Chapter 8: The Woman Who Kept Elizabeth's Promise
Benjamin tried calling Evelyn six more times.
Every call went unanswered.
At 6:30 the following morning, Naomi was already dressed.
Grace slept in her car seat while Naomi packed the diaper bag.
Benjamin entered the suite.
"You're ready?""
Naomi nodded.
"We're going to Baton Rouge.""
He studied her face.
"Are you sure?""
"She's my sister, Daddy.""
Benjamin picked up his coat.
"Then let's go find her.""
Richard Hayes accompanied them, along with a security driver.
Thomas remained in New Orleans to assist with the investigation into the hotel and the Whitmore transactions.
Before leaving, Benjamin gave him one instruction.
"Do not speak to Michael. Do not contact Victoria. Preserve every document, every message, and every recording.""
Thomas nodded.
"Understood.""
Benjamin looked at him.
"And Thomas?""
"Yes, sir?""
"If you've hidden anything else from me, this is your last opportunity to tell me.""
Thomas lowered his eyes.
"I haven't.""
Benjamin didn't look convinced.
The drive to Baton Rouge was quiet.
Naomi sat beside Grace in the backseat, watching the highway disappear beneath the morning sun.
She kept thinking about the woman named Lily.
Was she older?
Did she look like Elizabeth?
Did she have the same smile?
Most importantly, did she know she had a family?
After nearly an hour, Naomi spoke.
"Daddy?""
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Why didn't Mom tell me?""
Benjamin watched the road.
"I've asked myself that question for twelve years.""
"Did you know about Lily?""
"No.""
"Not even a little?""
Benjamin shook his head.
"Your mother was a private person. She kept certain things to herself, especially when she was worried about someone.""
Naomi looked down at Grace.
"Maybe she thought she was protecting us.""
"Perhaps.""
Benjamin paused.
"Your mother once told me that there were things a parent sometimes had to carry alone.""
Naomi looked at him.
"What did she mean?""
"I thought she was talking about the foundation.""
He swallowed.
"Now I'm not so sure.""
Evelyn's house was a modest brick home on a quiet residential street.
A wind chime hung beside the front porch.
There were flowerpots near the steps, and a faded welcome mat lay beneath the door.
Benjamin knocked.
Nobody answered.
He knocked again.
A curtain moved.
Then the door opened a few inches.
Evelyn stood behind it.
She looked older than the photograph, but her eyes were unmistakable.
When she saw Benjamin, her face tightened.
"Mr. Carter.""
"Evelyn.""
Her gaze moved to Naomi.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
Then she covered her mouth.
"Oh, Elizabeth.""
Naomi stepped forward.
"My name is Naomi.""
Evelyn opened the door wider.
"I know.""
Naomi's voice trembled.
"Please tell me about my sister.""
Evelyn stepped aside.
"Come in.""
Inside, the house smelled of coffee and lavender.
Photographs covered one wall.
Naomi noticed several pictures of her mother.
One showed Elizabeth holding a newborn baby.
Another showed Evelyn standing beside her at a charity event.
Naomi pointed toward the first photograph.
"Is that Lily?""
Evelyn nodded.
"She was six weeks old.""
Naomi stared at the photograph.
The baby had dark hair and tiny fingers wrapped around Elizabeth's thumb.
Naomi felt tears running down her face.
"Mom held her.""
"Every chance she got.""
Evelyn sat down.
"Elizabeth loved both her daughters more than anything. But she was frightened.""
"Of Victoria?""
"Of the people behind her.""
Evelyn folded her hands.
"Your mother discovered that the foundation's funds were being diverted through shell companies. She confronted Richard Whitmore, but he denied everything.""
Benjamin leaned forward.
"Did she tell you who was involved?""
Evelyn nodded.
"She suspected Michael.""
Benjamin went still.
"My brother?""
"Michael had access to some of the foundation's financial accounts. Elizabeth found transfers approved using his credentials.""
Benjamin looked away.
Evelyn continued.
"She didn't know whether Michael was stealing money himself or helping Richard Whitmore. But she believed someone was watching her.""
Naomi whispered, "And Lily?""
"Elizabeth thought the baby could be used to force her into silence.""
