Chapter 8 - The Husband Who Was Living a Lie
Caroline Hayes had been married to Daniel for nine years.
Now she was being told her husband wasn't Daniel Hayes.
He was Daniel Whitmore.
The son of one of the men who created the financial conspiracy she'd spent years helping conceal.
When I told her, she stared at me as though I'd spoken another language.
"No."
We were sitting inside a secure conference room at Croll Associates.
Arthur remained outside.
Jonathan had agreed to cooperate with an independent investigation into the firm's handling of the case.
Caroline's hands trembled.
"Daniel told me his parents died when he was young."
I nodded.
"He may have been trying to protect his identity."
"From what?"
"That's what we need to establish."
She shook her head.
"He loved me."
I looked at her.
"I'm not saying he didn't."
Tears filled her eyes.
"Then why would he lie?"
I thought about Ethan.
About my mother.
About six years of grief built around a lie someone claimed was necessary.
"I don't know," I admitted.
Later that afternoon, Daniel agreed to speak with investigators.
His identity was verified through records and fingerprints.
He confirmed that he'd changed his name after discovering his father's involvement in Blackbird.
He'd wanted no connection to the Whitmore fortune.
Then he met Caroline.
Fell in love.
And never found the courage to tell her the truth.
But the recent disappearance was something else.
Daniel explained that Ethan had warned him someone inside Croft Capital intended to use him as leverage.
Ethan had helped arrange a protected location while Daniel contacted legal counsel and investigators.
Caroline stared at the video connection.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Daniel began crying.
"Because Richard was watching you."
She shook her head.
"You let me think you'd been kidnapped."
"I know."
"Do you have any idea what that did to me?"
He lowered his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Caroline whispered:
"I don't know whether I can trust you again."
Daniel nodded.
"I understand."
I watched them and realized something.
The people involved in Blackbird had used secrecy so often that even those trying to expose the crimes had begun hurting the people they loved.
Then Daniel looked toward me.
"Khloe Jenkins?"
I nodded.
He smiled sadly.
"Your brother talks about you all the time."
My heart stopped.
"Ethan?"
"Yes."
"Where is he?"
Daniel hesitated.
"He's meeting someone."
My stomach tightened.
"Who?"
"Richard Croft's former chief financial officer."
I frowned.
"Why?"
Daniel looked toward the camera.
"Because that man has the original pension records."
I leaned forward.
"Who is he?"
Daniel answered.
"His name is Robert Jenkins."
I went completely still.
Jenkins.
My surname.
Then Daniel whispered:
"Khloe, Robert Jenkins is your father."
My heart stopped.
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My father had supposedly died when I was eleven.
And now another member of my family was apparently alive.
