changed everything.
Someone had access to the hospital.
Someone knew where we were.
And someone possessed the original adoption agreement.
"Could it be Richard?"" Olivia asked.
Daniel shook his head.
"Possibly. But the wording suggests someone else is holding the document.""
"Someone working for him?""
"That's what we need to establish.""
Nathan looked at me.
"You are not going anywhere alone.""
I nodded.
But I had already made a decision.
The following morning, I would meet whoever sent that message.
Not because I trusted them.
Because I wanted to know what they knew.
And because I was done letting other people decide what happened to my family.
At 8:15 the next morning, Daniel received a second message.
An address.
A private conference room in a hotel near the Boston waterfront.
The sender demanded that I arrive at ten.
No Nathan.
No Daniel.
No Olivia.
I showed Nathan.
He stared at the screen.
"We'll have officers nearby.""
I nodded.
Daniel added, "The room will be monitored from outside. We won't interfere unless there's a threat.""
I looked at him.
"And if they refuse to hand over the document?""
"Then we leave with whatever evidence we can establish.""
At 9:58, I entered the hotel.
The conference room was at the end of a quiet corridor.
A man stood near the window.
I recognized him immediately.
Victor Lang.
Richard's former attorney.
The man who had disappeared with the original birth certificate.
He looked older than I remembered, with dark circles beneath his eyes and a small cut above his eyebrow.
I stopped in the doorway.
"Where is my brother?""
Victor closed the door.
"Safe, for now.""
I felt my hands tighten.
"That's not an answer.""
He placed a folder on the table.
"Sit down, Emma.""
"I'd rather stand.""
He gave a tired smile.
"You have your grandmother's stubbornness.""
"Don't pretend you knew her.""
Victor looked away.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he opened the folder.
Inside were documents I had never seen.
A birth certificate.
An adoption agreement.
A handwritten letter.
And a photograph of a young woman holding a baby.
"Who is she?"" I asked.
"Richard's biological mother.""
I stared at the photograph.
"What's her name?""
"Margaret Whitaker.""
I froze.
"Margaret?""
"William Whitaker's daughter. She died shortly after Richard was born.""
I looked at the document.
Richard's birth name was listed as Richard Whitaker.
He had been adopted by a couple named Harold and June Hale.
The adoption had been arranged privately.
William had paid for the placement and later funded the Hale family's business.
Victor continued.
"Richard grew up knowing he had been adopted. He was told his birth mother had died and that the Whitaker family wanted nothing to do with him.""
"Was that true?""
"Partly.""
Victor removed another letter.
"William did provide financial support. But he refused to acknowledge Richard publicly. He believed Richard's birth would create a scandal because Margaret had been involved with a married man.""
I looked up.
"Who was the father?""
Victor hesitated.
"William.""
My stomach turned.
"William was Richard's father?""
Victor nodded.
"Richard was William's biological son. That made him Thomas's half-brother.""
I stared at him.
All this time, Richard had known.
He had been Thomas's half-brother.
And he had separated Thomas's children from him.
"Why didn't Richard tell anyone?""
"Because William's will excluded him from the inheritance. Richard believed he had been cheated out of what was rightfully his.""
I looked at the documents.
"So he decided to take it from us.""
"Yes.""
"By destroying our family?""
Victor lowered his eyes.
"Yes.""
I felt a cold anger spread through my chest.
"Where is the original agreement?""
Victor reached into his coat and removed a sealed envelope.
"Here.""
He placed it on the table.
I didn't touch it.
"Why are you giving it to me?""
"Because Richard has become dangerous.""
"He's always been dangerous.""
Victor nodded.
"I helped him draft the guardianship petition. I helped structure the settlement. I helped create the company that was supposed to receive the trust assets.""
He swallowed.
"But the plan went too far.""
"Too far?""
"He ordered me to make sure Ethan couldn't testify.""
I felt sick.
"Did you arrange the attack?""
"No. I refused.""
"Then who did?""
Victor looked at the door.
"Richard hired someone else.""
I took a breath.
"Where is he now?""
"Preparing to leave the country.""
I finally picked up the envelope.
Inside was the original adoption agreement.
It included the signatures of William Whitaker, Richard Hale, and Peter Hale.
But there was another page.
A handwritten declaration from William.
It stated that all three children born to Diane and Thomas were to receive equal shares of the Whitaker family foundation.
The final paragraph was unmistakable.
Richard Hale, despite his biological connection to me, shall have no authority to alter, transfer, or claim any portion of the children's inheritance.
I looked at Victor.
"Why was this hidden?""
"Because it destroyed Richard's claim.""
"And you helped him hide it.""
Victor nodded.
"I did.""
I put the document back in the envelope.
"Then you're going to tell the police everything.""
He looked frightened.
"Richard will come after me.""
I leaned forward.
"He came after my mother. He came after my sister. He came after my brother. He broke my nose at my wedding.""
Victor stared at me.
I continued.
"You don't get to ask me for sympathy because you're finally afraid of the man you helped.""
He lowered his head.
For a moment, I thought he might argue.
Instead, he slid a small recording device across the table.
"Everything is on there. His instructions. The payments. The plan to remove Ethan.""
I picked it up.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Nathan.
*Police have Richard. Ethan is safe.*
I exhaled.
Victor saw my expression.
"He's been arrested?""
"Yes.""
Victor closed his eyes.
Then the conference room door opened.
Two officers entered.
One approached Victor.
"Mr. Lang, we need you to come with us.""
Victor stood.
Before leaving, he turned toward me.
"There's something else.""
I looked at him.
"Richard never intended to keep the money for himself.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
Victor swallowed.
"He planned to transfer the foundation assets into a private account controlled by someone else.""
"Who?""
Victor looked directly at me.
"His mother.""
I stared.
"His mother is dead.""
Victor shook his head.
"No. His adoptive mother, June Hale, is still alive.""
The officers escorted him out.
I stood alone for a moment, holding the original agreement.
Then Nathan appeared in the doorway.
He crossed the room and pulled me into his arms.
"Are you all right?""
I nodded.
"Richard has been arrested?""
"Yes. The police found him at the airport. He had a passport, cash, and documents for a private account.""
"Did they find the money?""
Nathan shook his head.
"Not all of it.""
I looked down at the envelope.
"Then we're not finished.""
He kissed my forehead.
"No. But we're close.""
As we left the hotel, Daniel called.
"Emma, there's a problem with the foundation.""
I stopped walking.
"What now?""
"The trustees received a new legal filing this morning.""
"From Richard?""
"No.""
May you like
Daniel paused.
"From June Hale.""
