Chapter 8: The Daughter Nobody Knew Existed
Marcus read the name three times.
Vanessa Cole.
His wife.
The woman he had left behind at home.
The woman who had spent the evening denying that she knew anything about Catherine.
Ethan looked at his father.
"She signed Catherine out?""
Marcus shook his head.
"Apparently.""
Olivia stepped closer to the guard.
"Can we see the authorization?""
"I'm afraid that's confidential.""
Marcus took out his identification.
"I'm her husband. I have a legal right to know where she was transferred.""
The guard shook his head.
"Not without proper documentation.""
Ethan pulled out his phone.
"Then tell us who owns this facility.""
The guard hesitated.
Marcus placed a business card on the counter.
"I'm Marcus Cole. If you don't cooperate, my attorney will contact your management first thing tomorrow.""
The guard looked at the card.
Then he typed something into the computer.
"There's an administrative office in Albany.""
"Give me the address.""
He wrote it down.
Marcus took the paper.
As they turned to leave, the guard spoke again.
"Mr. Cole?""
Marcus looked back.
"There was something unusual about that transfer.""
"What?""
"The person who signed Catherine out didn't come alone.""
Marcus frowned.
"Who came with her?""
The guard glanced at Olivia.
"Another woman.""
"Who?""
The guard looked back at the computer.
"I don't have her name. But I remember her face.""
He studied Olivia.
Then his expression changed.
"She looked a lot like you.""
Olivia went pale.
Ethan slowly turned toward his aunt.
"Why?""
Olivia shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Marcus stared at her.
"You're going to explain everything.""
Olivia began crying.
"Not here.""
"Then where?""
She looked toward the parking lot.
"There's something I need to show you.""
They drove to a small motel several miles away.
Olivia had insisted they stop there.
She claimed she needed to retrieve something from a storage unit behind the building.
Marcus was furious.
"Why couldn't you have told me this at the house?""
"Because I didn't want Vanessa hearing.""
Ethan looked at her.
"Why are you still talking about Vanessa?""
Olivia opened the trunk.
Inside was a small metal box.
She carried it into the motel room and placed it on the bed.
Marcus folded his arms.
"Open it.""
Olivia removed a key from her handbag.
The lock clicked.
Inside were several old photographs, medical documents, and a small cassette recorder.
Marcus picked up the first photograph.
Catherine stood beside a young woman.
He recognized her immediately.
Laura.
The woman Daniel had mentioned.
Marcus looked at Olivia.
"Who is she?""
Olivia sat down.
"Laura was Catherine's daughter.""
Marcus frowned.
"She had another child?""
Olivia nodded.
"Before she married you.""
Ethan looked at the photograph.
"Then who is the little girl?""
Olivia pointed.
"Vanessa.""
Marcus slowly lowered the photograph.
"You're telling me Vanessa and Laura were sisters?""
"Yes.""
Ethan stared at his aunt.
"Why didn't anyone tell us?""
"Because Catherine had given Laura up for adoption when she was very young. She believed it was the only way to protect her.""
Marcus looked confused.
"Protect her from whom?""
Olivia opened a medical file.
"From Daniel.""
She placed it on the bed.
"Daniel was involved with Catherine before she married you. He was already working with several people who were moving money through shell companies. Catherine discovered what he was doing.""
Marcus studied the documents.
"Why would giving away her daughter protect her?""
"Because Daniel had threatened to use Laura against her.""
Ethan shook his head.
"This doesn't make sense.""
Olivia nodded.
"I know.""
She picked up the cassette recorder.
"Catherine recorded a conversation shortly before she died.""
Marcus looked at it.
"Why didn't you give me this before?""
Olivia lowered her eyes.
"Because I wasn't sure what was on it.""
Marcus pressed PLAY.
A faint crackling sound filled the room.
Then Catherine's voice emerged.
"Olivia, if you're listening to this, something has happened to me.""
Marcus's face changed immediately.
He gripped the recorder.
Catherine continued.
"Daniel has discovered that Laura is still alive. He knows Vanessa is her daughter. I don't know how much he has learned, but he's asking questions about the adoption.""
Ethan looked at Marcus.
Marcus didn't move.
Catherine's voice trembled.
"Marcus, I need you to understand that none of this is your fault. I should have told you the truth before we married. I was afraid you would never forgive me.""
There was a pause.
Then she continued.
"Daniel has been using the company to hide money for years. But Olivia knows about the original ledger. If he gets it, he will have enough evidence to destroy everyone involved.""
Olivia covered her mouth.
Marcus looked at her.
"What original ledger?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know where it is.""
Catherine's voice continued.
"Laura has a copy. She doesn't know what it contains. If anything happens to me, find her. And keep Vanessa away from Daniel.""
The recording stopped.
Nobody spoke.
Ethan finally broke the silence.
"Where is Laura?""
Olivia looked down.
"She died.""
Marcus frowned.
"Daniel said she died six months before Vanessa met me.""
Olivia nodded.
"That's what everyone believed.""
Ethan looked at her.
