Chapter 9 - The Truth He Never Told Me
"MOM?"
The word escaped Sloan's lips before she could stop it.
The woman standing at the foot of her hospital bed covered her mouth.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh, sweetheart."
Sloan couldn't move.
She couldn't breathe.
Three years ago, she had watched her mother die.
She had stood beside a hospital bed while doctors explained that Evelyn Bennett's condition had deteriorated beyond recovery. She had held her mother's cold hand. She had attended the funeral, signed the paperwork, and spent months learning how to live in a world without her.
Now that same face was staring back at her.
"Who are you?" Sloan whispered.
The woman took a step forward.
Caspian immediately moved between them.
"Don't come any closer."
The woman stopped.
"My name is Eleanor Bennett."
Sloan stared at her.
"Eleanor?"
The woman nodded.
"Evelyn was my sister."
Sloan shook her head.
"No."
Eleanor's expression crumpled.
"I know what you were told."
"My mother didn't have a sister!"
"She did."
Sloan gripped the hospital blanket.
"Then why do you look exactly like her?"
Eleanor swallowed.
"Because we were identical twins."
The room fell silent.
Then Sloan began to cry.
Not because she believed the woman.
Because for one impossible second, she had believed her mother had come back.
And losing her all over again was almost more than she could bear.
"Get out."
Sloan's voice was barely audible.
Eleanor stood motionless.
"Please, Sloan."
"I said get out!"
Caspian immediately approached the woman.
"You heard her."
Eleanor looked devastated.
"I didn't come here to hurt her."
"Then you should have contacted us before walking into her hospital room looking exactly like her dead mother."
Eleanor lowered her eyes.
"You're right."
She reached into her handbag.
Caspian immediately stiffened.
"Keep your hands where I can see them."
Eleanor stopped.
"I have something Evelyn wanted Sloan to have."
Sloan closed her eyes.
She couldn't take another letter.
Another photograph.
Another secret that everyone else had apparently known for years.
Margaret stood near the window, looking pale.
Sloan suddenly turned toward her.
"You knew."
Margaret didn't answer.
"You knew my mother had a twin sister!"
Margaret swallowed.
"Yes."
Sloan stared at her.
"How many more lies are you going to tell me?"
Margaret's eyes filled.
"Evelyn asked me to protect Eleanor's identity."
"Why?"
Eleanor answered.
"Because Thomas Whitmore believed I was dead."
Sloan felt cold.
Caspian slowly turned.
"What?"
Eleanor looked at him.
"And if he discovers I'm alive, he won't stop until he finds what your father left with me."
Caspian pulled a chair toward Eleanor.
"Start talking."
Eleanor glanced at Sloan.
"Are you sure she's well enough for this?"
Sloan laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps asking that question while making my life worse."
Eleanor nodded.
"You're right."
She sat down.
"Your mother and I were very close when we were younger. We worked together during the investigation into Richard Reed's companies."
Sloan frowned.
"My mother was a financial investigator."
"So was I."
"Then why did she become a librarian?"
"Because she wanted to raise you somewhere safe."
Sloan stared at her.
Eleanor continued.
"Twenty-eight years ago, we discovered that Thomas Whitmore was moving money through companies connected to Richard Reed. We believed Richard was involved."
"But he wasn't," Caspian said.
Eleanor shook her head.
"Not in the way we initially believed."
She looked toward him.
"Richard discovered the fraud shortly after we did. He agreed to cooperate with us."
"And Helena Whitmore?"
"She helped us collect evidence against her husband."
Caspian leaned forward.
"What happened to her?"
Eleanor's expression darkened.
"She discovered that Thomas had altered the original Reed family trust. When she confronted him, he threatened her."
Sloan remembered the grainy parking-garage video.
Helena handing Daniel Mercer an envelope.
Another vehicle entering.
Then the recording ending.
"Was Daniel working for Thomas back then?"
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes."
"Did he kill Helena?"
"We don't know. But he helped conceal evidence after she disappeared."
Sloan felt sick.
Eleanor continued.
"Helena had already given us copies of the financial records. Thomas believed she still possessed the originals."
"What happened to the originals?" Caspian asked.
Eleanor looked at Sloan.
"Your mother hid them."
Sloan stared at her.
"In the storage box?"
"Some of them."
"Where are the rest?"
Eleanor hesitated.
