Chapter 18: The Price of Being a Daughter
Vanessa wanted to go alone.
I wouldn't let her.
"He's using Grandma to control you," I said.
"Then I'll give him what he wants.""
"No.""
"He knows where she is, Nora!""
"And he knows exactly how to make you panic.""
Vanessa looked at me.
"What if he hurts her?""
I stepped closer.
"Then we make sure he doesn't get the chance.""
Thomas took the phone.
"Daniel wants the original authorization. He believes Margaret still has it.""
Richard looked toward the old folder.
"She does.""
I turned.
"How do you know?""
"Because I helped her hide it.""
The room fell silent.
Richard rubbed his face.
"After Evelyn died, Margaret told me she had something that could destroy Daniel. She said she would only reveal it when both daughters were ready.""
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because I was involved in the fraud. I knew what the document would show.""
Thomas's expression hardened.
"What exactly did it show?""
Richard swallowed.
"That Daniel had been using my signature to move money before Evelyn died.""
I felt sick.
"So you knew he was stealing.""
"I knew he was moving money. I didn't know how much.""
"You signed the authorizations.""
"Some of them.""
"And you let Mom take the blame?""
Richard looked down.
"I was afraid of going to prison.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"That's your answer to everything.""
He didn't defend himself.
I looked at the message again.
Daniel wanted Vanessa alone.
That meant he believed she was still useful.
"Claire," I said, "can you trace the message?""
She shook her head.
"Not reliably. But I can identify the number.""
She typed for several seconds.
Then she looked up.
"It's registered to a company called Whitmore Capital Holdings.""
Thomas frowned.
"That company was supposed to be frozen.""
"Apparently, someone still has access.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Did you ever meet Daniel at the Riverside Hotel?""
She nodded.
"Once.""
"When?""
"Three days before the wedding.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he said he had a document proving I was entitled to the restaurant.""
"What happened?""
"He gave me a key and told me to collect an envelope from room 214.""
The anonymous messages.
The hotel room.
The warnings.
I stared at her.
"What was inside?""
"A photograph of Mom and a copy of the second will.""
Thomas shook his head.
"Daniel was trying to control the narrative.""
Vanessa looked at me.
"He told me the will was fake. He said you and Grandma had created it to take my inheritance.""
I felt a wave of anger.
"And you believed him?""
"I wanted to believe him.""
Her voice broke.
"I was tired of feeling like you were the daughter Mom trusted more. I thought if I could finally get control of the restaurant, Dad would be proud of me.""
Richard looked at her.
"Vanessa...""
She turned away.
"No. You don't get to comfort me now.""
Thomas placed the original folder on the table.
"We need to find the safe.""
We drove to the old apartment.
It was now occupied by a young family.
A woman answered the door.
I explained that my mother had once lived there and that we needed to retrieve something from beneath the kitchen floor.
She looked suspicious.
"You're asking me to let strangers tear up my kitchen?""
Thomas showed her the old ownership documents.
"We'll pay for any repairs.""
After a long pause, she agreed.
The kitchen had been renovated, but the original floorboards remained beneath the new cabinets.
Richard pointed toward the corner.
"Under that section.""
We removed the cabinet base.
A small metal door appeared beneath the floor.
The key from the loading dock fit the lock.
Inside was a compact safe.
Thomas examined it.
"Do you know the combination?""
Richard shook his head.
I looked at the blue notebook.
My mother had always used dates that mattered to her.
Her wedding anniversary.
My birthday.
Vanessa's birthday.
I tried her birthday.
Wrong.
Then mine.
Wrong.
Finally, I entered the date the Blue Lantern first opened.
The safe clicked.
Inside was a sealed envelope and a small digital recorder.
I opened the envelope.
The document inside was an original authorization for the transfer of $500,000 from Grandma's trust.
But the signature was not Evelyn's.
It was Daniel's.
Below it was a handwritten note.
The person who authorized this transfer did so using a false identity. The account was opened under the name of a deceased individual.
I looked at Thomas.
"Who?""
He examined the attached account record.
Then his face went pale.
