Chapter 12: The Daughter Martha Tried to Erase
Victoria was taken to the hospital to have her wrist examined.
Fortunately, it wasn't broken.
She had bruising and swelling, but the doctor expected her to recover.
Eleanor refused to leave her side.
Nick and I waited in the hospital corridor with Richard and Helen.
The investigator had taken a statement from Victoria and was reviewing the security footage from her apartment building.
I couldn't stop thinking about the envelope.
Laura's birth records.
Why would Martha keep them?
And why had she become so desperate to retrieve them?
When Victoria was finally allowed visitors, she asked to speak with Nick privately.
I started to leave.
But she shook her head.
"Emily, I want you to hear this too.""
I sat down beside Nick.
Victoria took a deep breath.
"Martha came to my apartment three days ago. She said she needed somewhere to keep some documents because she believed someone was searching her house.""
Nick frowned.
"Why would you agree?""
"Because she told me they were family records. I didn't know what was inside.""
She looked at me.
"Then I opened the envelope.""
"What did you find?"" I asked.
"Birth certificates. Hospital records. Letters. And a photograph of a woman holding a baby.""
Nick showed her the photograph we'd found in James's safe.
Victoria nodded.
"That's her.""
"Laura?""
"Yes.""
Victoria wiped her eyes.
"But there was another document.""
She looked toward the hospital door before lowering her voice.
"It was a DNA report.""
Nick leaned forward.
"What did it say?""
Victoria hesitated.
"It connected Laura's child to the Whitmore family.""
Eleanor, who had been standing near the window, turned around.
"What?""
Victoria looked at her.
"Mom, I think Laura's child is still alive.""
Eleanor slowly approached the bed.
"Do you know who it is?""
Victoria nodded.
"I saw the name.""
"Tell me.""
Victoria looked at Nick.
Then at me.
And finally, she whispered:
"It's someone we all know.""
Before she could continue, the investigator entered.
He carried a folder.
"Victoria, we need to ask you a few additional questions.""
Eleanor stepped aside.
The investigator explained that the apartment security footage showed Martha arriving at 10:42 a.m.
She had entered using a key Victoria had previously given her.
At 10:51, the footage showed Martha leaving with an envelope.
But there was another person.
A man had entered the building shortly before Martha.
He hadn't appeared on the visitor log.
The investigator showed us a still image.
Daniel Reeves.
Nick shook his head.
"Of course.""
The investigator nodded.
"We're attempting to locate him.""
Victoria looked terrified.
"Daniel was there?""
"Yes.""
She began crying.
"I didn't know he was coming.""
The investigator continued.
"We also found something in the hallway camera footage. Before leaving, Mr. Reeves placed a small package inside the building's mailroom.""
Eleanor frowned.
"What package?""
"We haven't recovered it yet. The building manager is checking.""
Nick looked at Victoria.
"Did Martha say anything about the DNA report?""
Victoria nodded.
"She said it was fake.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"Why would she need to say that?""
"Because I told her I wanted to contact Laura.""
The room became silent.
Victoria explained that Martha had warned her not to contact anyone named Laura Whitmore.
She claimed Laura had been mentally unstable and had abandoned her child.
But Victoria had found a handwritten letter from James inside the envelope.
The letter described a woman who had been forced to leave because Martha threatened her.
"Why didn't you tell us this earlier?"" Nick asked.
Victoria looked down.
"Because Martha told me that if I helped you, she would make sure I lost everything. She said she had documents proving I had participated in the property fraud.""
Nick's expression softened.
"You were manipulated. But you still have to tell the truth.""
"I know.""
She reached toward her handbag.
There was a small folded paper inside.
"I managed to keep this.""
She handed it to Nick.
It was a photocopy of a hospital birth record.
The mother's name was Laura Whitmore.
The child's name was listed as:
*Alexandra Whitmore.*
Eleanor stared at the paper.
"Alexandra?""
Victoria nodded.
"That's the name.""
Eleanor's face changed.
"That's impossible.""
Richard looked at her.
"Why?""
Eleanor sat down.
"Because Alexandra Whitmore is my husband's niece. She's been living with us for years.""
Nick stared at her.
"Your niece?""
Eleanor nodded slowly.
"She was introduced to us as the daughter of a distant cousin. My husband insisted we help her financially after her parents died.""
Helen looked at the birth record.
"James must have arranged for her to be protected.""
Eleanor began crying.
"My husband knew who she was.""
Victoria nodded.
"He did. I found another letter.""
She handed over a second photocopy.
It was addressed to Eleanor's late husband.
