Chapter 7 — The Second Will
Chapter 7 — The Second Will
Daniel's phone lay on the floor.
The red dot on the screen was moving.
Away from the Harrington estate.
Toward the eastern highway.
I stared at it.
“He's been taken.”
Detective Collins picked up the phone.
“Don't assume that yet.”
I looked at her.
“His location is moving.”
“Which could mean someone is carrying the phone.”
“Then we follow it.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Daniel is my brother.”
“And whoever took him wants you to react.”
I looked at the message again.
COME ALONE, MARIA.
OR DANIEL DIES.
My hands trembled.
“I can't just sit here.”
“You're not.”
Detective Collins pulled out her phone.
“We're tracking the device.”
She looked at the screen.
“It's moving toward an abandoned railway station.”
Vivian suddenly stood.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
She looked terrified.
“Not there.”
“Why?”
Vivian swallowed.
“Because that's where my mother used to take people.”
I stared at her.
“What people?”
“People who knew too much.”
Twenty minutes later, we were driving toward the abandoned station.
Detective Collins insisted on bringing two officers.
I sat in the back seat with Amelia.
Neither of us spoke.
The photograph of Eleanor and Evelyn was still on my phone.
I kept looking at it.
“How could your mother still be alive?” I asked.
Amelia shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“Vivian says she died.”
“Vivian believed she died.”
“You didn't?”
“My father never believed it.”
“Why?”
“Because he kept receiving letters from her.”
I turned.
“Letters?”
“After her supposed death.”
“Where are they?”
“Gone.”
“Who destroyed them?”
Amelia looked out the window.
“Margaret.”
My stomach tightened.
“Of course.”
Amelia looked at me.
“You don't trust her.”
“No.”
“Neither did my father.”
“What about you?”
“I don't trust anyone in that family.”
I gave her a bitter smile.
“Neither do I.”
The abandoned station appeared through the fog.
Broken windows.
Rusting tracks.
A single platform covered in weeds.
Detective Collins stopped the car.
“We go together.”
I opened the door.
“No.”
She grabbed my arm.
“Maria.”
“If someone has Daniel, they may be watching.”
“Exactly.”
“They asked me to come alone.”
“And you think walking into a trap alone is smart?”
“No.”
I looked at her.
“I think staying here while my brother is in danger is worse.”
She stared at me.
Then she sighed.
“Fine.”
She handed me a small transmitter.
“Keep this hidden.”
I nodded.
“If you feel threatened, press it.”
“What will happen?”
“We'll hear everything.”
I walked toward the station.
The fog swallowed me.
“Daniel?”
No answer.
I stepped inside.
The building smelled of rust and damp wood.
Then I heard something.
A voice.
“Maria.”
I froze.
It was Daniel.
“Where are you?”
“Down here.”
I followed the sound.
A staircase led beneath the station.
I descended.
At the bottom was a room.
Daniel sat tied to a chair.
His face was bruised.
“Daniel!”
I ran toward him.
“Stop.”
A man's voice came from the darkness.
I froze.
A tall figure stepped into the light.
He wore a dark coat.
His face was partially hidden.
Daniel looked at him.
“Maria, don't listen to him.”
The man smiled.
“You have your father's eyes.”
I knew that voice.
Not because I had heard it recently.
Because I had heard it on the old recording.
Michael Vale.
I stared.
“You're alive.”
He smiled.
“Unfortunately for some people.”
Daniel struggled against the ropes.
“You killed my father.”
Michael looked at him.
“No.”
“You admitted it.”
“I admitted nothing.”
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“You helped.”
Michael's expression became cold.
“I protected him.”
“From what?”
Michael looked at me.
“From the people who wanted him dead.”
I shook my head.
“Then why did my father name you?”
“Because he knew I would be blamed.”
“Why?”
“Because I was the only person he trusted.”
I laughed.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Michael nodded toward Daniel.
“You don't have much choice.”
I looked at Daniel.
“What does he mean?”
Michael smiled.
“Your brother has something you don't know about.”
Daniel's face went pale.
“Don't.”
Michael stepped behind him.
“Tell her.”
“No.”
“What is he hiding?”
Daniel looked at me.
“I didn't know.”
“Didn't know what?”
Michael pulled a folder from his coat.
He opened it.
Inside was a document.
A will.
My father's will.
But not the one I had seen.
At the top was the date.
Three weeks before Edward died.
I stared.
“The second will.”
Michael nodded.
“Your father changed everything.”
I reached for it.
He pulled it away.
“Not yet.”
“What does it say?”
“That Daniel receives the company.”
I looked at my brother.
His eyes filled with shame.
