Chapter 9: The Man Behind the Funeral
My father locked the front door and pulled the curtains shut.
Charlotte moved to the kitchen window, peering through a narrow gap.
Daniel took the front door and pulled the curtains shut.
Charlotte moved to the kitchen window, peering through a narrow gap.
Daniel took the photograph from the table and slipped it into his jacket.
I grabbed his wrist.
"Give it back.""
" the photograph from the table and slipped it into his jacket.
I grabbed his wrist.
"Give it back.""
"Not now.""
"Give it back!""
He released the photograph.
It flutterNot now.""
"Give it back!""
He released the photograph.
It fluttered to the floor.
Outside, the car stopped beside my father's pickup truck.
A door opened.
Then another.
Footsteps crunched across the gravel.
My father reached for the phoneed to the floor.
Outside, the car stopped beside my father's pickup truck.
A door opened.
Then another.
Footsteps crunched across the gravel.
My father reached for the phone.
"No," I said.
"We're not hiding anymore.""
He stared at me.
"You don't understand what Robert is capable of.""
"Then explain it while we still.
"No," I said.
"We're not hiding anymore.""
He stared at me.
"You don't understand what Robert is capable of.""
"Then explain it while we still have time.""
A fist struck the door.
Three slow knocks.
Then a man's voice called through the wood.
"Thomas. It's been a long time.""
My father looked as though he might collapse.
The door have time.""
A fist struck the door.
Three slow knocks.
Then a man's voice called through the wood.
"Thomas. It's been a long time.""
My father looked as though he might collapse.
The door handle rattled.
"Open the door," the man said.
"I know Eleanor is inside.""
I stepped forward handle rattled.
"Open the door," the man said.
"I know Eleanor is inside.""
I stepped forward.
"Who are you?""
A pause.
Then the man laughed.
"You used to call me Uncle Robert.""
My stomach twisted.
I had known Robert Ashford as a childhood visitor, a.
"Who are you?""
A pause.
Then the man laughed.
"You used to call me Uncle Robert.""
My stomach twisted.
I had known Robert Ashford as a childhood visitor, a man who brought expensive presents and spoke softly enough to make every adult lean closer.
He had taught me to play cards at Christmas man who brought expensive presents and spoke softly enough to make every adult lean closer.
He had taught me to play cards at Christmas. He had once taken me to a baseball game when my father was away on business.
I had forgotten his face.
But I. He had once taken me to a baseball game when my father was away on business.
I had forgotten his face.
But I remembered the smell of his aftershave.
I remembered the way he had watched me when he thought nobody was looking.
I unlocked the door.
My father shouted, remembered the smell of his aftershave.
I remembered the way he had watched me when he thought nobody was looking.
I unlocked the door.
My father shouted, "Eleanor, don't!""
I opened it anyway.
The man on the porch was older than the photographs "Eleanor, don't!""
I opened it anyway.
The man on the porch was older than the photographs. His hair had turned almost entirely white, and he walked with a cane. But his dark eyes were unchanged.
He. His hair had turned almost entirely white, and he walked with a cane. But his dark eyes were unchanged.
He smiled at me.
"You've grown up.""
I stepped back.
"You're supposed to be dead.""
"So I've smiled at me.
"You've grown up.""
I stepped back.
"You're supposed to be dead.""
"So I've been told.""
He entered the house without waiting for permission.
His gaze moved over the kitchen, lingering on the broken glass and the papers been told.""
He entered the house without waiting for permission.
His gaze moved over the kitchen, lingering on the broken glass and the papers scattered across the table.
Then he looked at Thomas.
"You kept the house tidy.""
My father stood scattered across the table.
Then he looked at Thomas.
"You kept the house tidy.""
My father stood rigid.
"Get out.""
Robert laughed.
"Still pretending you're the brave one?""
He turned toward me.
" rigid.
"Get out.""
Robert laughed.
"Still pretending you're the brave one?""
He turned toward me.
"Your mother was always better at it.""
I felt anger rising.
"Did you kill Peter Lawson?""
"No.""
Your mother was always better at it.""
I felt anger rising.
"Did you kill Peter Lawson?""
"No.""
"Did you kill anyone?""
Robert's smile faded.
