Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WHO STOLE A CHILDLena stood so quickly that the chair hit the floor.
“What did she mean?”
Ethan replayed the line.
Your sister was supposed to disappear too.
Lena’s face turned white.
“She tried to kill me?”
“We don’t know that.”
“Really?”
She pointed at the screen.
“Because the evil billionaire grandma sounded pretty clear.”
Marcus interrupted.
“Listen.”
The recording continued.
Claire demanded, “What did you do?”
Margaret laughed.
“I did nothing. Your mother ran. She changed names, moved apartments, disappeared from everyone who tried to find her.”
Lena whispered, “She did.”
She suddenly remembered years of childhood moves.
Queens.
Brooklyn.
New Jersey.
Back to Queens.
Elena never stayed anywhere long.
Lena had thought it was money.
Maybe it had been fear.
Claire said, “Why were you looking for Lena?”
Margaret’s face hardened.
“Because loose ends become expensive.”
The video ended.
Silence.
Ethan wanted to break something.
Instead, he called Daniel Hart.
The number disconnected immediately.
Marcus searched the address.
“Private estate near Greenwich.”
“We’re going.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Bad idea.”
“Why?”
“Because someone just tried to run us into traffic.”
“Exactly.”
Lena folded her arms.
“I’m going too.”
“No.”
She stared at Ethan.
“You are not giving me orders.”
“This is dangerous.”
“I hit a guy with a caution sign tonight. I’m committed now.”
Even Marcus smiled.
Two hours later, they reached Greenwich.
Daniel Hart’s estate sat behind iron gates and bare oak trees.
No security guard appeared.
The gate was open.
Marcus hated that.
“So do I,” Ethan said.
They drove toward the house.
No lights.
Front door open.
Lena whispered, “That’s not good.”
Marcus pulled a handgun.
“Stay in the car.”
Ethan handed Noah to Lena.
“If I’m not back in five minutes—”
“You think I’m sitting here while you walk into the haunted mansion?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Marcus sighed.
“I already miss when it was just one stubborn Cole.”
They entered together.
The house smelled stale.
“Mr. Hart?” Ethan called.
Nothing.
They found Daniel in the library.
Alive.
Barely.
He was seventy.
Gray-haired.
Thin.
Blood stained the side of his shirt.
Lena dropped beside him.
“Oh my God.”
Daniel opened his eyes.
He looked at her.
His face changed instantly.
“Elena?”
Lena froze.
“No.”
Daniel struggled to sit.
Then saw Noah.
Tears filled his eyes.
“Lucia.”
Ethan crouched.
“Who did this to you?”
Daniel stared at Lena.
“You’re the other one.”
Lena’s throat tightened.
“My name is Lena.”
Daniel touched her cheek with a trembling hand.
“I looked for you.”
“You didn’t look very hard.”
His eyes closed.
“I was weak.”
“That doesn’t answer anything.”
“No.”
He coughed.
Blood touched his lips.
“But maybe this does.”
He pointed toward his desk.
“Bottom drawer.”
Ethan opened it.
Inside was a sealed envelope.
TO MY DAUGHTERS.
Then headlights swept across the library windows.
Marcus moved immediately.
“Company.”
A car stopped outside.
Doors slammed.
Daniel grabbed Ethan’s sleeve.
“Don’t let Margaret get the letter.”
“Why?”
May you like
Daniel looked toward Noah.
“Because it proves Claire’s crash wasn’t an accident.”
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