Chapter 8: The Man Behind the Cameras
My father ordered every exterior door locked.
For the first time since the estate had been built, I was afraid to walk through its hallways.
Daniel knew the property better than anyone.
He knew where the cameras were mounted.
He knew which doors had electronic locks.
He knew where my father kept the original documents.
And he knew Lily's routine.
That last thought made me feel sick.
Mrs. Brooks brought Lily downstairs.
“What's happening?””
I forced a smile.
“Nothing, sweetheart. Grandpa and I just need to take care of something.””
She looked at my face.
“Are you sad?””
I knelt.
“A little.””
She touched my cheek.
“Can I kiss it?””
I nodded.
She pressed her lips against the fading red mark.
“Better?””
I hugged her.
“Much better.””
My father arranged for two security officers from his company to remain inside the house.
Detective Harris arrived with another investigator shortly afterward.
He placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed Daniel leaving a small office building in Atlanta.
“Have you seen this place?”” he asked.
My father shook his head.
“No.””
“It's registered to a company called Brookstone Family Services.””
I looked at the name.
“What does it do?””
“On paper, adoption consulting and estate administration.””
My father frowned.
“Daniel never mentioned owning a business.””
Detective Harris opened another folder.
“We found several financial transfers between this company and an account controlled by Marcus Bennett.””
“How much?”” my father asked.
“Approximately $460,000 over eighteen months.””
My father sat back.
“Four hundred and sixty thousand?””
“Yes.””
I stared at the papers.
“Where did the money come from?””
“Several sources. Some payments appear to have originated from business accounts connected to Mr. Bennett. Others came from companies that were recently established.””
My father looked furious.
“Those accounts are connected to my construction company.””
The detective nodded.
“We're examining that possibility.””
I remembered the loan application.
The forged signature.
The trust documents.
Everything was connected.
“Detective,” I said, “what did Daniel have to do with Vanessa's first baby?””
He opened another document.
“Three years ago, Vanessa gave birth to a baby girl. The adoption paperwork was handled through a private agency. Daniel Brooks was listed as an intermediary.””
“Was he the father?””
“We're seeking confirmation. But we have records showing that he made several payments to Vanessa before the birth.””
My father closed his eyes.
“Why would he help her hide a child?””
The detective looked at me.
“That is what we're trying to establish.””
I sat down.
There was something else bothering me.
“Why would Vanessa give up her first baby and then become pregnant again with Marcus?””
The detective hesitated.
“We found a message exchange between Vanessa and Daniel from approximately two years ago.””
He opened his laptop.
One message was from Vanessa.
I can't keep doing this. Marcus thinks the baby was his, and now he wants another child.
Daniel had replied:
You wanted the money. This is what you agreed to.
Another message appeared.
What if he finds out?
Daniel's response was short.
He won't. Your mother knows what to say.
I stared at the screen.
My mother.
She had helped them.
Not just with the trust documents.
With a child.
My father looked devastated.
“Eleanor knew Daniel was involved?””
Detective Harris nodded.
“She appears in several communications.””
I leaned back.
The room felt smaller.
Then my father asked the question I had been avoiding.
“Where is the first baby now?””
The detective looked through his papers.
“According to the adoption file, the child was placed with a family in North Carolina.””
I felt a strange ache in my chest.
“Does she have a name?””
“The adoptive family named her Grace.””
I repeated it quietly.
“Grace.””
A three-year-old little girl.
A child who had been born into a secret and given away before she could even understand what a family was.
I wondered whether she was happy.
Whether she had a bedroom full of toys.
Whether someone kissed her forehead at night.
And whether she knew that the people responsible for bringing her into the world had treated her like a problem to be hidden.
My father stood.
“Find Daniel.””
The detective nodded.
“We're working on it.””
Then my phone rang.
It was Marcus's attorney.
I didn't answer.
A message arrived seconds later.
*Marcus's Attorney:* Mr. Bennett has requested that you contact us regarding an urgent family matter. He wishes to discuss reconciliation and custody arrangements.
I showed my father.
He laughed bitterly.
“Reconciliation?””
Detective Harris read the message.
“Don't respond.””
But before I could put the phone away, another notification appeared.
This one was from an unfamiliar number.
*Unknown:* Daniel has the original trust documents. If he gets to the bank first, your father's company will be in serious trouble.
I looked at the detective.
“Can you trace this?””
He examined the number.
“Not immediately.””
Another message arrived.
*Unknown:* He also has something that belongs to Lily.
My heart stopped.
“What?””
I typed back.
*Me:* What does he have?
The response came quickly.
*Unknown:* The original guardianship agreement. The one your mother signed.
I looked at my father.
“Mom signed it?””
His face changed.
“What?””
I showed him.
He shook his head.
“Eleanor told me she never signed anything.””
Detective Harris took the phone.
“Do you know where your mother is?””
“She went home,” I replied.
“Can we contact her?””
Before he could do so, the front door opened.
My mother entered.
Her eyes were swollen.
She was carrying a handbag.
When she saw the detective, she stopped.
“What happened?””
My father stood.
“Where have you been?””
“At home.””
“Did you sign a guardianship agreement for Lily?””
My mother went pale.
“Nobody told you about that.””
My father stared at her.
“That's not an answer.””
She lowered her handbag.
“Daniel brought it to me.””
“What did you sign?””
She looked at me.
“I thought it was a temporary arrangement.””
My voice was barely audible.
“You signed something giving Vanessa control of Lily?””
My mother started crying.
“Only if something happened to you.””
I took a step backward.
“What did you think was going to happen to me?””
She covered her face.
“I didn't know!””
My father slammed his hand against the desk.
“Enough!””
My mother began shaking.
Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out a small envelope.
“I brought this because I couldn't keep it anymore.””
She handed it to Detective Harris.
He opened it.
Inside was a handwritten statement.
At the bottom was my mother's signature.
And above it were several paragraphs explaining that Vanessa had been planning to use the guardianship arrangement to gain control over Lily's inheritance.
My mother had signed it.
But there was something else.
The statement named Daniel Brooks as the person who had drafted the agreement.
The detective looked up.
“Mrs. Bennett, did Daniel threaten you?””
She nodded.
“He said if I didn't cooperate, he'd expose what happened three years ago.””
“What happened three years ago?””
My mother looked at me.
Then she whispered:
“Daniel told me Vanessa's first baby had died.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“He told me the baby had been born sick. He said she didn't survive.””
My father looked horrified.
“But the adoption records show she was placed with a family.””
My mother shook her head.
“I didn't know. I believed him.””
I felt sick.
My mother had helped conceal a child because someone had convinced her that the baby was dead.
And now that little girl was alive somewhere in North Carolina, growing up without knowing the truth.
Detective Harris folded the statement.
“Mrs. Bennett, we'll need you to come with us.””
My mother nodded.
Then she looked at me.
“Nia, I know I don't deserve anything from you. But please believe me when I say I never wanted Lily hurt.””
I looked at her for a long moment.
“I don't know what you wanted anymore.””
She lowered her head.
The detective escorted her outside.
My father stood motionless.
Then Daniel's name appeared on the security monitor.
He was at the front gate.
Alone.
He was holding a small white envelope.
And he was smiling.
My father moved toward the entrance.
I grabbed his arm.
“Don't.””
He stopped.
Daniel pressed the intercom.
“Mr. Bennett, we need to talk.””
My father picked up the receiver.
“You have five seconds to explain yourself.””
Daniel looked directly into the camera.
Then he said:
“Richard, if you want to know who Lily's real father is, you should let me inside.””
The receiver slipped from my father's hand.
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Marcus was Lily's biological father.
Wasn't he?