"I did what I had to do.""
"That's what everyone in this"Did you kill anyone?""
Robert's smile faded.
"I did what I had to do.""
"That's what everyone in this family says.""
He studied me.
"Your mother taught you well.""
"No. She taught me to obey. I'm done family says.""
He studied me.
"Your mother taught you well.""
"No. She taught me to obey. I'm done doing that.""
For the first time, Robert looked genuinely amused.
"Then perhaps you're ready to hear the truth.""
He removed his doing that.""
For the first time, Robert looked genuinely amused.
"Then perhaps you're ready to hear the truth.""
He removed his coat and draped it over a chair.
"Eleven years ago, your mother discovered that I had been moving money through the company. She threatened coat and draped it over a chair.
"Eleven years ago, your mother discovered that I had been moving money through the company. She threatened to expose me. Thomas panicked. He thought the police would arrest him for helping me.""
My father shook his to expose me. Thomas panicked. He thought the police would arrest him for helping me.""
My father shook his head.
"You were stealing from the company.""
"I was protecting my interests.""
"You were stealing from your own partners.""
Robert ignored him.
"Your mother arranged a meeting at the head.
"You were stealing from the company.""
"I was protecting my interests.""
"You were stealing from your own partners.""
Robert ignored him.
"Your mother arranged a meeting at the garden house. She brought Eleanor because she believed a child's presence would prevent violence.""
garden house. She brought Eleanor because she believed a child's presence would prevent violence.""
I felt my hands go cold.
"She brought me there?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because she knew I would never hurt you.""
I laughedI felt my hands go cold.
"She brought me there?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because she knew I would never hurt you.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You don't know me.""
"I knew you as a child.""
"You knew how to manipulate me bitterly.
"You don't know me.""
"I knew you as a child.""
"You knew how to manipulate me as a child.""
His eyes narrowed.
"Careful.""
I stepped closer.
"Did my mother start the fire?""
Robert looked as a child.""
His eyes narrowed.
"Careful.""
I stepped closer.
"Did my mother start the fire?""
Robert looked at Thomas.
Then he nodded.
"Yes.""
My father closed his eyes.
"She wanted to destroy the ledger," Robert continued.
"She believed that if the records burned, at Thomas.
Then he nodded.
"Yes.""
My father closed his eyes.
"She wanted to destroy the ledger," Robert continued.
"She believed that if the records burned, she could deny everything. But the fire spread faster than she expected.""
"And Peter Lawson?""
"Peter was already she could deny everything. But the fire spread faster than she expected.""
"And Peter Lawson?""
"Peter was already dead before the fire started.""
I stared at him.
"Who killed him?""
Robert's face hardened.
"Your mother.""
The room went silent.
Charlotte covered her mouth.
Daniel dead before the fire started.""
I stared at him.
"Who killed him?""
Robert's face hardened.
"Your mother.""
The room went silent.
Charlotte covered her mouth.
Daniel looked away.
My father whispered, "That's not true.""
Robert turned toward him.
"Isn't it? You found her looked away.
My father whispered, "That's not true.""
Robert turned toward him.
"Isn't it? You found her standing over Peter's body. You helped her move him into the garden house. Then you set the scene to make it look as though I had died.""
"I didn't standing over Peter's body. You helped her move him into the garden house. Then you set the scene to make it look as though I had died.""
"I didn't kill him.""
"No. You simply helped cover it up.""
I looked at my father.
He didn't kill him.""
"No. You simply helped cover it up.""
I looked at my father.
He didn't deny it.
The truth settled over me like cold ash.
My mother had killed a man.
My father had helped conceal the murder deny it.
The truth settled over me like cold ash.
My mother had killed a man.
My father had helped conceal the murder.
And I had been the child holding the matches.
"Why did you let me believe I was responsible?"" I asked.
Robert studied me.
"Because guilt is easier.
And I had been the child holding the matches.
"Why did you let me believe I was responsible?"" I asked.
Robert studied me.
"Because guilt is easier to control than fear.""
I felt something inside me break.
"You let me spend eleven years believing I had killed someone.""
to control than fear.""
I felt something inside me break.
"You let me spend eleven years believing I had killed someone.""
"Your mother thought it would keep you quiet.""
