Chapter 7: The Daughter Elizabeth Never Buried
For several seconds, nobody in the presidential suite moved.
Naomi stared at Daniel's face on the phone.
Her husband looked frightened, but not surprised.
That frightened her even more.
"What do you mean I'm not the only child?"" Naomi asked.
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Naomi, I didn't want you to find out this way.""
"Then tell me another way.""
"Your mother had another daughter.""
Benjamin grabbed the edge of the table.
"That's impossible.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Elizabeth gave birth to another child before Naomi was born.""
Naomi felt her knees weaken.
"Where is she?""
Daniel hesitated.
"I don't know.""
Benjamin stepped closer to the phone.
"Who told you this?""
"Michael.""
"Michael has been lying to us.""
Daniel shook his head.
"He showed me the documents. There was a second birth certificate. A hospital record. And a letter Elizabeth wrote before she died.""
Naomi's voice trembled.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was trying to protect you.""
She let out a bitter laugh.
"By sending my hotel reservation to the woman who slapped me?""
Daniel looked down.
"I made a mistake.""
"You made a choice.""
Benjamin took the phone from Naomi.
"Daniel, listen carefully. Where are you?""
"I'm in Houston.""
"Stay there.""
"I can't. Michael said we need to meet tonight.""
"Michael doesn't get to decide anything anymore.""
Daniel leaned toward the camera.
"Benjamin, there's something you don't understand. Michael said the second daughter is alive, and she's the legal owner of a portion of Elizabeth's estate.""
Richard Hayes immediately opened his briefcase.
"That would explain the unusual inheritance language," he whispered.
Benjamin looked at him.
"What language?""
Richard removed a document.
"Elizabeth's trust was established with provisions for all surviving biological children. The final beneficiary schedule was sealed.""
Naomi stared at the page.
"How many children?""
Richard examined the document.
"Two.""
The room fell silent.
Naomi looked toward Grace.
She was sleeping peacefully, completely unaware that her family history was collapsing around her.
"Does that mean Grace doesn't inherit anything?""
Richard shook his head.
"Not necessarily. The trust appears to provide for both branches of the family.""
Daniel spoke again.
"That's what Michael wanted me to confirm. He said if we could establish the second daughter's identity, the estate could be divided.""
Benjamin's expression hardened.
"An estate Elizabeth specifically designed to protect her children.""
Daniel nodded.
"I know.""
"No, you don't.""
Benjamin's voice was almost a whisper.
"You have no idea what your wife went through to protect Naomi.""
Naomi reached for the phone.
"Daniel, did you know about my mother's other daughter before we got married?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then he answered.
"No.""
"Did you know before Grace was born?""
He didn't respond.
Naomi closed her eyes.
That silence was enough.
She ended the call.
For several moments, the only sound in the room was Grace breathing softly.
Then Naomi whispered:
"I don't know my own family anymore.""
Benjamin wrapped his arms around her.
"You still have me.""
She leaned against him.
"But what if Mom had another daughter? What if she's been alone all these years?""
Benjamin looked toward the window.
His eyes were wet.
"Then we're going to find her.""
Richard spent the next hour examining Elizabeth's old foundation records.
Thomas remained beside him, providing details about the missing safety deposit box.
Eventually, Richard discovered a reference number written in the margin of one of Elizabeth's letters.
He compared it with the hospital documents.
"Benjamin, look at this.""
Benjamin approached.
"What is it?""
"The second child's hospital admission number.""
"Can you identify the hospital?""
"Mercy General. Baton Rouge.""
Naomi looked up.
"That's where I was born.""
Richard nodded.
"The records show that Elizabeth delivered a baby girl fourteen months before your birth.""
Naomi stared at him.
"Why would she give up her first child?""
Richard turned another page.
"She didn't.""
He showed them a handwritten note.
*Temporary protective placement requested by Elizabeth Carter. Child to remain under the care of the designated guardian until legal danger has passed.*
Benjamin read it twice.
"Legal danger?""
Thomas nodded.
"Elizabeth believed someone was trying to take control of the foundation and its assets. She feared the baby could become leverage.""
Naomi looked at her father.
"Who was the guardian?""
Richard searched the document.
His finger stopped at the bottom.
The name was clearly written.
*Evelyn Brooks.*
Naomi frowned.
"Who is Evelyn Brooks?""
Thomas's expression changed.
"I know that name.""
Benjamin turned toward him.
"From where?""
"She worked at the foundation. She was Elizabeth's closest friend.""
"Where is she now?""
Thomas opened his laptop.
"She lives outside Baton Rouge.""
Naomi immediately stood.
"Then we need to go there.""
Benjamin gently touched her arm.
"Not tonight.""
"Daddy, she could know where my sister is.""
"And we're going to find out. But first, I need to make sure nobody is using this information to get near you or Grace.""
Naomi looked at him.
"She's my sister.""
"I know.""
"What if she thinks we abandoned her?""
Benjamin had no answer.
Because that was exactly what he feared.
At 10:47 p.m., Richard received a message from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph.
A woman stood outside a small brick house, holding a grocery bag.
Beneath the picture was a sentence.
*Ask Evelyn what happened to Elizabeth's first daughter. She knows why the child was never returned.*
Benjamin stared at the image.
"Who sent this?""
Richard checked the number.
"Unregistered.""
Thomas leaned closer.
"That's Evelyn.""
Naomi looked at him.
"You're certain?""
He nodded.
"I haven't seen her in years, but I'd recognize her.""
Naomi took the phone.
The woman in the photograph looked to be in her late forties. She wore a blue cardigan and had dark hair streaked with gray.
There was something familiar about her face.
Not because Naomi remembered her.
Because the photograph on the table showed her mother standing beside the same woman.
Naomi looked up.
"That's her.""
Benjamin called the number immediately.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then someone answered.
A woman's voice came through.
"Hello?""
Benjamin spoke carefully.
"Is this Evelyn Brooks?""
The woman went silent.
"Who is this?""
"My name is Benjamin Carter. I was married to Elizabeth.""
A sharp breath.
Then Evelyn whispered:
"Is Naomi with you?""
Benjamin looked at his daughter.
"Yes.""
Another silence followed.
Then Evelyn said something that made Naomi grip the phone.
"Tell her I'm sorry. Tell her I tried to keep her sister safe.""
Naomi leaned closer.
"Where is she?""
Evelyn began crying.
"She's been looking for you.""
"Who?""
"Your sister.""
Naomi's voice broke.
"What's her name?""
Evelyn hesitated.
Then she whispered:
May you like
"Her name is Lily Carter.""
And before anyone could ask another question, the call abruptly disconnected.
