Chapter 14: The Man They Wanted Declared Dead
The two men outside were no longer standing beside their cars.
They were walking toward the front door.
Thomas pulled the curtains closed.
"Nobody opens that door.""
Richard moved toward the hallway.
"Maybe they're here to talk.""
Thomas grabbed his arm.
"Daniel doesn't send people to talk.""
Vanessa stared at them.
"Who are those men?""
"I don't know," Thomas replied.
"But I recognize the car.""
I looked through the narrow gap in the curtains.
A black SUV.
No visible company markings.
The passenger was carrying a leather folder.
"Should we call the police?"" I asked.
Thomas nodded.
"Already did.""
Then the doorbell rang.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
Richard stepped backward.
A man's voice came through the door.
"Mr. Mercer? We need to speak with you regarding the ownership dispute.""
Thomas looked at me.
"Don't answer.""
The man rang again.
Then a piece of paper slid beneath the door.
I picked it up.
It was an official-looking notice.
At the top were the words:
*EMERGENCY TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER.*
The document listed the Blue Lantern, its bank accounts, and its management operations.
It also named Thomas Whitmore as a deceased individual whose identity was allegedly being fraudulently used.
I read the final paragraph.
The court had ordered all disputed assets frozen pending a hearing.
Vanessa began shaking.
"That means the restaurant can't operate?""
"Not necessarily," I said.
Thomas took the document.
"It means Daniel has managed to create enough confusion to stop us from accessing the accounts.""
My phone rang again.
Claire.
I answered.
"I've seen the order.""
"Good. Listen carefully. Our legal department believes the filing contains material misrepresentations.""
"Can we challenge it?""
"Yes, but we need verified identity records for Thomas and the original trust agreement.""
Thomas leaned toward the phone.
"I have both.""
Claire paused.
"Mr. Whitmore?""
"Yes.""
"Are you actually Thomas Whitmore?""
He gave a dry laugh.
"Unless someone has been impersonating me for the last sixty years.""
Claire didn't laugh.
"Then I need to see you in person. Tomorrow morning. Bring every original document you have.""
"Where?""
"Our regional office.""
"No," I interrupted.
"We need a neutral location.""
Claire considered it.
"Fine. The county courthouse. Nine o'clock.""
The call ended.
The men outside finally left.
But none of us relaxed.
Vanessa sat on the sofa, holding the returned letters.
She had stopped crying.
That worried me more.
"Why did you come back?"" she asked Thomas.
He sat across from her.
"Because I couldn't let the restaurant disappear.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He looked at her.
"I wanted to meet you.""
"After all these years?""
"Yes.""
"Why now?""
"Because I was told you were about to lose everything.""
Vanessa looked down.
"I don't know what to believe.""
Thomas nodded.
"You don't have to believe me tonight.""
He pushed the letters toward her.
"But you should know that I never stopped trying.""
She picked up the envelope from her sixteenth birthday.
There was a small handwritten note inside.
Happy birthday, Vanessa. I hope you become everything you dream of becoming. I hope one day I get to see it.
She pressed her lips together.
Then she whispered:
"I wanted a father who was proud of me.""
Thomas's eyes filled.
"I was proud of you before I ever met you.""
Richard turned away.
I watched him.
For years, he had occupied the role of the wounded father. The man who had lost his wife and struggled to raise two daughters.
Now I was beginning to understand how much of that story had been carefully edited.
"Richard," I said.
He looked at me.
"Did you know about the letters?""
He nodded.
"All of them?""
"Yes.""
"Did you destroy them?""
He hesitated.
"Some.""
Vanessa looked up.
"Some?""
Richard swallowed.
"I kept the rest.""
"Where?""
He pointed toward the study.
"In the locked drawer.""
I stared at him.
"You kept letters from her real father for twenty years?""
"I didn't know what else to do.""
Vanessa stood.
"You could have given them to me!""
"I was afraid.""
"You're always afraid!""
Her voice cracked.
"You were afraid I'd love him. You were afraid I'd leave. You were afraid I'd discover the truth. So you made me hate the one person who wanted to know me.""
Richard covered his face.
"I loved you.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Then you should have trusted me.""
She walked toward the study.
I followed.
The locked drawer was beneath a shelf of old family photographs. Richard opened it with a small key.
Inside were dozens of envelopes.
Some were yellowed.
Others had never been opened.
Vanessa sat on the floor and began reading them.
I found one addressed to me.
It was in Thomas's handwriting.
For Nora, if she ever asks why I wasn't there.
I opened it.
Dear Nora,
You were twelve when your mother died. You were frightened, and I was a stranger. I wanted to tell you that I had loved your mother long before the world became complicated. But I did not want to make your grief heavier.
I was not your father, but I loved you because you were Evelyn's daughter. I hope that is enough.
I stopped reading.
My eyes burned.
Thomas had not tried to replace Richard.
He had simply wanted to remain part of the family my mother had built.
I folded the letter carefully.
Vanessa was reading another.
Then she suddenly looked up.
"There's something missing.""
"What?""
She held up an envelope.
"Mom wrote to me after she died.""
I frowned.
"That's impossible.""
"Look at the date.""
The envelope was dated March 4.
The day after her death.
My stomach tightened.
Vanessa opened it.
Inside was a single handwritten page.
My dearest Vanessa,
If you are reading this, then I was unable to tell you the truth myself.
Thomas is your biological father. Richard loves you, but he has allowed his fear to become a wall between you and the people who care about you.
I need you to understand something. You are not less loved because you have two fathers. And you are not more valuable because of the family name you carry.
The Blue Lantern belongs to the people who protect it.
Please don't let money turn you against your sister.
Vanessa began crying.
I sat beside her.
She looked at me.
"I didn't know.""
"I believe you.""
"I thought you were the one who had everything.""
I looked down.
"I thought you were.""
She laughed through her tears.
For a moment, we were simply two sisters sitting on the floor of our childhood home.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Daniel Price.
She answered on speaker.
"Where are you?"" he demanded.
Vanessa stiffened.
"At Dad's house.""
"Are you with Thomas?""
"Yes.""
Daniel exhaled sharply.
"Listen to me. You need to leave immediately.""
"Why?""
"Because he is not who he claims to be.""
Vanessa looked at Thomas.
"Stop saying that.""
"Vanessa, I have proof.""
"Then show me.""
"I will. But first, I need you to bring me the original second will.""
She glanced at me.
"Why?""
"Because your mother left something out of the version you've seen.""
Thomas stood.
"Don't give him anything.""
Daniel's voice sharpened.
"Who is that?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
Daniel continued.
"Your father is lying to you. He was involved in your mother's death.""
Richard dropped the key.
Vanessa went pale.
"What?""
Daniel spoke slowly.
"Your mother didn't die of natural causes.""
I looked at Thomas.
His expression had changed completely.
Daniel continued:
"And the person who changed the hospital records was not Richard.""
The call disconnected.
Nobody moved.
Then Thomas reached into his jacket and pulled out a small envelope.
It was sealed with red wax.
He placed it on the table.
"This," he said quietly, "is why I came back.""
I looked at the envelope.
"What is it?""
May you like
Thomas met my eyes.
"The original medical report. And the name of the person who was with Evelyn when she took her last breath.""