“But Maria receives the Foundation.”
Michael continued.
“And there is one condition.”
“What?”
Michael smiled.
“The Foundation cannot transfer to Maria unless Daniel signs.”
My heart stopped.
Daniel looked down.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I didn't know.”
Michael shook his head.
“He knew.”
Daniel looked up.
“What?”
“You found the will three years ago.”
I stared at him.
“Daniel?”
He shook his head.
“I found a document.”
“What document?”
“I didn't know it was the will.”
“You kept it from me.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“That if I told you, you'd become a target.”
I stared at him.
“You lied to me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
The words sounded familiar.
Everyone kept saying them.
I was beginning to hate them.
Michael placed the will on the table.
“There is more.”
He opened the final page.
I read the clause.
Upon Maria Santos's death, the Harrington Foundation shall transfer to Daniel Harrington.
I looked at Michael.
“So if I die…”
“Daniel inherits.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I never wanted that.”
“But someone did.”
I thought of the insurance policies.
Twenty-five million dollars on my life.
Ten million on Daniel.
The Foundation worth hundreds of millions.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Someone didn't need Daniel dead.
They needed me dead.
And they needed Daniel alive long enough to inherit.
I looked at him.
“Who knew about this?”
“Margaret.”
“Vivian?”
“Yes.”
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
“Amelia?”
She nodded.
“I knew.”
I turned.
“Then why didn't anyone tell me?”
Amelia looked away.
“Because the second will was stolen.”
“By whom?”
Michael answered.
“Evelyn.”
I stared.
“She's alive.”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Michael smiled.
“She wants you to come to her.”
“Why?”
“Because she has the original.”
I looked at Daniel.
“What happens if I don't?”
Michael's expression hardened.
“She kills your brother.”
The door behind us slammed open.
Detective Collins entered with her weapon raised.
“Michael Vale!”
He didn't move.
The officers surrounded the room.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Michael laughed.
“You're late.”
Detective Collins stepped forward.
“Release Daniel.”
Michael raised his hands.
“I didn't kidnap him.”
Daniel looked at her.
“He's lying.”
Michael pointed toward the doorway.
“Check the security footage.”
One officer did.
Minutes later, he returned.
“Detective.”
“What?”
“Michael didn't bring Daniel here.”
“Then who did?”
The officer looked at me.
“We don't know.”
Michael smiled.
“I told you.”
He walked toward Detective Collins.
“I found him here.”
“Then why is he tied up?”
“Because he was waiting for someone.”
“Who?”
Michael looked at me.
“Evelyn.”
The detective lowered her weapon slightly.
“Where is she?”
Michael laughed.
“Closer than you think.”
Then the lights went out.
Again.
A gunshot echoed.
Everyone ducked.
When the emergency lights came on, Michael was gone.
So was the second will.
I stared at the empty table.
“No.”
Detective Collins cursed.
“How did he escape?”
Daniel looked toward the wall.
“There.”
A hidden door stood open.
Behind it was a narrow tunnel.
Detective Collins shone her flashlight inside.
Footprints disappeared into the darkness.
Then she looked at me.
“Your family has tunnels.”
I almost laughed.
“My family?”
She gave me a look.
“Fair point.”
We returned to the Harrington estate before sunrise.
The entire house was searched.
Every room.
Every closet.
Every hidden passage.
But Michael was gone.
Evelyn was gone.
And the original will was gone.
I sat in the library.
The same room where this nightmare had begun.
Daniel sat across from me.
“I am sorry.”
I looked at him.
“You keep saying that.”
“I don't know what else to say.”
“Tell me the truth.”
“I am.”
“Then tell me why you kept the will.”
He looked down.
“Because I was afraid you would leave.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“When I discovered you were my sister, I was happy.”
I said nothing.
“You were the first family member who didn't want anything from me.”
“That isn't true.”
“It is.”
He looked at me.
“You treated me like a person.”
I softened despite myself.
“But when I found the will…”
He swallowed.
“I realized your life would change.”
“How?”
“If the Foundation went to you, everyone would come after you.”
“And you thought hiding it would protect me.”
“Yes.”
“But you knew I was being framed.”
“I didn't know how far Vivian would go.”
“You suspected.”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“Then why did you stay with her?”
Daniel looked away.
“Because I was investigating her.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“I knew she was hiding something.”
“How long?”
“Three years.”
“Three years?”
“Yes.”
“You've been investigating your own wife for three years?”
“She was meeting people.”
“Who?”
“Lawyers. Accountants. My mother's old associates.”
“Evelyn?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell the police?”
“Because I didn't have proof.”
I shook my head.