"That's why I'm here."
Sloan looked toward Caspian.
He was staring at Eleanor with an expression she couldn't read.
"Do you believe her?" Sloan whispered.
He took her hand.
"I believe we need proof."
Eleanor nodded.
"That's fair."
She removed a small envelope from her handbag.
Inside were two birth certificates.
Evelyn Bennett.
Eleanor Bennett.
Same date.
Same parents.
Same hospital.
Then she produced an old photograph.
Two identical little girls stood in front of a Christmas tree.
One wore a red dress.
The other wore blue.
Sloan stared at it.
She recognized the photograph.
Her mother had kept it inside a small wooden box.
But whenever Sloan asked about the other little girl, Evelyn claimed she was a childhood friend.
Sloan covered her mouth.
"She lied to me."
Eleanor's eyes filled.
"She was trying to protect you."
Sloan shook her head.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Eleanor lowered her eyes.
"I know."
Sloan stared at the photograph.
"Where were you when she died?"
Eleanor's expression crumpled.
"I was there."
Sloan froze.
"What?"
"I came to the hospital. Margaret arranged for me to see her."
"Then why didn't I see you?"
"Because Evelyn made me promise I wouldn't approach you."
Sloan's voice broke.
"Why would she do that?"
Eleanor wiped her eyes.
"Because Thomas had already threatened you."
The room fell silent.
Eleanor continued.
"Your mother knew he was watching your life. She believed that if he discovered I was still alive, he would use you to find me."
Sloan looked away.
She wanted to be angry.
She was angry.
But beneath the anger was something else.
A terrible understanding.
Her mother had spent her final years trying to protect a daughter who never knew she was in danger.
And she had died believing that silence was the only way to keep Sloan safe.
Caspian stood.
"There's something I need to know."
Eleanor looked at him.
"Go ahead."
"Thomas claims he knows who my biological father is."
Eleanor's expression changed.
Sloan noticed immediately.
"You know, don't you?"
Eleanor hesitated.
"Yes."
Caspian stared at her.
"Alexander Vale?"
She nodded.
Caspian closed his eyes.
For a moment, he looked like a little boy who had discovered that every adult in his life had been keeping the same terrible secret.
"Why did Richard pretend to be my father?"
Eleanor's voice softened.
"He didn't pretend."
Caspian looked up.
"Richard raised you. He loved you. He considered you his son."
"Then why did he hide the truth?"
"Because Thomas used your parentage to threaten Victoria."
Sloan frowned.
"How?"
Eleanor took a breath.
"Richard inherited control of the Reed family companies under conditions established by his father. Thomas believed that exposing your biological parentage could create a dispute over the family's inheritance arrangements."
Caspian looked away.
Eleanor continued.
"He exaggerated the legal consequences, but the threat was enough to frighten Victoria."
Sloan stared at her.
"So Thomas controlled Victoria through fear."
"Yes."
"And Victoria helped him?"
Eleanor nodded slowly.
"Sometimes."
Caspian turned sharply.
"Sometimes?"
Eleanor met his eyes.
"Victoria concealed financial records. She helped Thomas maintain control of certain assets. And she knew he was threatening Evelyn."
Sloan felt her stomach tighten.
"But she wasn't the person giving the orders."
"No."
Eleanor looked toward the door.
"Thomas was."
Margaret's phone vibrated.
She read the message.
Her expression changed.
"Caspian."
He turned.
"What?"
"The police have located Daniel Mercer."
Sloan frowned.
"Wasn't he already at the storage facility?"
Margaret nodded.
"He left before they could question him."
Caspian's jaw tightened.
"Where is he now?"
Margaret looked at the screen.
"At Thomas Whitmore's house."
The room fell silent.
Sloan immediately thought about Daniel's daughter.
Emily.
The frightened girl whose voice they had heard through the storage-room door.
"Is his daughter safe?"
Margaret nodded.
"Police located her and her mother at a relative's house. They're safe."
Sloan exhaled.
For the first time that evening, something had gone right.
But Caspian was already reaching for his phone.
He called the detective assigned to the case.
"Detective Harris? This is Caspian Reed."
He listened.
His expression changed.
"What do you mean Thomas isn't there?"
Sloan sat straighter.
Caspian turned toward her.
"He's disappeared."
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"Of course he has."
Caspian continued listening.
