Chapter 7 - THE PRICE OF A MOTHER
Audrey wanted to call the police.
Evelyn stopped her.
“No.”
“Mom.”
“They already got inside once.”
“So we let them threaten you?”
“We find out who they are.”
Julian stared at the messages.
“This doesn’t sound like my mother.”
Audrey snapped, “The message literally says sign the property to Lenora.”
“That doesn’t mean she sent it.”
“Who else benefits?”
“Someone who wants us to blame her.”
Audrey hated that he had a point.
She hated more that she trusted him enough to listen.
They drove back to New York that afternoon.
Richard had been transferred home under private medical care.
Audrey walked into his bedroom and dropped a printed copy of the threat on his chest.
“Explain.”
Richard read it.
His hands shook.
“Where did you get this?”
“Someone broke into Mom’s house.”
Richard went pale.
“They took the box?”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
Audrey leaned down.
“Who knew it was there?”
“Me. Evelyn.”
“Who else?”
Richard didn’t answer.
Audrey slammed her hand on the nightstand.
“Who?”
Richard whispered, “Marcus.”
Audrey froze.
“Your lawyer?”
“He prepared the documents.”
Julian looked at Audrey.
“That would explain how someone knew exactly what to take.”
Audrey turned to Richard.
“How long has Marcus worked for you?”
“Thirty-two years.”
“And you trust him?”
Richard laughed weakly.
“I trusted you to marry a man without checking whether he was my son.”
Audrey’s face hardened.
“Not the time.”
“No.”
Richard sighed.
“Marcus knows everything.”
Julian paced.
“Could he enforce the old agreement?”
“Yes.”
“Could he profit from it?”
“Not directly.”
Audrey looked at him.
“Indirectly?”
Richard hesitated.
That was enough.
“How?”
“Marcus has investment partners interested in redeveloping Harbor Street.”
Julian stopped pacing.
“So if Lenora gets control—”
“She could sell.”
Audrey nodded slowly.
“And Marcus gets his deal.”
Richard looked exhausted.
“Maybe.”
Audrey pulled out her phone.
“I’m calling him.”
Richard grabbed her wrist with surprising strength.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if Marcus is behind this, he’ll know we suspect him.”
“Good.”
“No. Bad.”
Richard’s voice dropped.
“He has copies of things that could destroy this family.”
Audrey stared.
“What things?”
Richard looked at Lenora’s name on the printed threat.
Then he said, “Your mother wasn’t the only person I betrayed.”
Audrey laughed bitterly.
“That list is getting long.”
Richard ignored it.
“Years ago, Marcus helped me hide payments.”
“To Lenora?”
“Yes. And others.”
Julian frowned.
“What others?”
Richard looked directly at him.
“Your mother wasn’t my only affair.”
Audrey recoiled.
“Jesus.”
Richard kept going.
“One woman had a child.”
Julian’s face tightened.
“Another child?”
Richard nodded.
Audrey stared.
“You have another kid?”
“I don’t know.”
“What does that mean?”
“She disappeared before a test could be done.”
Audrey sat slowly.
“What was her name?”
Richard hesitated.
Then he said it.
“Claire Hale.”
Audrey looked at him.
“Hale?”
Richard nodded.
“Marcus’s younger sister.”
Silence.
Julian’s expression changed.
Audrey understood first.
“Oh my God.”
Richard looked away.
“Marcus believed I ruined her life.”
“What happened to her?” Audrey asked.
Richard’s voice dropped.
“She died.”
Audrey went cold.
“How?”
“Car accident.”
“When?”
“Twenty-five years ago.”
Julian studied Richard.
“And the baby?”
Richard swallowed.
“Survived.”
Audrey stood.
“Who raised the child?”
Richard looked toward the doorway.
A voice answered from behind them.
“I did.”
Marcus Hale walked into the room.
No one had heard him enter.
He closed the door.
May you like
Then he smiled at Audrey.
“And I think it’s finally time you met your brother.”