"And you agreed?""
"I agreed because you were a child.""
I"Your mother thought it would keep you quiet.""
"And you agreed?""
"I agreed because you were a child.""
I slapped him.
The sound cracked through the kitchen.
Robert touched his cheek, then smiled.
"There she is.""
I wanted slapped him.
The sound cracked through the kitchen.
Robert touched his cheek, then smiled.
"There she is.""
I wanted to hit him again.
Instead, I pointed toward the door.
"Get out.""
He didn't move.
"I came for the ledger.""
"You're not getting it.""
"Then I'll to hit him again.
Instead, I pointed toward the door.
"Get out.""
He didn't move.
"I came for the ledger.""
"You're not getting it.""
"Then I'll take Grace.""
Charlotte stepped forward.
"You'll do no such thing.""
Robert turned to take Grace.""
Charlotte stepped forward.
"You'll do no such thing.""
Robert turned to her.
"Hello, Charlotte.""
She trembled, but she didn't retreat.
"You've never been her father.""
"No," he said.
"But her.
"Hello, Charlotte.""
She trembled, but she didn't retreat.
"You've never been her father.""
"No," he said.
"But I am her grandfather.""
"You abandoned her.""
"I protected her.""
"You used her!""
His expression I am her grandfather.""
"You abandoned her.""
"I protected her.""
"You used her!""
His expression hardened.
"I gave you a home, Charlotte. I paid your medical bills. I made sure your child had hardened.
"I gave you a home, Charlotte. I paid your medical bills. I made sure your child had everything she needed.""
"You paid Daniel to marry me.""
"I arranged a future for you.""
Charlotte laughed through her everything she needed.""
"You paid Daniel to marry me.""
"I arranged a future for you.""
Charlotte laughed through her tears.
"You arranged a prison.""
Robert looked at Daniel.
"Tell her.""
Daniel shook his head.
" tears.
"You arranged a prison.""
Robert looked at Daniel.
"Tell her.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Tell her what?"" I demanded.
Robert smiled.
"Tell her why you agreed to marry Charlotte.""
Daniel stared at the floor.
Then he said, "Tell her what?"" I demanded.
Robert smiled.
"Tell her why you agreed to marry Charlotte.""
Daniel stared at the floor.
Then he said, "Because Robert promised to give me the ledger.""
I turned toward him.
"You wanted the money.""
"I wanted the truth about my father.""
"Your father?""
Robert laughed.
"Daniel, don'tBecause Robert promised to give me the ledger.""
I turned toward him.
"You wanted the money.""
"I wanted the truth about my father.""
"Your father?""
Robert laughed.
"Daniel, don't be sentimental. You're not my son.""
The room froze.
Daniel looked up slowly.
"What?""
Robert's expression remained cold.
"Did you honestly be sentimental. You're not my son.""
The room froze.
Daniel looked up slowly.
"What?""
Robert's expression remained cold.
"Did you honestly believe I raised you out of affection?""
Daniel took a step backward.
"Who is my father?""
Robert looked at Charlotte.
"Ask your mother.""
Charlotte believe I raised you out of affection?""
Daniel took a step backward.
"Who is my father?""
Robert looked at Charlotte.
"Ask your mother.""
Charlotte began to cry.
Daniel stared at her.
"What is he talking about?""
She shook her head.
"Daniel, began to cry.
Daniel stared at her.
"What is he talking about?""
She shook her head.
"Daniel, please.""
"Who is my father?""
Robert answered for her.
"Thomas Whitmore.""
My father staggered backward.
Daniel's face drained of color.
Charlotte whispered, please.""
"Who is my father?""
Robert answered for her.
"Thomas Whitmore.""
My father staggered backward.
Daniel's face drained of color.
Charlotte whispered, "It's true.""
I looked from one to the other.
Daniel and Charlotte were half-siblings.
The marriage had "It's true.""
I looked from one to the other.
Daniel and Charlotte were half-siblings.
The marriage had never been merely a cruel arrangement.
It had been a trap designed to bind the entire family together.
Robert had manipulated them into a wedding that never been merely a cruel arrangement.
It had been a trap designed to bind the entire family together.
Robert had manipulated them into a wedding that would have concealed the truth for another generation.