Then he said, "We'll cooperate fully. My attorney's conflicts will need to be addressed, so I'll arrange independent counsel."
He ended the call.
Sloan looked at him.
"What happens now?"
Caspian sat beside her.
"We give the investigators everything."
Eleanor shook her head.
"Not everything."
Everyone turned.
She reached into her handbag again.
"There's something they still don't have."
Eleanor removed a small black flash drive.
Sloan stared at it.
"Another recording?"
Eleanor nodded.
"But this one is different."
Caspian frowned.
"How?"
"It contains a complete copy of the security footage from the night Richard died."
The room went silent.
Margaret immediately stepped forward.
"Where did you get that?"
Eleanor looked at her.
"Helena Whitmore."
Margaret stared.
"Helena gave you the footage?"
"Before she disappeared."
Caspian slowly stood.
"You've had it all these years?"
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you give it to investigators?"
"Because Thomas controlled the people who were supposed to protect us."
Sloan looked at the flash drive.
"And now?"
Eleanor met her eyes.
"Now there are independent investigators involved. And now Thomas knows his secrets are being exposed."
Caspian reached for the drive.
Eleanor pulled it away.
"There's something you need to understand first."
His expression hardened.
"What?"
"The footage doesn't prove Thomas killed Richard."
Sloan frowned.
"Then what does it show?"
Eleanor's voice trembled.
"It shows who entered Richard's house shortly before he died."
Caspian stared at her.
"Who?"
Eleanor looked toward Victoria, who was still waiting outside the hospital room.
Sloan followed her gaze.
"No."
Eleanor nodded.
"Victoria."
Caspian closed his eyes.
Sloan felt her heart pounding.
But Eleanor wasn't finished.
"She wasn't alone."
Caspian immediately opened the hospital-room door.
Victoria stood in the corridor beside Alexander.
She looked exhausted.
When she saw her son, she straightened.
"Caspian?"
He stared at her.
"Who went with you to Richard's house the night he died?"
Victoria's expression changed.
Alexander looked toward her.
"Victoria?"
She swallowed.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Caspian stepped closer.
"Eleanor has the security footage."
Victoria went completely still.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then she whispered, "Eleanor is alive?"
Caspian nodded.
"She's inside."
Victoria covered her mouth.
"Oh, God."
Sloan watched from her hospital bed.
Something about Victoria's reaction frightened her.
It wasn't anger.
It was relief.
And terror.
Caspian's voice hardened.
"Tell me what happened."
Victoria looked at Alexander.
He gently touched her arm.
"Tell him."
She began crying.
"I went to Richard's house because Thomas told me he was planning to expose everything."
Caspian stared at her.
"Everything about my father?"
"Yes."
"And Alexander?"
Victoria nodded.
"He came with me."
Caspian looked toward Alexander.
The older man lowered his eyes.
"You were there?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Alexander's voice broke.
"Because Richard asked us to keep the truth hidden."
Caspian laughed bitterly.
"Another promise."
Victoria wiped her eyes.
"Richard was alive when we arrived. He was angry. He wanted to expose Thomas."
"What happened?"
Victoria looked toward Eleanor.
"Thomas came later."
Sloan felt cold.
"Was Richard still alive?"
Victoria nodded.
"Yes."
Caspian stared at her.
"Then what happened?"
Victoria's voice trembled.
"Richard collapsed during the argument. We called for medical help."
Sloan looked toward Margaret.
The older woman remained silent.
Victoria continued.
"Thomas arrived before the ambulance. He took Richard's files and threatened to expose your parentage if we told anyone what he'd done."
Caspian's eyes filled.
"So you lied."
Victoria nodded.
"Yes."
"About everything."
She began crying.
"Yes."
Caspian looked away.
Sloan watched him struggle to breathe.
Then Eleanor spoke from the doorway.
"Victoria, there's one thing you haven't told him."
Victoria froze.
Eleanor held up the flash drive.
"Richard was still conscious after the ambulance arrived."
Caspian slowly turned.
"What?"
Eleanor looked directly at him.
"And he left a message for you."
They returned to Sloan's hospital room.
Eleanor connected the flash drive to Margaret's laptop.
Caspian sat beside Sloan.
Victoria and Alexander stood near the door.
Nobody spoke.
The video began.
A security camera showed Richard Reed's living room.
Richard stood beside his desk.
