Chapter 6 - CAROLINE RETURNS
Caroline walked into the police station at 2:17 that afternoon.
Alone.
No lawyer.
No coat.
Blood stained one sleeve.
Marcus entered the interview room.
“Where have you been?”
Caroline looked exhausted.
“Hiding.”
“From us?”
“From Charles.”
Marcus sat.
“Start talking.”
Caroline closed her eyes.
“Eight years ago, Sarah gave birth to twins.”
“Emma and Lucy.”
“Yes.”
“Why was Lucy removed?”
Caroline looked through the observation glass.
Ruth stood behind it.
“Because Charles needed one child to disappear.”
Ruth entered the room.
“Why?”
Caroline looked at her.
“Because Daniel discovered the theft.”
Ruth stopped.
“Before he died?”
“Yes.”
Daniel had discovered Charles siphoning money from the trust.
He planned to remove him from the family company.
Then Sarah became pregnant.
Twins.
Daniel changed the trust.
Each daughter would eventually control half.
Charles realized he would lose everything.
“So he separated them?”
Ruth asked.
Caroline nodded.
“Lucy was recorded as stillborn in the official hospital file.”
Ruth covered her mouth.
“But she wasn’t.”
“No.”
“Who took her?”
“Eleanor arranged it.”
“Where?”
“To a couple who thought they were adopting legally.”
Ruth stared at her.
“And you?”
Caroline looked down.
“I helped.”
Ruth slapped her.
Marcus moved forward.
Caroline raised one hand.
“No.”
She looked at Ruth.
“I deserved that.”
“You stole my niece.”
“I was twenty-six.”
“You knew what you were doing.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
The answer was so simple that Ruth hated her more.
Caroline began crying.
“I told myself Lucy would have a good family.”
“You sold a baby.”
“I know.”
“Then why come after Emma?”
Caroline wiped her eyes.
“Charles ordered me to change the guardianship.”
“And you obeyed.”
“At first.”
“What changed?”
“Thomas.”
Caroline looked toward Emma’s photograph on the table.
“He called me before he died.”
Ruth froze.
“What did he say?”
“He said he knew everything.”
Marcus leaned forward.
“How did Thomas die?”
Caroline stared at him.
“It wasn’t a heart attack.”
Ruth’s breath caught.
May you like
Caroline whispered,
“Charles poisoned him.”
