Chapter 7 - THE LITTLE GIRL THEY WANTED TO ERASE
Fay had never spoken Nathan Vanderpool's name in front of Josie.
Not because she wanted her daughter to feel ashamed.
Because she didn't know how to explain that the man who helped bring her into the world had walked away before she learned to speak.
Nathan had been charming when Fay met him.
He worked at a waterfront development company.
Wore expensive watches.
Bought flowers.
And talked about building a future together.
Then Fay became pregnant.
Everything changed.
Nathan's family disapproved.
Charles Vanderpool accused her of trapping his son.
Celeste called her a gold digger.
And Nathan began disappearing for days at a time.
When Josie was born with hearing loss, he left for good.
Fay never asked him to stay.
But she did ask him to acknowledge his daughter.
He refused.
Six months later, the Vanderpools announced Nathan had died during a boating accident.
Fay believed them.
Now Rafferty stood in her small apartment holding a photograph Celeste had given him.
Fay stared.
“Where did you get that?”
“Celeste.”
Her face drained.
“She kept it?”
Rafferty nodded.
“Is Nathan Josie's father?”
Fay closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Rafferty asked, “Did he provide support?”
She shook her head.
“Not after she was born.”
Rafferty looked toward the little table where Josie's paper boats were drying.
His expression hardened.
“I'm sorry.”
Fay laughed bitterly.
“Don't be. You didn't abandon her.”
He studied her.
“You deserved better.”
Her eyes filled.
For years, she'd carried the burden alone.
Hearing those words felt almost dangerous.
Then she whispered, “Josie doesn't know him.”
Rafferty nodded.
“She doesn't have to meet anyone she isn't ready to meet.”
Fay looked surprised.
He continued.
“And you decide what's best for her, with appropriate professional guidance.”
That mattered.
He wasn't treating Josie like another piece of a family dispute.
He was treating her like a child whose wellbeing came first.
Later, investigators reviewed Nathan's supposed death.
The boating accident report contained major inconsistencies.
No body had been recovered.
Several witness statements contradicted one another.
And Nathan's bank accounts showed activity months after his reported death.
Fay felt sick.
“Are you saying he's alive?”
The investigator nodded cautiously.
“That's a possibility.”
Rafferty looked grim.
Then another report arrived.
A vehicle registered to Nathan had been seen entering a private property outside Baton Rouge.
The same property where Evelyn Cain was believed to be living.
Fay stared at the address.
“Why would Nathan be there?”
Rafferty's expression darkened.
Because suddenly, two supposedly dead members of their families appeared connected.
Then the investigator revealed something worse.
The property was owned through a company controlled by Charles Vanderpool.
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And the most recent visitor log contained Josie's name.
Even though the little girl had never been there.
