Chapter 3: The Woman in the Photograph
I read the message three times.
Then I showed Nathaniel.
He stared at the photograph.
“Who sent this?””
“I don't know.””
“Call the number.””
I tried.
The phone rang once before disconnecting.
Eleanor was watching us.
“What is it?””
I handed her the phone.
She stared at the picture.
Her lips parted.
“Grace.””
I felt my knees weaken.
“You recognize her?””
Eleanor nodded.
“That's your mother.””
Nathaniel immediately reached for his phone.
“Marcus needs to trace this.””
“Don't,” Eleanor whispered.
He stopped.
“Why?””
“Because if someone knows Grace is alive, they're watching us.””
Nathaniel looked toward the hospital door.
“Who?””
Eleanor's eyes filled with fear.
“Someone who has been protecting the secret for twenty-nine years.””
I couldn't take it anymore.
“Enough. I need answers.””
Eleanor reached for my hand.
“I know.””
“No, you don't. I spent seventeen years believing my mother died because she couldn't afford to save herself. I grew up in foster homes.
I watched other children get adopted while nobody came for me. And now you're telling me everyone knew something except me?””
Tears ran down her face.
“I searched for you.””
“Then why didn't you find me?””
“Because Richard made sure there was nothing to find.””
Nathaniel looked at his mother.
“How could Father have done this?””
Eleanor turned toward him.
“Your father controlled the hospital, the adoption agency, and the private investigators. He had friends in places where ordinary people couldn't even get an appointment.””
“Why would he go that far?””
“Because he believed the Callaway fortune had to pass to a male heir.””
Nathaniel laughed bitterly.
“So he stole me from my biological mother?””
“Yes.””
“And gave Rose away?””
Eleanor nodded.
Nathaniel looked at me.
“I didn't know.””
I didn't answer.
He seemed to understand.
“You don't have to forgive me.””
“I don't know you.””
The words hurt him more than I expected.
But they were true.
A few minutes later, Marcus entered.
He carried a thick folder.
“Mr. Callaway, there's something you should see.””
Nathaniel stood.
“What?””
Marcus placed the folder on the table.
“I checked the old hospital records. Someone accessed the archives three days ago.””
“Who?””
“Victoria Sterling.””
My stomach tightened.
Nathaniel opened the folder.
Inside were photocopies of old medical documents, adoption forms, and financial records.
One document contained Eleanor's signature.
Another contained Grace's.
But the most disturbing paper was a bank transfer record.
Twenty-nine years earlier, a company called Sterling Medical Holdings had transferred $2.5 million to an account belonging to Richard Callaway.
I looked at Nathaniel.
“Sterling?””
He nodded.
“Victoria's father owned that company.””
Marcus turned another page.
“There's more. The company was dissolved six months after Richard's death.””
“Who controlled it?””
Marcus hesitated.
“Victoria's mother.””
Nathaniel stared at him.
“Why would her family pay my father?””
Marcus placed another document on the table.
“This.””
It was a handwritten agreement.
Richard Callaway had promised Sterling Medical Holdings a controlling interest in a hospital property development project.
In exchange, the company would finance a private adoption and guarantee that Nathaniel's birth records remained confidential.
I read the document again.
“So Victoria's family knew?””
Marcus nodded.
“Apparently.””
Nathaniel slammed the folder shut.
“Where is she?””
“Still at the tower. Security has her in the private conference room.””
“Call the police.””
“Already done.””
I looked at the photograph on my phone.
“Can you find the woman in this picture?””
Marcus studied it.
“I'll try.””
He left.
Eleanor reached toward me.
“Rose, there's something else.””
I leaned closer.
“When Grace left, she took a red leather journal. It contained everything about the night you and Nathaniel were born.””
“Where is it?””
“I don't know.””
“Who does?””
Eleanor swallowed.
“Victoria.””
Nathaniel's face hardened.
“Why would she have it?””
“Because she stole it from my safe two weeks ago.””
I stood.
“Then we need to get it back.””
Nathaniel looked at me.
“Rose, this isn't safe.””
I almost laughed.
“Someone just told me my dead mother is alive, my entire childhood was fabricated, and my supposed brother is the billionaire heir to a fortune built on a stolen identity. I think we're past safe.””
For the first time, Nathaniel almost smiled.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Marcus?””
His expression changed.
“What do you mean she isn't there?””
He listened.
Then he slowly lowered the phone.
“Victoria escaped.””
Eleanor tried to sit up.
“How?””
“Someone opened the service elevator doors.””
Marcus appeared in the doorway again.
“Mr. Callaway, there's another problem.””
Nathaniel turned.
“What now?””
“The security footage from the hospital's underground garage shows Victoria getting into a black SUV.””
“And?””
Marcus hesitated.
“The driver was identified.””
I felt a chill run down my spine.
“Who?””
Marcus looked directly at Eleanor.
“Your family's former driver. Thomas Bell.””
Eleanor's hand flew to her mouth.
“Thomas?””
Nathaniel frowned.
“Who is he?””
Eleanor looked terrified.
“He worked for your father for thirty years.””
“Why would he help Victoria?””
“Because he was the one who drove Grace away the night she disappeared.””
I stared at her.
“Where did he take my mother?””
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“I'm afraid I know.””
She reached for her handbag and pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
An address was written on it.
A house in Connecticut.
I recognized the town.
It was the same town listed on my mother's death certificate as the location of the fire.
I looked at Eleanor.
“Why is this address on your paper?””
May you like
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“Because that was the house where Grace was supposed to die.””
