Chapter 5 - The Man Who Had Been Dead for Seven Years
The investigation became a nightmare.
Richard refused to accept that William was alive.
“He died.”
Samuel shook his head.
“No body?”
“Cremated.”
“Who identified him?”
Richard didn't answer.
“Richard.”
He looked away.
“A doctor.”
“Name?”
“Dr. Allen Price.”
Samuel looked at the records.
“Dead too.”
Hannah's stomach sank.
“Everyone who can prove William died is dead.”
Richard nodded.
“That is why I buried the past.”
“You buried my father with it.”
Richard looked at her.
“I know.”
For the first time, Hannah saw genuine pain.
She had wanted to hate him.
It would have been easier.
But hatred needed certainty.
Richard had none.
The next clue came from the microfilm.
A storage facility.
Unit 218.
They went that night.
Inside was a box.
Documents.
Photographs.
Bank records.
And a recording.
Daniel's voice.
“If anyone hears this, I'm already dead.”
Hannah covered her mouth.
Her father's voice.
She had not heard it in twelve years.
The recording continued.
“Richard, if you're listening, I need you to understand something.”
Hannah looked at him.
“I know you didn't betray me.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“I know William did.”
There was silence.
Then Daniel continued.
“He has someone inside the company.”
A woman's voice interrupted from the background.
Daniel turned.
“Who are you?”
The recording ended.
Hannah stared.
“Who was the woman?”
Richard shook his head.
“I don't know.”
But Hannah did.
She had seen her.
The woman from the restaurant.
Sarah Vaughn.
The woman pretending to represent Margaret's mother's estate.
The woman who had sent the pendant away.
The woman who knew about Rose.
They found her apartment empty.
But inside was a wall covered with photographs.
Hannah.
Her mother.
Her brother.
Richard.
Margaret.
Even Hannah's workplace.
The entire family had been watched for years.
There was one photograph in the center.
Daniel.
Standing beside William.
And beside them...
Sarah.
Hannah turned.
“Richard.”
He looked.
His face went cold.
“I know her.”
“From where?”
“She worked for William.”
“What was her job?”
Richard hesitated.
“Assistant.”
Hannah looked around.
“She helped him.”
“She was supposed to be fired after Daniel disappeared.”
“But she wasn't.”
“No.”
They found a hidden basement.
Inside was a computer running live security footage.
The Whitmore mansion.
The restaurant.
Hannah's apartment.
Her mother's house.
Someone had been watching all of them.
Then a message appeared on the screen.
YOU FOUND THE WRONG PERSON.
Richard stared.
Another message appeared.
LOOK BEHIND THE WOMAN.
Hannah turned.
Margaret stood there.
Her expression was strange.
“What?”
Hannah froze.
Margaret looked terrified.
“What's wrong?”
Hannah remembered the first night.
The accusation.
The pendant.
Margaret demanding the purse.
But what if Margaret had not been acting out of jealousy?
What if someone had manipulated her?
Hannah stepped closer.
“Who told you the pendant was missing?”
Margaret stared.
“I don't know.”
“You don't remember?”
“I received a message.”
“From whom?”
She pulled out her phone.
The message thread was gone.
Richard took the phone.
“Deleted.”
Margaret began crying.
“I swear I didn't know.”
“I believe you,” Hannah said.
Richard looked at his wife.
“I do too.”
Margaret stared at him.
“You still trust me?”
He nodded.
That was the moment something changed between them.
Not love.
Not yet.
Trust.
After years of marriage built on appearances, they were finally telling each other the truth.
Then Hannah's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Hello?”
A man's voice.
“Your father loved you.”
Hannah froze.
“Who is this?”
“You don't know me.”
“William?”
The caller laughed.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“You're carrying something that belongs to me.”
“The ledger?”
“No.”
“The pendant?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
The voice became quiet.
“Your blood.”
The call ended.
Hannah stared at the screen.
Richard stepped toward her.
“What did he say?”
Hannah looked up.
“He said my blood belongs to him.”
Richard's face changed.
Before he could respond, Margaret whispered:
“That doesn't make sense.”
Hannah turned.
Margaret stared at her.
Then at Richard.
“Unless…”
She stopped.
“Unless what?” Hannah asked.
Margaret swallowed.
May you like
“Unless your father wasn't your father.”
Hannah felt the world disappear.
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