"Your mother.""
I frowned.
"That doesn't make sense.""
Thomas shook his head.
"Someone used Evelyn's identity after she died.""
Richard looked sick.
"And the money?""
Thomas turned the page.
"It went into an account controlled by Daniel.""
There was also a recording.
I pressed play.
My mother's voice filled the room.
"If you're hearing this, then I was right to be afraid.""
A pause.
Then:
"Daniel has been working with someone inside the family. I know who it is. I have the documents. But I don't know whether I can trust the police.""
Another pause.
"I asked Margaret to protect the girls. I asked Thomas to stay away. And I asked Richard to tell the truth.""
My father closed his eyes.
Mom continued.
"To the person who has been helping Daniel: you may believe you're protecting your future. But you're destroying your daughters' lives.""
I felt tears rise.
Then Mom said something that made me stop breathing.
"Vanessa, if you're listening, I know what you did.""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Mom's voice softened.
"You were young. You were frightened. Daniel told you that the restaurant would never belong to you unless you helped him.
I know you signed the first document. I know you gave him access to my office.""
Vanessa began shaking.
"But I also know you regretted it. You came to my room and told me everything. You asked me to forgive you.""
I turned toward my sister.
She was crying silently.
Mom continued.
"I forgave you, sweetheart. I never stopped loving you.""
The recording crackled.
Then came the sentence that changed everything.
"But Daniel didn't act alone. The person who taught him how to manipulate our accounts was someone who had been doing it long before he arrived.""
The recording stopped.
Nobody spoke.
Vanessa sat down.
"I was sixteen.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
"I was sixteen when Daniel first approached me. He said he could help me get money for college. He showed me how to copy Mom's signature.""
Her voice trembled.
"I thought it was harmless. I thought I was only signing an internal document.""
Thomas knelt beside her.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because Daniel threatened to tell Mom I had stolen money from the register. He said she'd send me away.""
I looked at the recorder.
"Mom knew.""
Vanessa nodded.
"She found out. I confessed. She forgave me.""
Richard looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Vanessa laughed without humor.
"Because you were the one who taught Daniel how to do it.""
Richard went completely still.
"What?""
She turned toward him.
"You used to make me practice your signature when I was a child. You said it was a game. You taught me how to make it look real.""
Richard's face crumpled.
I stared at him.
He didn't deny it.
Thomas stood.
"Then we have our answer.""
I looked at the documents.
"No. We have part of it.""
The phone rang.
This time, the caller ID showed Grandma's name.
I answered immediately.
"Grandma?""
Her voice came through weakly.
"Nora, listen carefully. I'm safe for now.""
"Where are you?""
"I don't know. They moved me.""
"Who?""
"Daniel.""
I gripped the phone.
"Where is he?""
"He's looking for the original authorization. He thinks I have it.""
"We found it.""
Grandma went silent.
Then she whispered:
"Good. Don't give it to the police yet.""
"Why?""
"Because the authorization proves Daniel's involvement, but it doesn't prove who ordered him to do it.""
I looked toward Richard.
"Who ordered him?""
Grandma's voice broke.
"Your mother found out the truth before she died.""
"Tell me.""
A long pause.
Then Grandma said:
"Daniel was working for someone else. Someone who wanted the Blue Lantern long before your mother ever opened its doors.""
"Who?""
Grandma took a shaky breath.
"Your grandfather's brother.""
I frowned.
"My grandfather didn't have a brother.""
"That's what we were told.""
The line crackled.
Then Grandma whispered:
"His name was Edward Mercer. And he's the person who owns the land beneath the Blue Lantern.""
The call disconnected.
Thomas looked at me.
"That's impossible.""
Richard slowly raised his head.
"No," he said.
I turned toward him.
"What do you mean?""
He looked at the original authorization.
Then he whispered:
"Edward Mercer isn't dead.""
And before anyone could speak, the apartment door opened.
A man in a dark suit stepped inside.
He was holding a walking cane.
He looked directly at me.
"Hello, Nora.""
May you like
Then he smiled.
"I believe you have something that belongs to me.""
