Chapter 7 - THE PRICE OF A MOTHER'S LOVE|
I don't remember the drive back to the townhouse.
I remember screaming Lily's name.
I remember Maxwell ordering Daniel to contact the police.
And I remember clutching Thomas's photograph so tightly that the edges cut into my palm.
But everything between those moments felt like a nightmare happening to someone else.
"My daughter is ten years old."
I said it again and again.
"She's ten."
Maxwell sat beside me in the back seat.
His jaw was clenched.
"I know."
"She didn't do anything."
"I know."
"Then why would anyone take her?"
He looked at me.
"Because someone believes you'll give up the evidence to save her."
I stared at the weatherproof pouch lying between us.
For six years, Thomas had protected those documents.
Isabelle had died trying to expose the people behind them.
And now Lily was paying the price.
"Then give them what they want."
Maxwell didn't answer.
"Give them the files."
"Katherine, we have to make sure they return her."
"I don't care about the files."
"I understand."
"No, you don't."
I turned toward him.
"I would burn every document in the world if it meant getting my daughter home."
His expression softened.
"So would I."
The sincerity in his voice made me stop.
He looked at the photograph on my lap.
"Isabelle wanted children like Lily to grow up in a world where powerful people couldn't steal from them."
Tears filled my eyes.
"Well, right now, the powerful people are winning."
He said nothing.
Because he couldn't deny it.
At the townhouse, Daniel met us in the hallway.
He looked devastated.
"Mrs. Parker, I'm sorry."
I pushed past him.
"Where was everyone?"
"Rosa was preparing breakfast."
"And Madame Girard?"
"She was in the sitting room."
"Did anyone see Lily leave?"
Daniel hesitated.
"She received a message."
My stomach dropped.
"What message?"
"Someone sent a photograph of you at the parking facility."
I stopped moving.
Daniel continued quietly.
"The message claimed you'd been injured and needed her."
I covered my mouth.
"She believed it."
"She asked Madame Girard to call you."
"And?"
"The call wouldn't connect."
Maxwell looked at Daniel.
"Why not?"
"Someone interfered with the house network."
I stared at the stairs.
Lily had been manipulated because she loved me.
Someone had used my daughter's greatest fear against her.
"Did she leave alone?"
Daniel shook his head.
"Madame Girard followed her."
I turned.
"What?"
"Security footage shows Lily leaving through the rear courtyard."
"And Madame Girard?"
"She went after her."
"Where is she now?"
"We haven't found her."
I sank onto the sofa.
For several minutes, I couldn't speak.
Then Maxwell's private phone rang.
Everyone froze.
He answered on speaker.
"Bennett."
A familiar voice replied in French.
"Have you enjoyed your morning?"
Maxwell's face became expressionless.
"Laurent."
I looked at him.
Adrian Laurent.
The man from the photograph.
The man who had visited Madame Girard.
The man who had helped handle Isabelle's estate.
"Where's the girl?" Maxwell demanded.
"Safe for the moment."
"Let me hear her."
Adrian laughed softly.
"Always impatient."
"Adrian."
"Very well."
There was a rustling sound.
Then I heard the voice that mattered more to me than anything in the world.
"Mom?"
I lunged toward the phone.
"Lily!"
"Mommy, I'm scared."
My heart shattered.
"I'm here, baby."
"I'm sorry I left."
"No, sweetheart."
I could barely breathe.
"You didn't do anything wrong."
A man's voice spoke sharply in the background.
Lily began crying.
Maxwell stepped forward.
"Don't touch her."
Adrian returned to the phone.
"Then follow instructions."
Maxwell's eyes were cold.
"What do you want?"
"The original evidence Thomas Parker collected."
"Where do you want it?"
"Not so fast."
Adrian paused.
"I also want every copy."
Maxwell looked at Daniel.
Daniel shook his head.
They knew the demand was impossible to verify.
Adrian continued.
"And I want you to come alone."
I stood.
"No."
Adrian heard me.
"Ah, Mrs. Parker."
His voice became almost pleasant.
"I've wanted to speak with you for years."
I grabbed the telephone.
"Listen to me."
Maxwell reached for my arm, but I pulled away.
"If you hurt my daughter—"
"You'll do what?"
The question silenced me.
Adrian sighed.
"Your husband was a remarkable accountant."
My blood ran cold.
"He was also terribly stubborn."
"Don't talk about him."
"He thought numbers could defeat men with money."
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Did you kill him?"
Silence.
Then Adrian replied, "Your husband chose a dangerous path."
I began shaking.
"Answer me."
But he ignored the question.
"Bring the files to Pier Thirty-Eight at midnight."
Maxwell leaned forward.
"How do we know Lily will be there?"
"You don't."
"Then there's no deal."
Adrian laughed.
"You sound exactly like Isabelle."
Maxwell's face changed.
"Leave my wife out of this."
"Your wife should have minded her own business."
A terrible silence followed.
Then Adrian said, "The girl lives if you cooperate."
The line went dead.
I stood staring at the phone.
For years, I'd imagined confronting the person responsible for Thomas's death.
I thought I'd shout.
I thought I'd demand an explanation.
Instead, all I wanted was to hear Lily laugh again.
Maxwell approached me.
"Katherine."
I stepped away.
"Don't tell me to be strong."
He stopped.
"I'm not going to."
"Don't tell me everything will be fine."
"I won't."
I looked at him through my tears.
"Then tell me what you're going to do."
He held my gaze.
"I'm going to bring your daughter home."
"How?"
"By making Adrian believe he's getting exactly what he wants."
Daniel entered with a laptop.
"Max, we recovered the audio from the office telephone."
Maxwell turned.
"How?"
"The private line has a redundant recording system."
"Play it."
Daniel opened a file.
The same French conversation filled the room.
I heard the cold voice discussing the rigged car.
I heard Lily's frightened breathing.
Then the second voice spoke.
Maxwell went still.
"Stop."
Daniel paused the recording.
Maxwell looked at me.
"That second voice."
"What about it?"
"I know who it belongs to."
Daniel's expression tightened.
"Max..."
"Play it again."
The voice spoke only a few words.
But I saw Maxwell recognize every syllable.
He looked toward the framed photograph of his late wife.
Then he whispered, "My brother."
I stared at him.
"You have a brother?"
Maxwell nodded.
"Julian Bennett."
"Where is he?"
His eyes darkened.
"He's supposed to be dead."
Daniel slowly closed the laptop.
"Max, I think it's time you heard the truth about that."
Maxwell turned toward his oldest friend.
"What truth?"
Daniel swallowed.
"Julian never died in Europe."
May you like
The room went silent.
"And I've known that for three years."
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