Chapter 10 - THE SISTER WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
I stared at my phone.
Grace Ellis.
Hannah Brooks.
Daniel's missing sister.
She'd called me.
And she'd said Thomas Vale was her father.
I knew that couldn't be true.
Daniel had told me Hannah was his father's daughter.
Unless—
I stopped.
Unless Thomas Vale had lied to her.
***
Daniel arrived at the bookstore fifteen minutes later.
I told him everything.
He listened without interrupting.
When I finished, his face was pale.
“She thinks Thomas is her father.”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
“He's been controlling her.”
“Maybe.”
Daniel looked at me.
“Why didn't she want you to tell me?”
“She's afraid.”
“Of me?”
I hesitated.
“She doesn't know you.”
The truth hurt him.
I could see it.
But he nodded.
“Then we need to give her a reason to trust us.”
***
Grace called again that evening.
This time, Sarah was present.
We arranged a meeting at a public library.
Grace arrived wearing a gray coat and dark sunglasses.
She looked exhausted.
When she saw Daniel, she stopped.
He stood.
“Hannah.”
Her lips trembled.
“Daniel?”
He took one step.
Then stopped.
She began crying.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Grace crossed the room and threw her arms around him.
Daniel held her.
I turned away.
Twenty-two years.
Twenty-two years of birthdays missed.
Holidays lost.
Ordinary moments stolen.
No reunion could return them.
But this one mattered.
***
When they finally sat down, Grace told us the truth.
Thomas Vale had found her three weeks earlier.
He claimed to be her biological father.
He showed her forged documents.
Then threatened Sophie.
Grace believed him long enough to disappear.
But while hiding, she found inconsistencies.
She contacted an attorney.
Then me.
“Why me?” I asked.
Grace looked at my locket.
“Because Margaret Carter saved my life.”
My eyes filled.
“She was brave,” Grace whispered.
“She was.”
Grace touched my hand.
“She told me if I ever got lost again, I should find her daughter.”
I began crying.
My mother had left instructions for a future she knew she might not see.
***
Grace also revealed something else.
Thomas Vale had been trying to recover the original Harbor House records.
He knew the microfilm existed.
He knew my mother had hidden it.
But he didn't know where.
Until Olivia arranged the blind date.
Daniel became still.
“Why would Olivia involve me?”
Grace looked at him.
“Because Martin Bennett wanted to know whether you recognized Emily.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
Grace swallowed.
“Because he believed your father had left something with Margaret.”
Daniel looked confused.
“What?”
Grace opened her handbag.
Removed an old letter.
The envelope bore the Brooks family crest.
Inside was a note from Daniel's father.
MARGARET, IF YOU ARE READING THIS, I HAVE FAILED HANNAH. PLEASE KEEP THE EVIDENCE SAFE. DANIEL MUST NEVER BE MADE PART OF THIS.
Daniel stared.
His father had known.
Not everything.
But enough.
He'd tried to protect his son.
And failed his daughter.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Grace touched his hand.
“He loved you.”
Daniel looked at her.
“He should have protected you.”
Grace began crying.
“He tried.”
***
That night, Sarah called with urgent news.
Thomas Vale had been located.
He was preparing to leave the country.
Federal agents were moving to arrest him.
But before they could act, his private aircraft disappeared from its hangar.
And a message arrived at Daniel's office.
IF YOU WANT THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY ALIVE, COME TO THE OLD HARBOR HOUSE. ALONE.
Daniel stared at the message.
Then looked at me.
“Emily, I need you to stay here.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“Please.”
“Daniel.”
He closed his eyes.
I stepped closer.
“You don't get to decide this alone.”
He looked at me.
“I'm trying to protect you.”
“I know.”
“Then let me.”
I took his hand.
“Protecting me doesn't mean shutting me out.”
He was silent.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
***
We went to Sarah.
Together.
Not because we were fearless.
May you like
Because we'd learned what happened when people tried to handle dangerous secrets alone.
---