“You had the will.”
“Not enough.”
“What about the insurance policies?”
“I didn't know about them.”
I stared at him.
“Then maybe you should have.”
That afternoon, Detective Collins brought us to the bank.
The second will was still missing.
But the bank had another document.
A codicil.
A handwritten amendment to the will.
The manager placed it on the table.
“Your father deposited this five days before his death.”
I read it.
If the original will disappears, the Foundation shall remain frozen until all three children are located.
I looked up.
“All three?”
The manager nodded.
“Maria. Daniel. And Anna.”
My heart stopped.
“Anna is alive.”
He looked at me.
“That is what your father believed.”
“But the medical records say she died.”
“The records were altered.”
Detective Collins frowned.
“Can the bank release the Foundation if all three children are identified?”
“No.”
“Why?”
The manager pointed to another clause.
“There is a final condition.”
I read it.
My blood turned cold.
The Foundation shall not be transferred until the person responsible for Edward Harrington's death is identified and convicted.
I looked at Detective Collins.
“That means…”
“Yes,” she said.
“Someone has been trying to kill me before the truth could come out.”
Daniel stared at the document.
“And the second will is only part of it.”
I looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
He pointed to the bottom.
A signature.
Edward's.
And beneath it, another signature.
Margaret's.
I stared.
“Your mother signed the amendment.”
Daniel's face went pale.
“She knew.”
“Yes.”
“But she said she didn't know about the Foundation.”
Detective Collins looked at the signature.
“She lied.”
That evening, I confronted Margaret.
She was sitting alone in the dining room.
The Christmas decorations were still hanging.
The same room where Vivian had once accused me of stealing.
I placed the document in front of her.
“You signed this.”
Margaret looked at it.
Then at me.
“Yes.”
“You knew about the second will.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I was the beneficiary.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Anna was alive.”
Margaret hesitated.
“Yes.”
My heart sank.
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I haven't seen her in twenty years.”
“Then why did you sign?”
Margaret began crying.
“Because Edward made me promise.”
“What promise?”
“To protect all three of you.”
“From whom?”
She looked toward the window.
“Evelyn.”
I leaned closer.
“What did Evelyn want?”
“The Foundation.”
“Why?”
“Because she believed it belonged to her family.”
“And Michael?”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“He was supposed to help her.”
“Did he kill Edward?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Margaret's voice became almost inaudible.
“I don't know.”
I stood.
“You're still protecting someone.”
She looked at me.
“No.”
“Then tell me.”
Margaret whispered:
“Your father was alive when he left the house.”
I froze.
“What?”
“He wasn't killed here.”
“Where?”
“He went to meet someone.”
“Who?”
Margaret shook her head.
“I never knew.”
“Then how did he die?”
“I heard a gunshot.”
“Where?”
“In the garden.”
I stared.
“But his body was found in his study.”
Margaret nodded.
“Exactly.”
I felt cold.
“Then someone moved his body.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Margaret looked toward the door.
Her face became terrified.
“I saw her.”
“Who?”
Margaret whispered:
“Eleanor.”
My breath stopped.
“Eleanor Harrington?”
“Yes.”
“She was there?”
Margaret nodded.
“The night Edward died.”
Before I could ask another question, every light in the house went out.
Again.
A phone began ringing.
Not mine.
Margaret's.
She stared at the screen.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A woman's voice spoke.
I couldn't hear everything.
But Margaret's face changed.
“What do you want?”
The voice on the other end said something.
Margaret started crying.
“No.”
Then she dropped the phone.
I picked it up.
A message appeared.
THE SECOND WILL IS NOT THE DANGER.
Another message followed.
THE THIRD WILL IS.
I stared.
There was a third will?
Before I could process it, another message appeared.
COME TO THE OLD CHAPEL AT MIDNIGHT.
Then:
BRING THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH.
I looked at Margaret.
“Eleanor?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
Margaret's eyes filled with terror.
“The woman in the photograph…”
She whispered:
“Is your mother.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
Margaret pointed toward the old photograph on the table.
The photograph of Edward.
Evelyn.
And the little girl.
But now I saw something I had missed before.
Standing behind them was my mother.
Alive.
Watching.
Holding the hand of a second child.
A little boy.
Not Anna.
Not Daniel.
Someone else.
Someone whose face had been scratched out.
I turned the photograph over.
For the first time, I noticed the writing on the back.
The third child must never be found.
And beneath it was a name.
A name that made Daniel collapse into the nearest chair.
Jonathan Harrington.
His own name.
His father's name.
And suddenly the second will wasn't the most frightening secret in the family.
May you like
The third child was.
To be continued.