Evelyn's eyes filled.
"She asked me to take temporary custody of Lily. She wanted the child somewhere nobody connected to the foundation could find her.""
"Why didn't you return her?"" Naomi asked.
Evelyn looked down.
"Because Elizabeth died.""
Naomi's breath caught.
"What?""
"After her death, I received a letter. It said that if I returned Lily to the Carter family, I would be placing her in danger.""
"Who wrote it?""
"I never knew.""
Evelyn stood and walked to a small cabinet.
She opened a drawer and removed a sealed envelope.
"This arrived three months after Elizabeth's funeral.""
Benjamin examined it.
The handwriting looked like Elizabeth's.
Naomi reached for it.
Inside was a short letter.
My dearest Evelyn,
If you're reading this, then I may no longer be able to protect my daughters.
Please keep Lily safe. Keep Naomi safe, too, even if you must do so from a distance.
One day, when the danger has passed, tell them the truth.
There is one thing I need you to understand. Lily is not simply my first child. She is the key to proving what happened to the foundation.
Naomi read the final sentence again.
"What does that mean?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Benjamin examined the envelope.
"Where did this come from?""
"An attorney delivered it.""
"Which attorney?""
Evelyn hesitated.
"Michael Carter.""
Benjamin stood so abruptly that the chair moved backward.
"My brother delivered this?""
"Yes.""
"Then why would he threaten you?""
Evelyn's eyes filled.
"Because he knew where Lily was.""
Naomi looked at her.
"Did he ever come here?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Twice. The first time, he asked me to sign papers confirming that Elizabeth had relinquished all parental rights.""
"And the second time?""
Evelyn swallowed.
"He brought money.""
Benjamin's jaw tightened.
"How much?""
"Two hundred thousand dollars.""
Naomi stared.
"He tried to buy my sister?""
"He said it would give Lily a better future.""
Evelyn wiped her eyes.
"I refused. He told me I would regret it.""
Richard Hayes took out his phone.
"Did you keep the paperwork?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Everything.""
She brought out another folder.
Inside were adoption records, hospital documents, and a photograph of a young woman standing in front of a university building.
Naomi picked it up.
The woman was perhaps twenty-six.
Dark hair. Brown eyes. A familiar curve to her smile.
Naomi stared.
"Is this Lily?""
Evelyn nodded.
"She's twenty-nine now. She works as a nurse at a hospital in Baton Rouge.""
Naomi's heart began racing.
"She's alive?""
"Yes.""
"Does she know about me?""
Evelyn looked away.
"She knows she was adopted. She knows Elizabeth was her birth mother. But she doesn't know the whole story.""
"Why?""
"Because I promised Elizabeth I wouldn't tell her until it was safe.""
Benjamin stood.
"Where can we find her?""
Evelyn hesitated.
"She was supposed to visit me this morning.""
Naomi looked at the clock.
"Then she'll come soon?""
Evelyn nodded.
But before anyone could answer, a car pulled into the driveway.
A young woman stepped out.
She carried a hospital bag and wore navy-blue scrubs beneath a gray cardigan.
Evelyn walked to the window.
Her face changed.
"That's her.""
Naomi stood.
The woman approached the front door.
Evelyn opened it.
"Lily, sweetheart.""
The young woman smiled.
"Morning, Evelyn. I brought you some groceries.""
Then she noticed the unfamiliar people inside.
Her smile disappeared.
"Who's here?""
Evelyn stepped aside.
"Lily, there's something I've needed to tell you for a very long time.""
The young woman looked at Naomi.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Lily's eyes filled with tears.
"Wait.""
She slowly shook her head.
"Why does she look like the woman in my birth certificate?""
Naomi stepped forward.
"Because she was my mother, too.""
Lily dropped the grocery bag.
A carton of eggs cracked against the floor.
She stared at Naomi.
Then she whispered:
"You're my sister?""
Naomi nodded.
And Lily began to cry.
But before either woman could embrace the other, Lily looked at Benjamin.
Her expression changed completely.
"You're Benjamin Carter?""
"Yes.""
Lily stepped backward.
May you like
Then she said something nobody expected.
"I know who killed my mother.""