The letter explained that Alexandra was Laura's daughter and that James had arranged for her to be raised away from Martha's influence.
It also stated that Alexandra was entitled to a portion of the Whitmore estate.
Eleanor covered her mouth.
"She's been in my home all these years.""
Nick looked at her.
"Does she know?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"I don't think so.""
The investigator took copies of the documents.
"These will need to be verified. But they provide an important lead.""
I looked at Victoria.
"Why did Martha want to keep Alexandra's identity secret?""
Victoria answered quietly.
"Because if Alexandra is recognized as the rightful heir, Martha loses the leverage she's been using to control the Whitmore assets.""
Eleanor stood.
"I need to speak with Alexandra.""
She took out her phone and called.
No answer.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
Then she sent a message.
A few minutes later, her phone vibrated.
A reply appeared.
*I'm at the family house. Mom, we need to talk. I found something in Uncle James's old room.*
Eleanor looked relieved.
"She's home.""
Nick frowned.
"What's wrong?""
Eleanor showed us the message.
There was another message underneath.
It had arrived seconds later.
*Please come alone. Someone has been asking questions about my mother.*
Helen stood immediately.
"No. She must not be left alone.""
The investigator arranged for officers to accompany us.
We drove back to the Whitmore estate.
The front gate was open.
The house appeared quiet.
Eleanor called Alexandra's name as we entered.
"Alexandra?""
No answer.
We checked the living room.
The kitchen.
The upstairs hallway.
Then we heard a sound from James's old bedroom.
A drawer closing.
Eleanor rushed toward the door.
"Alexandra?""
A young woman stepped out.
She was in her late twenties, with dark hair pulled into a loose ponytail and a pale face.
She looked at Eleanor.
Then she looked at Helen.
Finally, her eyes settled on Nick.
"You're Nicholas Carter?""
Nick nodded.
"Yes.""
She held up a photograph.
It showed Laura standing beside James.
The same photograph we'd found in the safe.
But this time, there was writing on the back.
Alexandra's hands were shaking.
"I found this hidden behind the wardrobe.""
Eleanor stepped toward her.
"Sweetheart, we need to tell you something.""
Alexandra shook her head.
"I already know.""
She looked directly at Helen.
"I know Laura was my mother.""
Helen's eyes filled with tears.
Alexandra continued.
"And I know Martha has been lying about her for years.""
Richard approached.
"How did you find out?""
Alexandra pointed toward the bedroom.
"Because I found a letter addressed to me.""
She handed it to Nick.
The envelope was old, but the writing was unmistakably James's.
Nick opened it carefully.
The first sentence made him stop breathing.
Alexandra, if you are reading this, then Martha has finally discovered that you are the true beneficiary of the Whitmore estate.
Eleanor grabbed the edge of the door.
"True beneficiary?""
Alexandra nodded.
"My mother didn't leave me behind. She was forced to disappear.""
Nick continued reading.
The letter explained that James had placed Alexandra's inheritance in a separate protected trust.
But there was one condition.
Before the inheritance could be released, Alexandra had to receive a document proving that her mother had never legally surrendered her rights.
Nick reached the final paragraph.
His expression changed.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
He looked at Alexandra.
"There's a signature here.""
"Whose?""
Nick turned the letter toward us.
The document had been signed by two witnesses.
One was James.
The other was Martha.
Alexandra stared at it.
"She signed it?""
Helen nodded slowly.
"Apparently.""
Then Alexandra said something that made Eleanor collapse into a nearby chair.
"Martha visited me yesterday. She told me my mother was dead.""
Alexandra's voice broke.
"Then she showed me a photograph of a grave and said she'd personally arranged the funeral.""
Eleanor held her.
"That isn't true, sweetheart.""
Alexandra looked up.
"Then where is my mother?""
Nobody answered.
Until Helen noticed a small handwritten note tucked behind the letter.
She unfolded it.
There was an address.
And beneath it, James had written:
Laura is alive. If Martha ever returns, make sure Alexandra reaches her before she does.
At that exact moment, Nick's phone rang.
The caller ID showed an unknown number.
He answered.
A woman's trembling voice came through.
"Nicholas Carter?""
"Yes. Who is this?""
"My name is Laura Whitmore.""
Helen dropped the note.
The woman continued.
"I know you've found Alexandra. Please listen carefully.""
Nick looked at Eleanor.
Laura began crying.
"Martha knows where I am. She's coming here tonight.""
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Then came a sentence that changed everything.
"And she isn't coming alone. She's bringing the man who helped her hide what happened to James.""