Daniel looked at Charlotte with horror.
"You knew?""
"I found out three months ago.""
"And you were still would have concealed the truth for another generation.
Daniel looked at Charlotte with horror.
"You knew?""
"I found out three months ago.""
"And you were still going to marry me?""
"I was trying to protect Grace.""
He backed away as if she going to marry me?""
"I was trying to protect Grace.""
He backed away as if she had struck him.
Robert sighed impatiently.
"This is why secrets should remain buried.""
I moved toward the table.
"No. This is why they had struck him.
Robert sighed impatiently.
"This is why secrets should remain buried.""
I moved toward the table.
"No. This is why they should have been told.""
I picked up the photograph and held it against my chest.
"Where is the ledger?""
Robert's eyes sharpened.
"You found it.""
"No should have been told.""
I picked up the photograph and held it against my chest.
"Where is the ledger?""
Robert's eyes sharpened.
"You found it.""
"No.""
"Then you know where it is.""
I remembered Peter's words.
Look beneath the floorboards.
The room above.""
"Then you know where it is.""
I remembered Peter's words.
Look beneath the floorboards.
The room above the east staircase.
The only place my mother had kept the original records.
I had to get back to the estate.
Robert took a step toward me.
the east staircase.
The only place my mother had kept the original records.
I had to get back to the estate.
Robert took a step toward me.
"Give me the photograph.""
I shook my head.
"Come and get it.""
He raised his cane.
For a moment, I thought he intended to strike me.
Then a sir"Give me the photograph.""
I shook my head.
"Come and get it.""
He raised his cane.
For a moment, I thought he intended to strike me.
Then a siren sounded outside.
Red and blue lights flashed across the windows.
Robert turned sharply.
Daniel looked toward the door.
Charlotteen sounded outside.
Red and blue lights flashed across the windows.
Robert turned sharply.
Daniel looked toward the door.
Charlotte whispered, "I called the police.""
Robert's face twisted with rage.
"You stupid girl whispered, "I called the police.""
Robert's face twisted with rage.
"You stupid girl.""
He lunged toward her.
I stepped between them.
The front door burst open.
Two officers entered, weapons drawn.
"Hands where we can see them!""
Robert froze.
My.""
He lunged toward her.
I stepped between them.
The front door burst open.
Two officers entered, weapons drawn.
"Hands where we can see them!""
Robert froze.
My father raised his hands.
Daniel stepped away from the table.
Charlotte stood beside me, shaking.
For the first time in eleven years, nobody in my family was able father raised his hands.
Daniel stepped away from the table.
Charlotte stood beside me, shaking.
For the first time in eleven years, nobody in my family was able to control what happened next.
As the officers took Robert into custody, one of them approached me.
"Miss Whitmore?""
to control what happened next.
As the officers took Robert into custody, one of them approached me.
"Miss Whitmore?""
"Yes.""
"We found something in the vehicle registered to Robert Ashford.""
He handed me a clear evidence bag.
Inside was a small envelope addressed to me.
My"Yes.""
"We found something in the vehicle registered to Robert Ashford.""
He handed me a clear evidence bag.
Inside was a small envelope addressed to me.
My mother's handwriting covered the front.
The officer lowered his voice.
"We believe this was intended for you.""
I opened it with trembling fingers.
Inside was a single sheet of mother's handwriting covered the front.
The officer lowered his voice.
"We believe this was intended for you.""
I opened it with trembling fingers.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
*Eleanor, if you've reached this point, then Robert has finally told you enough of the truth to make paper.
Eleanor, if you've reached this point, then Robert has finally told you enough of the truth to make you dangerous.
I read the next sentence.
But there is one thing he cannot tell you, because he does not know it himself.
My heart pounded.
B you dangerous.*
I read the next sentence.
But there is one thing he cannot tell you, because he does not know it himself.
My heart pounded.
Beneath the words was an address.
A hospital.
And a name.
The daughter my mother had supposedly given away before I was born.
Ateneath the words was an address.
A hospital.
And a name.
The daughter my mother had supposedly given away before I was born.
At the bottom, she had written one final line.
Find your sister. The one you have never met.
May you like
## the bottom, she had written one final line.
Find your sister. The one you have never met.
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