Chapter 11: The Photograph Sent to a Missing Woman
Vanessa had known my mother was alive.
The realization made my stomach turn.
She had visited my hospital room, threatened me, and warned me to stop asking questions.
All while secretly communicating with a woman whose supposed death had shaped my entire childhood.
I looked at Evelyn.
"Did you know?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
"Did Derek?""
She didn't answer quickly enough.
"Mrs. Bennett?""
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
"I suspected he knew something. I didn't know how much.""
Dad took the phone.
"Margaret, tell us exactly what Vanessa sent.""
The woman on the other end took a shaky breath.
"About two months ago, a package arrived at my apartment. There was no return address. Inside were three photographs.""
"Of whom?"" Renee asked.
"Your daughter, Daniel. And Charles.""
Dad looked at me.
"Where were the photographs taken?""
"The first was outside a grocery store. The second was at a restaurant. The third was outside the Bennett family estate.""
I remembered that restaurant.
I'd gone there with Derek for our third anniversary.
Vanessa had joined us unexpectedly.
She'd spent the evening taking pictures of Lily's nursery plans and asking when we were going to have children.
At the time, I'd thought she was simply being curious.
Now the memory felt sinister.
Margaret continued.
"On the back of the last photograph, someone had written, 'The girl is about to become important.''"
Renee's expression hardened.
"Did you preserve the package?""
"Yes. I still have everything.""
"Don't touch it. We'll arrange for it to be collected.""
Dad leaned closer to the phone.
"Margaret, where is my wife?""
There was a long pause.
"Charles, she wants to see her daughter.""
My father closed his eyes.
"Then tell me where she is.""
"I can't.""
His voice rose.
"Why?""
"Because she's been followed before. She has spent sixteen years believing that one mistake could put her daughter in danger.""
I reached for the phone.
"Margaret, please.""
The room fell silent.
I swallowed.
"I don't care about the money. I don't care about the company. I just want to know whether my mother is okay.""
Margaret began crying again.
"She's alive, sweetheart. She's older. She's tired. But she's alive.""
I pressed my fingers against my lips.
"Does she know I had a baby?""
"Yes.""
"Does she want to meet Lily?""
"More than anything.""
I looked at my daughter.
"Then help me find her.""
Margaret was quiet for several seconds.
"There's a church outside Portland. Your mother attends a small support group there. If you can get there safely, she might agree to meet you.""
Renee immediately intervened.
"We won't arrange an unprotected meeting. We need to verify the location and assess the security risks first.""
"Of course," Margaret replied.
Then her voice changed.
"There's something else. Vanessa isn't the only person who knows about your mother.""
"Who else?""
"Martin.""
Dad stiffened.
"Martin knows?""
"He contacted me last week. He said he wanted to make a deal.""
"What kind of deal?""
"He offered me money in exchange for the location.""
I felt sick.
"Did you tell him?""
"No.""
"Did he threaten you?""
Margaret hesitated.
"He said that if I didn't cooperate, he'd make sure the Bennett family lost everything. He specifically mentioned Lily.""
Dad slammed his palm against the table.
"That man is finished.""
Detective Harris stepped forward.
"Mr. Bennett, please.""
Dad looked at him.
"He's threatening a newborn.""
"We're documenting every statement. We'll handle it through the proper channels.""
The call ended shortly afterward.
Renee immediately began coordinating with investigators in Oregon.
I sat silently, trying to process what I'd learned.
My mother was alive.
My husband had been placed in my life by his family.
My daughter had become part of a financial conspiracy before she was even born.
And Vanessa had been sending photographs to a woman who had been forced to disappear.
Then Evelyn spoke.
"I need to confess something.""
Dad turned toward her.
"You're running out of things to confess.""
She ignored him.
"Vanessa isn't simply helping Derek. She's the person who introduced him to you.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Evelyn looked at me.
"She saw your photograph at a charity event. She recognized your mother's surname. She told Derek that you were the daughter Robert had been looking for.""
I remembered meeting Derek.
It had been at a charity fundraiser in Boston.
He had approached me with a drink and introduced himself as a friend of Vanessa's.
I'd thought it was a coincidence.
It wasn't.
"Did Vanessa know what he intended?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Evelyn looked away.
"Because Robert promised her control of the family company if she helped recover the trust.""
Renee's phone rang.
She stepped into the hallway, answered, and returned less than a minute later.
"Charles, we have a problem.""
Dad stood.
"What now?""
"The police searched Derek's office under an emergency evidence preservation order.""
"And?""
"They found a second phone.""
My stomach tightened.
"What was on it?""
Renee looked at me.
"Photographs of your mother.""
I gripped the blanket.
"Recent photographs?""
"Yes.""
"How recent?""
Renee hesitated.
"One was taken six days ago.""
My heart began pounding.
"Where?""
"Outside a pharmacy in Portland.""
Dad immediately turned toward Daniel.
"Can you identify the location?""
Daniel examined the image.
His face changed.
"I know this place.""
"Where?""
He zoomed in.
Then he looked at me.
"That's not a church.""
I felt the room go cold.
"What do you mean?""
"That's the building where Martin used to meet his private investigators.""
Detective Harris stepped forward.
"Are you certain?""
Daniel nodded.
"Absolutely.""
He pointed to the photograph.
And there, reflected in the pharmacy window, was a second person.
A man wearing a dark baseball cap.
Daniel stared at him.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"That's Derek.""
