Chapter 6 - THE DAUGHTER HE NEVER MENTIONED
Arthur Costello had a daughter.
Eight years old.
And nobody in the estate had ever mentioned her.
I stared at him.
"You have a child?"
He looked down.
"Yes."
My stomach tightened.
"Where is she?"
"At a private residential school outside Chicago."
I felt cold.
"Why?"
Arthur's expression changed.
"She has struggled since her mother's death."
My heart softened.
"How long ago?"
"Two years."
I looked toward him.
"I'm sorry."
He nodded.
"Thank you."
Then I asked:
"Why is Dr. Mercer her physician?"
Arthur frowned.
"He's treated the family for years."
The same doctor connected to my father's suspicious death.
The same man who worked with Victor Bellamy.
And now he had access to Arthur's daughter.
My stomach turned.
"Arthur, we need to check on her."
He nodded immediately.
"Yes."
Within hours, Arthur contacted the school and the child's legal guardian.
His daughter was named Lily.
She had dark hair.
Pale blue eyes.
And a quiet smile that rarely appeared in photographs.
When Arthur showed me her picture, my heart ached.
She looked lonely.
Terribly lonely.
"How often do you see her?" I asked.
Arthur looked ashamed.
"Not enough."
I remained silent.
He continued.
"After her mother died, I believed the school would give her stability."
"Did she want to go?"
He hesitated.
"No."
I looked down.
For the first time, I saw another side of Arthur's life.
A man who had spent years believing money could solve what presence was supposed to provide.
He looked toward me.
"I thought I was protecting her."
I nodded slowly.
"Maybe she needed you."
Arthur closed his eyes.
"You're right."
The following morning, we traveled to the school with investigators informed of the concerns.
Lily was sitting near a window when Arthur entered.
She looked up.
For a moment, she seemed confused.
Then whispered:
"Daddy?"
Arthur stopped breathing.
"Lily."
The little girl stood.
Then ran toward him.
He knelt.
She threw herself into his arms.
"Daddy."
Arthur held her tightly.
Tears streamed down his face.
"I'm here."
Lily began crying.
"I thought you forgot me."
His expression shattered.
"No, sweetheart."
She hugged him harder.
"Then why didn't you come?"
Arthur couldn't answer.
Because the truth was painful.
He'd been too busy.
Too afraid.
Too convinced that sending money meant being a father.
Finally, he whispered:
"I'm sorry."
Lily looked up.
"Are you taking me home?"
Arthur nodded through tears.
"Yes, if we can make that safe and arrange what you need."
She smiled.
For the first time, I saw hope enter her face.
Then she noticed me.
"Who's that?"
I smiled gently.
"My name is Norah."
Lily studied me.
Then asked:
"Are you Daddy's friend?"
I hesitated.
Arthur answered.
"Yes."
Lily nodded.
Then looked toward my necklace.
A small silver pendant rested against my sweater.
Her face changed.
"Where did you get that?"
My heart tightened.
"My mother."
Lily stepped closer.
Then whispered:
"My mommy had one like it."
Arthur went completely still.
I looked down at the pendant.
Mom had given it to me when I was little.
I'd worn it every day since.
Lily's eyes filled.
May you like
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Dr. Mercer told me the lady who wore that necklace was the reason Mommy died."
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