Victoria entered.
Alexander followed.
The three appeared to argue.
Several minutes later, Thomas Whitmore arrived.
Richard pointed toward the door.
Thomas refused to leave.
Then Richard suddenly collapsed.
Sloan gripped Caspian's hand.
Victoria rushed toward him.
Alexander called for help.
Thomas remained standing beside the desk.
Then he opened a drawer.
Removed a folder.
And slipped it beneath his coat.
Caspian's expression hardened.
"There."
Eleanor nodded.
"That's the original financial evidence Richard planned to give investigators."
The video continued.
Paramedics arrived.
Richard was placed on a stretcher.
Then the camera angle changed.
A second camera captured the hallway.
Richard briefly opened his eyes.
He reached for Alexander.
The audio was faint.
Eleanor increased the volume.
Richard whispered, "Tell Caspian..."
Alexander leaned closer.
Richard continued.
"Tell him I chose him."
Caspian stopped breathing.
Tears filled his eyes.
Richard's voice was weak.
"Tell him being his father was the greatest honor of my life."
Sloan began crying.
Caspian covered his mouth.
For years, he had wondered whether Richard would have loved him differently if the truth had become public.
Now he had his answer.
Richard had known.
Richard had chosen him.
And Richard had loved him until his final moments.
But the recording wasn't finished.
Richard reached toward Alexander again.
His voice became urgent.
"The documents..."
Alexander leaned closer.
"Where?"
Richard whispered something.
The audio crackled.
Then the video ended.
Caspian stared at the screen.
"What did he say?"
Eleanor looked at him.
"That's the part I couldn't understand."
Sloan wiped her eyes.
Then she noticed something.
Richard's hand.
Just before the recording ended, he had pointed toward the wall.
Toward a painting.
A large oil portrait hanging above the fireplace.
Sloan leaned forward.
"Wait."
Everyone turned.
She pointed at the screen.
"That painting."
Caspian frowned.
"What about it?"
Sloan looked at him.
"Is it still in your father's house?"
Caspian nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Her heart began pounding.
"Then I think I know where he hid the documents."
An hour later, Caspian arranged for an independent attorney to coordinate with the police.
The investigators agreed to examine Richard's former house, which Caspian still owned.
Sloan insisted on being included in the discussion, but Dr. Morrison recommended that she remain in the hospital for continued observation.
For once, Sloan didn't argue.
Her son needed her to rest.
And she finally understood that protecting him didn't mean doing everything herself.
Caspian sat beside her.
"I'll call you as soon as we know anything."
She nodded.
"Promise?"
He kissed her forehead.
"Promise."
Then he hesitated.
"Sloan?"
She looked up.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
Her eyes filled.
She had waited six months to hear those words again.
But she wasn't ready to answer.
Not yet.
Caspian seemed to understand.
He gently squeezed her hand.
"You don't have to say anything."
She nodded.
"Just come back."
He smiled faintly.
"I will."
Then he left.
Shortly after two in the morning, Sloan woke to the sound of her phone vibrating.
She reached for it.
A message from Caspian.
We're at the house.
Another message followed.
The painting was moved.
Sloan sat straighter.
She quickly typed a response.
What do you mean?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
She waited.
Her phone rang.
Caspian.
She answered immediately.
"Did you find anything?"
His breathing sounded uneven.
"Sloan, listen carefully."
Her stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
"The painting was moved recently. Someone opened the compartment behind it."
"Thomas?"
"We don't know."
She gripped the blanket.
"Did you find the documents?"
A pause.
Then Caspian whispered, "We found something else."
Sloan felt cold.
"What?"
He hesitated.
"An envelope addressed to you."
Her heart began pounding.
"From my mother?"
"No."
Sloan closed her eyes.
"Then who?"
Caspian's voice trembled.
"Richard."
Before she could answer, someone knocked on her hospital-room door.
Three slow knocks.
Sloan looked up.
"Who is it?"
No answer.
Then her phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
Unknown number.
Don't trust the man standing outside your room.
Sloan stared at the screen.
Caspian was still speaking.
"Sloan? What's happening?"
The door handle slowly turned.
Then a man's voice whispered from the hallway.
"Miss Bennett? Your mother asked me to bring you something."
May you like
Sloan's blood turned cold.
Because the voice belonged to Thomas Whitmore.
