Chapter 7 - The Secret Inside the Warehouse
Clara read the letter three times.
Each time the words remained the same.
Victor believes Clara is biologically his.
I know he is wrong.
But the truth may not matter if he can use the claim to control her inheritance.
She placed the letter down.
“Nobody told me.”
Nico remained across the desk.
“I know.”
“My father knew Victor thought this?”
“Yes.”
“Did my mother?”
“I don’t know.”
Clara stood.
She walked to the window.
Her reflection looked like a stranger.
“What if it’s true?”
Nico answered immediately.
“It changes nothing about who raised you.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“No.”
She turned.
“Did Dad ever test it?”
“The letter mentions DNA records.”
“Where?”
“I never found them.”
Clara pressed her palms against her temples.
Every time she uncovered one truth, two more were waiting behind it.
Nico approached but stopped several feet away.
“Clara.”
“What?”
“You don’t have to solve everything tonight.”
“I’m tired of everyone deciding what I have to know.”
“I didn’t say you shouldn’t know.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“That you’re allowed to be overwhelmed.”
Her anger collapsed.
That was worse.
She sat.
Nico crouched in front of her.
“Your father called you his daughter every time he spoke about you.”
Her eyes filled.
“He was my dad.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t care what a test says.”
“Then don’t let Victor turn biology into ownership.”
She looked at him.
“Everything comes back to ownership with these people.”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t that bother you?”
“More than you know.”
The evidence from the lighthouse went to federal investigators the following morning.
By afternoon, Victor Dane’s lawyers were demanding an emergency injunction.
By evening, three local officials announced sudden resignations.
The scandal was spreading.
But Clara couldn’t stop thinking about the DNA question.
She drove to the diner with two security cars behind her.
Her manager hugged her so hard she nearly lost her breath.
Then Clara retrieved the second copy of the will from her locker.
Behind it was an envelope she didn’t remember placing there.
Her name was written across it.
She opened it.
Inside was a laboratory report.
Clara stared.
PATERNITY PROBABILITY: 99.998%
Her vision blurred.
Father: Charles Whitlock.
Clara sat on the locker-room bench.
A laugh escaped her.
Half sob.
Half relief.
Her father had known.
He had protected the answer.
On the bottom of the report was a handwritten note.
Sweetheart, some men confuse wanting something with having a right to it.
Never make that mistake.
Dad.
She pressed the paper against her chest.
Then someone slammed the diner’s back door.
Clara looked up.
One of Nico’s security men entered.
“We need to go.”
“What happened?”
“Now.”
Outside, smoke rose from the direction of the river.
Her heart stopped.
“The warehouse?”
“No.”
He opened the car door.
“Mr. Rinaldi’s house.”
Clara climbed in.
“What?”
The driver accelerated.
Her phone rang.
Nico.
She answered immediately.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
His voice was controlled.
Too controlled.
“What happened?”
“Small fire in a service building.”
“Was anyone hurt?”
“No.”
“Was it Victor?”
“We don’t know.”
“You do.”
Silence.
“Nico.”
“Get somewhere safe.”
“I’m coming back.”
“No.”
She almost laughed.
“We’ve had this conversation.”
“This time I mean it.”
“So do I.”
When Clara arrived, the fire was already out.
Nico stood near the courtyard speaking with Daniel.
She marched toward him.
“You told me not to come.”
“Yes.”
“I ignored you.”
“I noticed.”
Then she wrapped her arms around him.
Nico froze.
So did Clara.
Neither had planned it.
For a second his hands hovered in the air.
Then one settled carefully against her back.
“You’re okay,” she whispered.
“Yes.”
She pulled away quickly.
“Good.”
“Good.”
Daniel looked deeply interested in his phone.
Clara ignored him.
“I found something.”
She handed Nico the test.
He read it.
His shoulders relaxed.
“Charles was your father.”
“I already knew that.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes.”
Daniel’s phone rang.
He walked away.
Clara watched Nico.
“Why did Victor care so much?”
“Because if he convinced you he was your biological father, he could claim influence over you. Maybe contest aspects of the estate. Mostly, I think he wanted leverage.”
“He really believes people are possessions.”
“Yes.”
“And Margaret helped him.”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“Do you think she knew the test existed?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel returned.
His expression was grim.
“Federal agents raided two Dane Urban Development offices.”
Clara blinked.
“That was fast.”
“They had their own investigation. Your father’s evidence connected pieces they were missing.”
“So this is ending?”
Daniel and Nico exchanged a glance.
Clara saw it.
“What?”
Nico said, “Victor disappeared an hour ago.”
“Disappeared where?”
“We don’t know.”
“And Margaret?”
“Also missing.”
Clara felt cold.
Then her phone buzzed.
A message from Margaret.
One photograph.
Margaret sat inside a car.
Her face was pale.
Terrified.
Below it were six words.
Clara, please. He is going to kill me.
Clara looked up.
Nico read the message.
“No.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“You’re thinking it.”
“She needs help.”
“She betrayed you.”
“I know.”
“She brought you into my building like property.”
“I know.”
“She lied about your father.”
“I know!”
Nico went silent.
Clara’s voice shook.
“But if I leave her there when I can help, then Victor changes me too.”
Nico stared at her.
That was the problem with Clara, he realized.
She wasn’t naïve.
She understood exactly what Margaret had done.
And somehow she still refused to become cruel.
Finally Nico took out his phone.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Find Margaret.”
Clara exhaled.
Nico looked at her.
“But you stay here.”
She raised an eyebrow.
He closed his eyes.
“Why do I even bother?”
Clara almost smiled.
Then another message arrived.
This one included an address.
The old waterfront warehouse.
And one sentence.
COME ALONE OR SHE DOESN’T LEAVE.
Clara showed Nico.
The faint humor vanished from both their faces.
Victor Dane had returned to the place where the entire secret began.
May you like
And he wanted Clara.
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