Chapter 8 - THE PRICE OF FINDING HER MOTHER
Richard Vale wanted one thing.
Emily’s signature.
He sat across from her at Table 14 as though discussing a catering contract.
Daniel stood near the window.
“You sign away any claim against Halpern Development,” Richard said, “and I tell you where Susan is.”
Emily stared at him.
“You’re holding my mother hostage?”
“No.”
“Then give me the address.”
“No.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Richard.”
Richard smiled.
“Still playing savior, Daniel?”
“I’m warning you.”
“You’ve been warning my family for twenty years.”
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“And your father should have listened.”
Richard’s smile disappeared.
Emily pushed the paper away.
“I’m not signing anything.”
Richard leaned back.
“Then you may never see her.”
“I survived nineteen years without her.”
The words hurt to say.
“But you’re here,” Emily continued, “which means you need something.”
Richard studied her.
“You’re smarter than your father gave you credit for.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“You knew Robert?”
“I was seventeen.”
Richard looked at Emily.
“My father talked about him constantly.”
“How?”
“As a problem.”
Emily’s jaw tightened.
Richard continued.
“Robert had a talent for making powerful people feel guilty.”
“He was honest.”
“Same thing, in certain circles.”
Daniel moved closer.
“Enough.”
Richard ignored him.
“Your mother signed the transfer, Emily. Voluntarily.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she needed money.”
Emily’s anger flared.
“For what?”
Richard smiled.
“You should ask her.”
He stood.
Then placed a motel keycard on the table.
ROOM 217.
CEDAR LODGE.
Lexington, Kentucky.
Emily grabbed it.
Richard leaned close.
“She’s expecting you.”
He walked toward the door.
Daniel called after him.
“What do you want in return?”
Richard turned.
“Nothing.”
Daniel laughed once.
“Men like you don’t do anything for nothing.”
Richard looked at Emily.
“Let’s say I’m curious what Susan tells her daughter.”
Then he left.
Daniel immediately reached for his phone.
“We’re not going.”
Emily stood.
“Yes, we are.”
“It’s a trap.”
“Probably.”
“You’re okay with that?”
“No. I’m going anyway.”
Three hours later, Daniel’s driver pulled into the parking lot of Cedar Lodge.
The motel looked abandoned.
Only three cars.
Flickering sign.
Emily walked toward Room 217.
Daniel stayed half a step behind.
She knocked.
Nothing.
Again.
Then a woman answered.
“Emily?”
The voice broke her.
Older.
Rougher.
But familiar in a way she could not explain.
The door opened.
A woman stood there.
Sixty-one.
Thin.
Silver hair tied back.
Emily looked into her eyes.
And saw herself.
Neither spoke.
Then Susan Carter whispered, “My baby.”
Emily slapped her.
The sound cracked through the motel room.
Daniel looked away.
Susan touched her cheek.
“I deserved that.”
“You left us.”
“Yes.”
“Aunt Laura pretended to be you.”
“Yes.”
“She died pretending to be you.”
Tears filled Susan’s eyes.
“Yes.”
“You missed everything.”
“I know.”
“My graduation.”
“I know.”
“Tyler’s first day of college.”
“I know.”
“How?”
Susan crossed the room.
She opened a drawer.
Inside were photographs.
Emily at sixteen.
Tyler at twelve.
Emily in her Golden Spoon uniform.
Recent.
Someone had been taking them.
Watching them.
Susan saw her horror.
“I paid people to make sure you were alive.”
“You watched us instead of coming home?”
“I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because Marcus Halpern told me if I ever contacted you, he’d kill both of you.”
“He’s dead.”
Susan’s face went pale.
“No.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
Susan stared at him.
“Marcus Halpern isn’t dead.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“I saw the death certificate.”
“Fake.”
“His funeral?”
“Closed casket.”
Daniel went still.
Susan grabbed Emily’s hands.
“I’ve been hiding because Marcus is still alive.”
Emily stared.
“Where?”
Susan looked toward the motel window.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Right here in Cincinnati.”
