Chapter 10 - Blood Ties
Daniel sat across from Henry Cole in an interrogation room with Detective Torres between them.
"Tell me everything."
Henry looked twenty years older than he had that morning.
"Celeste and I had an affair before she married William. It continued for a while after. Nora was born in secret. Celeste refused to keep her."
Daniel's mouth tasted bitter. "And you went along with that?"
"I was weak."
"You're still weak."
Henry flinched.
Nora grew up believing her mother had died. Henry paid for schools, apartments, jobs, always from a distance. Three years ago, she discovered the truth.
"She confronted Celeste," Henry said. "Celeste promised to recognize her privately, then started using her."
"Using her how?"
"Nora wanted a place in the family. Celeste told her Daniel had stolen the life that should've been hers."
Daniel leaned forward. "Did Nora know Celeste planned to hurt Lily?"
"I don't know."
"Wrong answer."
Henry's voice broke. "I don't know! Celeste lied to all of us."
Rachel watched from behind the glass, holding Lily's empty blanket.
Torres asked about the boathouse.
Henry said it belonged to an abandoned Ashbourne property by Lake Mercer, forty miles north.
Police prepared quietly, but Daniel insisted on carrying the real ledger.
"She'll know if it's fake."
"And if she kills you for it?" Rachel demanded.
"Then Torres gets her anyway."
Rachel grabbed his shirt. "Don't talk like that. Lily needs you. I need you."
Daniel pressed his forehead to hers. "I'm bringing her home."
At dusk, he drove alone toward Lake Mercer while unmarked police vehicles followed miles behind.
The boathouse sat at the end of a rotting dock.
Inside, a lamp glowed.
Nora stood beside a wooden crib.
Lily was sleeping inside.
Daniel nearly collapsed with relief.
"Give me my daughter."
Nora's eyes filled with tears. "I didn't hurt her."
"You kidnapped her."
"To save her."
A floorboard creaked behind Daniel.
Celeste stepped from the shadows holding a handgun.
"Nora," she said coldly, "I told you not to talk."
May you like
Then she aimed at Daniel.
"Put the ledger on the floor."
