Chapter 9 - Margaret's Second Lie
Margaret denied it.
Noah did not.
"I saw you."
"Noah, you are mistaken."
"You typed numbers."
"When?"
"In Dad's office."
Daniel stood.
"You used my computer?"
Margaret looked trapped.
Emily watched her carefully.
"Tell us the truth."
Margaret sat.
For several seconds she looked older than sixty-three.
Then she whispered:
"Richard gave me the password before he died."
Daniel exploded.
"You've known about this drive for nine years?"
"No."
"You knew the password."
"I knew a password."
"Why?"
"Because Richard kept encrypted files."
"You never thought to mention that while we were staring at encrypted files connected to Claire?"
Margaret covered her face.
"I was afraid."
"Of what?"
She looked at Noah.
"Of exactly this."
Emily moved closer to her son.
Margaret continued.
"Richard told me that if Claire was ever found, there were people who would come after this family."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"People have already come after this family."
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
Margaret hesitated.
"Thomas didn't kidnap Claire for himself."
Daniel went still.
"What?"
"He was paid."
"By whom?"
"I don't know."
Emily saw another lie.
"Margaret."
The older woman closed her eyes.
"Richard believed Claire was taken because of his company."
Carter Biotechnics.
Daniel's father had built a medical diagnostics company in the 1980s.
It later became one of the family's main sources of wealth.
Daniel now chaired it.
"What did Claire have to do with the company?"
"Nothing."
"Then why take her?"
"Leverage."
"For what?"
Margaret looked toward Noah.
"Research."
Daniel felt sick.
"What kind?"
"I don't know."
He slammed his hand against the table.
"Stop saying that."
Noah jumped.
Daniel immediately lowered his voice.
"Sorry."
Emily took Noah upstairs.
When she returned, Daniel and Margaret were still arguing.
Margaret finally gave them the password.
C198731.
Claire's initial.
A date.
The encrypted folders opened.
The first contained internal Carter Biotechnics documents from the late 1990s.
A research division named Project Helix.
Daniel had never heard of it.
The project involved experimental genetic screening.
Legal.
At first.
Then the documents changed.
Consent forms were missing.
Patient identifiers were altered.
Samples had been collected without authorization.
Richard's signature appeared on several approvals.
Margaret whispered, "He told me he shut it down."
Daniel looked at her.
"When?"
"Before Claire disappeared."
"Who ran Project Helix?"
They opened a personnel file.
Director: Dr. Evelyn Reed.
Emily stared.
"The nanny?"
Margaret shook her head.
"She wasn't really a nanny."
Daniel felt the betrayal deepen.
"Why was she living in our house?"
"Richard wanted her close."
"Why?"
"He said Claire had a rare blood marker."
Daniel stopped.
"What?"
Margaret whispered, "She was part of the study."
Daniel backed away.
"My four-year-old sister?"
"Richard said it was harmless."
"Did you know?"
"Not until later."
Daniel began opening files.
Claire's name appeared.
So did another.
Daniel Carter.
He froze.
He had been part of the project too.
Then another folder.
Noah Carter.
Created only six months earlier.
Emily stared at the screen.
"No."
Daniel opened it.
Medical records.
Blood tests.
Pediatric visits.
Everything Noah had ever submitted through Carter-associated clinics.
Someone had been quietly collecting his samples.
Margaret whispered, "That's why Richard warned me."
Emily's voice became dangerous.
"Your husband has been dead nine years. Who created Noah's file six months ago?"
Nobody answered.
Then Daniel opened the access history.
The most recent login had occurred yesterday.
From inside the mansion.
Username:
May you like
M.CARTER.
Everyone looked at Margaret.
