Chapter 7: The Woman Named Claire
The address Evelyn had given me belonged to a small children's medical center in Brunswick.
It wasn't an impressive building.
There were no glass walls or expensive decorations. Just a brick entrance, a faded sign, and a row of colorful drawings taped to the windows.
Victor parked across the street.
“I'll come inside with you,” he said.
I nodded.
We entered the building.
A receptionist greeted us.
“Good afternoon. Can I help you?””
“I'm looking for someone named Claire,” I said.
The receptionist frowned.
“Claire Morgan?””
I glanced at Victor.
“Yes.””
“She works in pediatric rehabilitation. Is she expecting you?””
“No.””
The receptionist looked uncomfortable.
“Then I can't give you her schedule.””
Victor reached into his jacket and produced his identification.
“We're not here to cause trouble. We need to speak with her about a family matter.””
The receptionist studied the card.
Then she picked up the telephone.
A few minutes later, a woman appeared at the end of the corridor.
She wore blue medical scrubs and carried a clipboard.
She had dark hair pulled into a loose bun.
When she saw Victor, she stopped walking.
Her face went pale.
“Victor?””
He stared at her.
“Claire?””
She looked at me.
Then her eyes widened.
“Oh, my God.””
I felt my throat tighten.
“You know who I am?””
Claire lowered the clipboard.
“Yes.””
Her voice was barely audible.
“I've seen your photographs.””
I stepped forward.
“Are you my sister?””
She began crying.
Victor moved toward her, but she raised one hand.
“Please. I need a minute.””
We followed her into a small consultation room.
She closed the door.
For several seconds, she simply looked at me.
Then she sat down.
“My name is Claire Morgan,” she said.
“But that isn't the name I was born with.””
I sat opposite her.
“What is your real name?””
She swallowed.
“Evelyn Claire Hayes.””
Victor covered his mouth.
I looked between them.
“Hayes?””
Claire nodded.
“Your father's surname.””
Victor's eyes filled.
“Your mother told me you were dead.””
Claire looked at him.
“She told me you never wanted me.””
The silence that followed was unbearable.
I reached across the table.
“I'm Nia.””
Claire took my hand.
“I know.””
She smiled through her tears.
“You have the same little scar above your eyebrow.””
I touched it instinctively.
“How do you know about that?””
“Because I have one too.””
She moved her hair away from her forehead.
A small, pale scar sat just above her right eyebrow.
I stared.
We looked remarkably alike.
Not identical.
But unmistakably related.
Victor sat down.
“Claire, what happened?””
She looked toward the closed door.
“My mother told me I was born prematurely and that my biological father died before I could meet him. She said I had been adopted into the Whitmore family because my mother couldn't raise me.””
Victor shook his head.
“Your mother was never married to Richard.””
“I know that now.””
Claire opened her handbag.
She removed a folded birth certificate.
“I found this last year.””
The document listed Victor Hayes as her biological father.
The mother's name was Claire Bennett.
Victor stared at it.
“Bennett?””
Claire nodded.
“Your mother used her maiden name when she gave birth.””
I leaned forward.
“Why did Evelyn raise you?””
Claire looked down.
“Because my biological mother was her daughter.””
The room went silent.
I felt the pieces shifting.
“Wait. You're saying Evelyn Whitmore was your grandmother?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did she tell us you were her daughter?””
Claire gave a sad smile.
“Because she raised me.””
Victor looked stunned.
“And Richard?””
“My grandfather.””
I thought about the photograph.
About the woman holding me.
About the family that had wanted to adopt me.
“Why did they want me?””
Claire's expression became serious.
“Because I wasn't the child they wanted.””
I frowned.
“What?””
She took a deep breath.
“My mother, Claire Bennett, was Richard and Evelyn's daughter. She fell in love with Victor. When she became pregnant, Richard refused to let her marry him.””
Victor closed his eyes.
“Your mother left home because of me.””
Claire nodded.
“She gave birth to me in secret. Richard found out and arranged for Evelyn to raise me. He said it would protect the family reputation.””
I felt sick.
“So you were taken from your mother?””
“Yes.””
“And then they wanted to take me too?””
Claire nodded.
“Because Richard believed he could control both branches of the family if he controlled the children.””
Victor looked toward the window.
“Why didn't Claire tell me?””
Claire's eyes filled.
“She tried. She was planning to meet you the day she died.””
I felt tears burning.
“Did you know about me?””
“Not until I was fifteen. I found a letter hidden in an old book. It mentioned a baby named Nia.””
She paused.
“I asked Evelyn. She told me the baby had died.””
I shook my head.
“Everyone told everyone the same lie.””
Claire nodded.
“Until I discovered the truth.””
She removed another envelope.
Inside was a photograph of Daniel.
He was standing beside a younger Claire Bennett.
Both were smiling.
On the back, someone had written:
For the two girls I promised to protect.
I looked up.
“What does that mean?””
Claire wiped her cheek.
“Daniel was my godfather. He knew Richard had arranged for me to be raised as a Whitmore. When he discovered your mother was planning to give you away, he decided to protect both of us.””
Victor leaned forward.
“Did Daniel tell you anything about the night he died?””
Claire nodded slowly.
“He called me that evening.””
“What did he say?””
“He told me he had found the original trust agreement. He said it contained a clause that could expose Richard's fraud.””
“What fraud?””
Claire looked directly at me.
“Richard had been using your inheritance to finance his businesses for years.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“How?””
“He created shell companies in your name. He used the trust as collateral. Your grandfather had placed restrictions on withdrawals, but Richard found a way around them by presenting false guardianship documents.””
Victor stood.
“That's embezzlement.””
“More than that,” Claire said.
“He falsified legal records and used Denise as the authorized guardian.””
I stared at her.
“Did my mother know?””
Claire nodded.
“She received payments.””
My chest tightened.
“How much?””
“Enough to buy a house, maintain a comfortable lifestyle, and keep her quiet.””
I looked down.
The modest home my mother lived in suddenly seemed different.
The expensive vacations.
The new furniture.
The designer handbags she claimed were gifts.
All of it.
I had spent years believing we were barely getting by.
Meanwhile, she had been collecting money from the people who stole my inheritance.
Claire placed one final document on the table.
“There's something else.””
It was a copy of a letter from Daniel to Victor.
This one had never been sent.
Victor,
If anything happens to me, don't look for the person who was driving the car.
Look for the person who paid for it.
I looked at Claire.
“Did you give this to the police?””
She shook her head.
“No. I was afraid.””
“Of Richard?””
“Yes.””
She lowered her voice.
“He told me that if I ever contacted Victor, he would make sure I disappeared just like my mother.””
Victor reached for her hand.
“You're safe now.””
Claire gave a sad laugh.
“You don't understand. Richard knows I've been looking for Nia.””
Before Victor could answer, the consultation room door opened.
A man in a dark suit stood in the doorway.
He held a telephone against his ear.
“Mr. Whitmore wants both of you to come to his office.””
Victor stood immediately.
“Tell him we're not interested.””
The man lowered the phone.
“He said you might feel that way.””
May you like
Then he looked directly at me.
“He also said your mother is waiting for you.””
