Chapter 6 - The Night Nora Vanished
Daniel felt as if the ground beneath him had shifted again.
"A Carter?"
Vivian nodded.
"Who?"
She couldn't look at him.
Daniel understood before she spoke.
"No."
"Daniel—"
"No."
"Your father."
The words landed like stones.
Charles Carter had been Nora's biological father.
Rebecca wasn't Nora's biological mother.
She had protected her.
The real story was darker.
Nora's biological mother had been a young employee at Carter Development who became pregnant after a relationship with Charles.
When she died shortly after childbirth from medical complications, Charles wanted the baby quietly placed for adoption.
Rebecca refused.
She took custody.
She raised Nora as her own while gathering evidence against Charles and Martin.
That was why Nora mattered.
She wasn't simply Rebecca's child.
She was an heir to the Carter estate.
And if Nora's existence became public, old trusts and inheritance agreements could reopen.
Martin had known.
Money had always been part of the motive.
Daniel sat silently for a long time.
Nora was technically his half-sister.
Six years old.
His father's child.
The revelation disgusted him, saddened him, and confused him all at once.
But when he looked at Nora sleeping against Vivian's shoulder, only one fact mattered.
She was a child.
She had done nothing wrong.
They returned home under police protection.
Ellie was awake.
The moment she saw Nora, she ran toward her.
"Nora!"
Nora stopped.
Until then, the girls had only touched through metal bars.
Now Ellie wrapped both arms around her.
Nora began crying.
Ellie pulled bread from her pajama pocket.
"I saved you some."
Daniel had to turn away.
Even Detective Brooks wiped her eyes.
For two days, the house became something strange.
Half crime scene.
Half refuge.
Daniel moved Nora into the bedroom beside Ellie's.
The hidden room was sealed.
Vivian slept in the guest room.
Daniel couldn't forgive her yet.
Perhaps he never would.
She had lied.
Manipulated Ellie.
Hidden Nora in conditions no child should endure.
Fear explained those choices.
It did not excuse them.
Vivian understood.
On Friday morning, she packed a suitcase.
Daniel found her downstairs.
"Where are you going?"
"A hotel."
"Nora?"
"She should stay here."
Vivian swallowed.
"With you."
Daniel stared.
"You're leaving her?"
"No."
Tears appeared.
"I'm doing what I should have done before. Putting what she needs ahead of what I'm afraid to lose."
Nora appeared on the stairs.
"Vivian?"
Vivian turned.
Nora ran down.
"Don't go."
Vivian knelt.
"I'll see you."
"No!"
Nora clung to her.
Daniel watched.
The situation wasn't simple.
Love rarely was.
Vivian had failed Nora.
She had also protected her for years.
Daniel finally said, "Stay."
Vivian looked up.
"This doesn't mean we're okay."
"I know."
"It means Nora doesn't lose another person overnight."
Vivian nodded.
That afternoon Detective Brooks called.
Martin had offered a deal.
He named the final conspirator.
Daniel listened.
Then slowly sat down.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
The name was Thomas Reed.
Daniel's attorney.
His closest friend since college.
And Ellie's godfather.
Worse, Thomas knew the Carter house.
Its security codes.
Its layout.
Its routines.
Daniel looked toward the backyard.
Ellie and Nora had been playing there ten minutes earlier.
Now the yard was empty.
He dropped the phone.
Ran outside.
"ELLIE!"
No answer.
"NORA!"
Vivian came running.
"What happened?"
Daniel saw the side gate.
Open.
On the grass lay Ellie's stuffed rabbit.
Vivian screamed Nora's name.
Daniel raced toward the street.
A vehicle disappeared around the corner.
His phone rang.
Thomas.
Daniel answered.
"You want the ledger?" Daniel shouted.
Thomas chuckled.
"No."
"Then what?"
"The girls."
Daniel stopped.
"What?"
"Martin was obsessed with evidence. He never understood leverage."
"If you touch them—"
"I don't want to hurt anyone."
"Where are they?"
"Safe for now."
Daniel's hands shook.
"What do you want?"
"Your controlling interest in Carter Development."
Daniel understood.
Thomas wanted the company.
"You can have it."
Vivian stared at him.
Daniel didn't hesitate.
"Every share."
"Good."
"Give me my girls."
Thomas paused.
"Interesting choice of words, Daniel."
Daniel closed his eyes.
Ellie was his daughter.
Nora was his sister.
But emotionally, the distinction no longer mattered.
Both were children who trusted him.
Both were his responsibility.
"Where?"
Thomas gave him instructions.
Then added:
"And Daniel?"
"What?"
"Come alone."
The call ended.
Daniel looked at Vivian.
She shook her head.
"No."
"I'm going."
"Thomas won't honor the deal."
"I know."
"Then what are you going to do?"
Daniel looked toward the road where the vehicle had disappeared.
May you like
This time there was no hesitation in his face.
"I'm bringing them home."
