Chapter 6 - The Father Daniel Never Knew About
Daniel laughed.
It was disbelief, not humor.
"Claire was Dad's daughter."
Margaret shook her head.
"No."
"You had an affair with his brother?"
Margaret closed her eyes.
"Once."
Daniel walked away.
Emily followed him into the hall.
"Daniel."
He pulled away.
"My entire childhood was a lie."
Margaret came after them.
"Richard knew."
Daniel turned.
"What?"
"He knew from the beginning."
"Then why did he raise her as his?"
"Because he loved her."
"Where was Thomas?"
"Mostly away."
"Mostly?"
Margaret sat on a bench.
Her voice became tired.
"Thomas was unstable. Charming when he wanted something. Cruel when he didn't get it. Richard spent years cleaning up his debts."
Emily asked, "Did Thomas know Claire was his?"
"Yes."
Daniel whispered, "Did Claire?"
"No."
"What happened that night?"
Margaret looked at him.
"Thomas came to the mansion."
"Why?"
"He wanted money."
"From Dad?"
"From me."
"Why you?"
"Because he knew I would pay to keep him away from Claire."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"He threatened her?"
"Not directly."
"Then why pay him?"
"Because Thomas believed Claire belonged to him."
Emily felt sick.
"What does that mean?"
"He wanted custody."
"He couldn't just take her."
"He didn't care about courts."
Daniel paced.
"Did he take Claire?"
Margaret began crying harder.
"I don't know."
Daniel exploded.
"How can you not know?"
"Because I found him in the laundry room."
Everyone went silent.
Margaret looked toward the old doorway.
"Claire had been playing downstairs. I heard voices. When I came in, Thomas was here."
"What was he doing?"
"Arguing with Claire."
"A four-year-old?"
"He told her he was taking her somewhere."
Emily whispered, "And Claire refused."
Margaret nodded.
"She cried for Daniel."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I heard her."
"Yes."
"What happened?"
"I told Thomas to leave."
"And?"
"He pushed me."
Daniel stared.
Margaret touched her shoulder as though the old injury remained.
"Claire ran toward the hallway. Thomas caught her."
Daniel's voice shook.
"What did you do?"
"I grabbed him."
"And the washing machine?"
Margaret stopped.
Emily saw fear return.
"Margaret."
"Thomas opened it."
Daniel stared.
"Why?"
"He threatened to put Claire inside if I didn't tell him where Richard kept emergency cash."
Emily's stomach turned.
"So Daniel really heard you telling Claire not to cry."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because she was screaming and Thomas was becoming more violent."
Daniel's face collapsed.
"You weren't threatening her."
"No."
"Then why did you let me believe you were?"
Margaret whispered, "Because of what happened next."
Daniel stepped closer.
"What happened next?"
Margaret looked at him.
"I hit Thomas."
"With what?"
"A metal iron."
Emily held her breath.
"He fell."
"Was he dead?"
"I thought so."
"And Claire?"
"She ran."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Daniel stared.
"You just said you were in the room."
"I was looking at Thomas."
"For how long?"
"Seconds."
"When you turned around?"
"Claire was gone."
Daniel shook his head.
"Impossible."
"I searched the hallway."
"Where was Thomas?"
Margaret's eyes filled with terror.
"Gone too."
Emily frowned.
"You thought he was unconscious."
"I did."
"Then he got up."
"Yes."
"And took Claire."
Margaret covered her face.
"I believed so."
Daniel's voice became quiet.
"Why didn't you tell police?"
"I did."
He looked stunned.
"What?"
"I told one detective."
"Then why was Thomas never named?"
Margaret whispered, "Because Richard stopped it."
Daniel froze.
"Dad?"
"He said exposing Thomas would expose Claire's paternity. He believed Thomas would return her once he realized police were searching."
Emily stared at her.
"He protected the family name."
Margaret nodded.
"And Claire disappeared because of it."
No one spoke.
Then Mrs. Lewis appeared at the far end of the corridor.
She had heard enough.
She held something in her hand.
A photograph.
"Mrs. Carter."
Margaret looked up.
Mrs. Lewis walked closer.
"I think it's time you tell them who took that picture."
She handed it to Daniel.
It showed Claire standing beside a car.
The timestamp was two days after she supposedly disappeared.
Daniel's hands began shaking.
"She was alive."
May you like
Mrs. Lewis nodded.
"And Margaret knew."
