Chapter 5 - THE BROTHER WHO CAME HOME
“Richard is dead.”
Adrian repeated the sentence as if saying it differently might make it less impossible.
Nia looked at him.
“Then who is Daniel warning you about?”
“I don't know.”
“Your family.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“Your family keeps appearing in every secret.”
Adrian didn't argue.
He picked up the necklace.
“We need to find Erin.”
They searched every address connected to her.
Nothing.
Then Nia remembered the photograph.
The woman beside Adrian.
The strange church.
“What if Erin went there?”
Adrian looked at her.
“What church?”
“The one in the photograph.”
They drove across Boston.
The church stood in a quiet neighborhood near the water.
It had been closed for years.
A faded sign hung above the entrance.
St. Mary's Chapel.
Adrian pushed open the side door.
Inside, the air smelled of dust and old wood.
Nia walked toward the altar.
A small photograph lay on the front pew.
Erin.
Beside it was another photograph.
Daniel.
Alive.
Older.
Thinner.
But unmistakable.
Adrian picked it up.
His hands trembled.
A voice came from behind them.
“You shouldn't have come.”
They turned.
Daniel Vale stood in the doorway.
Adrian stared at him.
For eighteen months, he had believed his closest friend was dead.
Now the man stood five feet away.
“You're alive.”
Daniel nodded.
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Because dead men are harder to find.”
Adrian stepped toward him.
“You let me bury you.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice.”
Daniel looked at Nia.
“I'm sorry.”
She folded her arms.
“You owe him more than an apology.”
“I know.”
Adrian's voice was low.
“Tell me what happened.”
Daniel sat down.
“Richard isn't dead.”
Adrian froze.
“You said he was.”
“I said everyone believes he is.”
“Where is he?”
Daniel looked at the necklace.
“He has been using your mother's trust.”
“To pay Erin?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Erin is his granddaughter.”
Nia stared.
“What?”
Daniel nodded.
“Erin is Richard's daughter.”
Adrian sat down.
“Richard had a child?”
“Yes.”
“With whom?”
Daniel looked away.
“Your mother.”
The silence was enormous.
Nia slowly understood.
The baby in the photograph.
The necklace.
The trust.
“Your mother had a daughter before you,” Daniel said.
Adrian stared at him.
“She gave her away.”
“Why?”
“Because your father threatened to destroy her.”
“Why?”
“Because the child wasn't his.”
Adrian's face hardened.
“Who was the father?”
Daniel looked at him.
“Richard.”
Adrian stood abruptly.
“You're saying my mother had a child with her brother-in-law?”
“No.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Richard isn't your uncle.”
Adrian froze.
“He was your father's business partner.”
The room went silent.
Nia stared at Adrian.
Daniel continued.
“Your father called him his brother because they built the company together.”
“So the necklace…”
“Belonged to your mother.”
“And Erin?”
“Her granddaughter.”
Adrian looked devastated.
“Why didn't my mother tell me?”
“She tried.”
Daniel reached into his coat.
He removed an old envelope.
Inside was a letter.
Adrian recognized the handwriting immediately.
His mother's.
He read it.
Then read it again.
Nia watched tears gather in his eyes.
“What does it say?”
He handed it to her.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN, BUT ONLY ONE WAS ALLOWED TO CARRY THE COLE NAME.
Nia covered her mouth.
The letter continued.
IF ADRIAN EVER FINDS THIS, TELL HIM I WAS AFRAID, NOT ASHAMED.
Adrian sat down.
For several minutes, he couldn't speak.
Then Daniel said quietly,
“Richard has been manipulating the company from the shadows.”
“How?”
“He created the shell accounts.”
“The missing money?”
“His.”
“The trust?”
“His way of protecting Erin.”
“Then why is he threatening her?”
Daniel looked at him.
“Because Erin found out the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That Richard didn't create the accounts for himself.”
Nia's heart tightened.
“Then who?”
Daniel looked directly at Adrian.
“Your father.”
Adrian went still.
“He used Richard's name.”
“Why?”
“Because your father was laundering money through the company.”
Adrian stared.
“And Richard tried to stop him.”
Daniel nodded.
“He spent years cleaning up the damage.”
“Then why hide?”
“Because your father threatened his life.”
Nia suddenly understood the deeper tragedy.
Adrian had spent years believing the wrong man was the villain.
But there was still one question.
“Why was Erin in danger?”
Daniel's face became grim.
“Because she inherited something.”
“What?”
“Proof.”
“Proof of what?”
Daniel reached into his coat again.
He removed a small child-sized bracelet.
A hospital tag was attached to it.
Nia recognized the name.
ERIN VALE.
Daniel whispered,
“The original records are inside your house.”
Adrian stared at him.
“Where?”
May you like
Daniel looked toward Nia.
“Your bedroom.”