"What really happened?""
Olivia took a shaky breath.
"Laura came to see me shortly before she died. She told me she had discovered the original ledger. She wanted to give it to Marcus.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Why didn't she?""
"Because someone followed her.""
"Who?""
Olivia looked at him.
"I don't know.""
Ethan picked up the photograph again.
"Was Vanessa involved?""
"No. Vanessa didn't know Laura existed.""
Marcus sat down.
"Then why did Vanessa marry me?""
Olivia didn't answer.
But Marcus's phone rang.
He checked the screen.
It was Detective Harris.
"Marcus Cole.""
The detective spoke urgently.
"Mr. Cole, where are you?""
"Albany.""
"Is your wife with you?""
"No.""
"Do you know where she is?""
"At home.""
Harris paused.
"Mr. Cole, we have a problem.""
Marcus stood.
"What kind of problem?""
"Your wife has been reported missing.""
Marcus frowned.
"She's not missing. She's at our house.""
"Then you need to check immediately.""
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"What?""
Harris continued.
"We found evidence that someone accessed your home after you left. The security system was disabled at approximately 10:15 PM.""
Marcus's blood ran cold.
"Who entered?""
"We're still investigating.""
Then the detective added:
"There's something else. We found a second identity document belonging to Vanessa Cole.""
Marcus frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"Her original birth certificate.""
Marcus went silent.
"What's unusual about it?""
Detective Harris lowered his voice.
"It lists two children born on the same day to the same mother.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Twins?""
"Yes.""
Ethan looked at Olivia.
She was crying silently.
Harris continued.
"Mr. Cole, the second child was registered under the name Laura Reed.""
Marcus felt his knees weaken.
"Where is Laura now?""
The detective paused.
"That's the problem.""
"What?""
"The death certificate we found for Laura Reed was issued using a different date of birth and a different mother's name.""
Marcus stared at the floor.
"You're saying she never died?""
"We're saying the records may have been falsified.""
Marcus looked at the photograph.
Two little girls.
Two sisters.
One secret.
Then Detective Harris delivered the final blow.
"Mr. Cole, we also found a bank account opened in Laura Reed's name. It received money from your company for nearly seven years.""
Marcus looked at Olivia.
She slowly shook her head.
"No...""
Harris continued.
"The most recent transaction occurred yesterday.""
Marcus tightened his grip on the phone.
"How much?""
"Three hundred thousand dollars.""
The exact amount sitting on his dining room table.
Marcus looked at Ethan.
Then he understood.
The money Vanessa had offered Ethan wasn't just stolen company money.
It had been moved from an account connected to Laura.
"Detective," Marcus said slowly, "where did the transfer go?""
Harris paused.
Then he answered.
"To an account belonging to Catherine Cole.""
Marcus nearly dropped the phone.
"She's alive.""
"That's what the transaction suggests.""
The call ended.
Ethan stood motionless.
"She's been receiving money?""
Marcus nodded.
"Apparently.""
Olivia began shaking her head.
"No. That can't be.""
Marcus turned toward her.
"Why?""
She looked terrified.
"Because Catherine didn't have access to those accounts.""
"Then who transferred the money?""
Olivia stared at the recorder.
And then she whispered:
"Laura.""
Back at the house, I was sitting on the bedroom floor.
The photograph of the two little girls lay beside me.
I had spent the last hour searching through old family documents.
My mother's name was Margaret Reed.
She had died when I was twenty.
She had never mentioned Catherine.
She had never mentioned Laura.
I picked up my phone and called the number Daniel had used.
This time, he answered immediately.
"Vanessa?""
"Tell me the truth.""
"About what?""
"Laura.""
A long silence followed.
Then Daniel spoke.
"Where did you get that name?""
"She was my sister.""
He exhaled.
"Yes.""
"Why did my mother give her away?""
"Because Catherine asked her to.""
I felt tears burning my eyes.
"Why?""
"Daniel, stop protecting everyone else and tell me!""
He lowered his voice.
"Laura wasn't just Catherine's daughter. She was also the person who discovered the original ledger.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where is she?""
Daniel didn't answer.
"Is she alive?""
Another silence.
Then he said:
"Vanessa, you need to get out of that house.""
"Why?""
"Because Laura is coming for you.""
I stood.
"What do you mean?""
"She knows you've been using her identity.""
"I haven't!""
"Your name was used to transfer money. Your marriage was part of the arrangement. And now she knows you have the documents.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Daniel, I don't have any documents.""
He laughed bitterly.
"Then why is she looking for you?""
Before I could answer, someone knocked on my bedroom door.
Three slow knocks.
I froze.
"Who's there?""
A woman's voice answered.
"Vanessa?""
I recognized it immediately.
It was my mother's voice.
But my mother had been dead for three years.
I slowly walked toward the door.
The voice spoke again.
"Open the door, sweetheart.""
I turned the handle.
A woman stood in the hallway.
She had my eyes.
My face.
And the same small birthmark beneath her left ear.
May you like
She smiled.
"Hello, little sister.""
