Chapter 13 - THE SECRET THOMAS TOOK TO HIS GRAVE

Claire’s mother, Anna Donovan, had supposedly died when Claire was six.

That was what Claire had always believed.

The letter said otherwise.

Anna had left.

Thomas had told Claire she died because he believed abandonment would hurt a child more than grief.

He regretted it.

Years later, Anna returned.

She wanted to see Claire.

Thomas refused.

Then Anna disappeared again.

But before she did, she gave Thomas information about Richard Vale.

Anna had worked as an accountant for one of Richard’s shell companies.

She discovered the stolen money first.

She was the reason Thomas began investigating.

Claire stared at the letter.

“Where is she?”

Evelyn looked uncomfortable.

“I don’t know.”

“You knew she was alive.”

“Fourteen years ago.”

“And you said nothing.”

“I had already done enough damage.”

Claire laughed bitterly.

“So you solved that by doing nothing?”

Evelyn lowered her eyes.

Claire walked away.

For the first time since the investigation began, she cried.

Not because of money.

Not because of the hotel.

Not even because of Evelyn.

Because the dead mother she had mourned for thirty years might never have been dead.

Preston found her sitting alone on the hotel rooftop.

He didn’t ask questions.

He simply sat.

After several minutes, Claire handed him the letter.

He read it.

“Do you want to find her?”

“I don’t know.”

“That wasn’t convincing.”

Claire wiped her face.

“I spent thirty years believing she was dead.”

“Then find out.”

“And if she didn’t want me?”

“Then at least the rejection belongs to the truth.”

Claire looked at him.

“That was surprisingly intelligent.”

“I have occasional moments.”

Using old employment records, Maya found Anna.

Her name was now Anna Mercer.

She lived in Maine.

Claire flew there alone.

Anna opened the door.

She was sixty-four.

Her hair was gray.

Her eyes were Claire’s.

Neither woman spoke.

Anna touched the doorframe.

“Claire?”

Claire felt thirty years collapse into one second.

“You knew I was alive.”

Anna began crying.

“Yes.”

“You never came.”

“I did.”

“My father said—”

“I came twice.”

Anna covered her mouth.

“He wouldn’t let me see you.”

“Why?”

“Because I left.”

“Why did you leave?”

Anna looked behind her.

“Come inside.”

The truth was ugly.

Anna had developed a gambling problem after Claire was born.

Debt followed.

Then addiction to prescription medication.

Thomas gave her choices.

Treatment.

Or separation.

Anna left.

Years later, sober, she returned.

Thomas refused to risk Claire being hurt again.

Anna accepted his decision.

Claire was furious.

“You accepted it?”

“I was ashamed.”

“You were my mother.”

“I know.”

“You should have fought.”

“I know.”

Claire stood.

Anna didn’t stop her.

At the door, Anna spoke.

“There’s something you need to know about the night your father died.”

Claire turned.

Anna wiped her tears.

“I was there.”

Claire froze.

“What?”

“I followed Richard.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew what he had been doing.”

“Did you see him poison the glass?”

“No.”

Anna shook her head.

“But I saw what happened after Thomas collapsed.”

“What?”

“Richard searched your father’s pockets.”

“For what?”

“A key.”

Claire remembered Union Station.

Locker 314.

“He didn’t find it.”

“No.”

Anna walked toward an old cabinet.

“Because your father gave it to me.”

Claire stopped breathing.

Anna opened the cabinet.

Inside was another key.

A bank safe-deposit key.

May you like

THE MAID’S DAUGHTER

“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE,” HIS FIANCÉE TOLD THE MAID—THEN THE MAFIA BOSS LOOKED AT HER LITTLE GIRL“Get out of my house. And take that...

**MY HUSBAND CALLED ME A “BARREN LEECH”—HE DIDN’T KNOW MY MONEY WAS KEEP...

My husband threw his wedding ring at my feet and told security to remove the “barren leech” from the ballroom.He had no idea he wa...

MY DAUGHTER’S NOTE STOPPED MY WEDDING—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE

MY DAUGHTER SLIPPED ME A NOTE BEFORE “I DO”—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE’S PLANPART 1 — TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE VOWS“Daddy, if you marry he...

Thomas had left one final box.

And whatever was inside had frightened Richard enough to kill for it.