Chapter 15: The Woman My Father Trusted
Finding Claire Bennett became the only thing I could think about.
Not Willowbrook.
Not Stephanie.
Not Richard.
Claire.
The woman my father trusted enough to write her name beside his.
The woman someone wanted me to fear.
Emma tracked her down within hours.
“She lives two towns away,” she said.
I looked at the address.
“Why would she stay so close?””
“Maybe she was waiting.””
That thought bothered me.
People who disappeared usually wanted to be forgotten.
People who waited wanted something.
I drove there alone.
The house was small.
Old.
Almost hidden behind tall trees.
I knocked.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then the door opened.
A woman stood there.
She was older now.
Her dark hair had streaks of gray.
But her eyes were exactly like the ones in the photograph.
She looked at me.
And immediately knew who I was.
“Charles.””
I froze.
“You know me?””
She looked sad.
“I’ve known you since the day you were born.””
The answer shocked me.
“Then why have you never contacted us?””
Her expression changed.
“Because your father asked me not to.””
I stepped inside.
“Why?””
“Because he knew they were watching.””
“Who?””
She closed the door.
“Everyone.””
I studied her.
“My father trusted you.””
“Yes.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
Claire nodded.
“I owe you that.””
We sat across from each other in her living room.
She placed an old notebook on the table.
Your father’s handwriting.
Again.
“He left this with me.””
I opened it.
The first page said:
*If Claire gives this to Charles, it means there is no one else left to protect him.*
I swallowed.
Claire watched me carefully.
“Your father was investigating more than Willowbrook.””
“What else?””
“A network.””
“Of what?””
“People who used money and influence to take land from families who couldn’t fight back.””
I thought about all the names.
Richard.
Thomas.
Daniel.
Robert.
“How did my father find them?””
“Because he was one of them.””
I looked up.
“What?””
Claire shook her head.
“Not one of them. He worked alongside them before he understood what they were doing.””
My father.
The man who hated corruption.
The man who taught me honesty.
He had once been close to the people he fought.
“He discovered they were manipulating families,” Claire continued.
“He tried to expose them.””
“And they killed him.””
She didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
I opened the notebook.
Inside were names.
Dates.
Transactions.
Then one sentence written in bold.
*The final betrayal came from inside my own home.*
My heart sank.
“Claire.””
She looked at me.
“Who was it?””
She hesitated.
Then said:
“Your father never told me.””
“Why?””
“Because he was protecting someone.””
I stared.
“My mother?””
Claire looked away.
“I don’t know.””
That answer bothered me.
Because everyone knew something.
Nobody knew everything.
Then Claire pulled out another envelope.
“This arrived three days ago.””
“From who?””
“I don’t know.””
Inside was a copy of a bank transfer.
A large payment.
The recipient:
*Robert Hartwell.*
The sender:
*Charles Hartwell.*
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
Claire looked at me.
“Someone used your identity.””
I stared at the document.
“I never sent this.””
“I know.””
“Then someone is framing me.””
Claire nodded.
“And they are preparing for the final move.””
My phone rang.
Emma.
I answered.
“Charles.””
Her voice was panicked.
“You need to come back immediately.””
“What happened?””
“The court changed the hearing.””
“Why?””
“They filed new evidence.””
“What evidence?””
Silence.
Then:
“Your fingerprints were found on the forged transfer documents.””
I stopped breathing.
“That’s impossible.””
“I know.””
The line crackled.
“Charles…”
“What?””
“They arrested your mother.””
My hand went numb.
“What?””
“She’s being accused of fraud.””
The call ended.
I looked at Claire.
She already understood.
The trap had closed.
And this time…
May you like
They weren’t trying to steal Willowbrook.
They were trying to make us look like the criminals.
