Chapter 8 - THE MAN WHO WORE TWO FACES
Vincent didn't move after hearing Lily's words.
For years, he had lived with the knowledge that his father's business involved violence, intimidation, and secrets.
But he'd never believed his own hands were connected to Elizabeth Hayes's death.
Now his daughter was being taught to fear him.
Claire pulled away from his arms.
"Tell me the truth."
Vincent looked at her.
"I didn't kill your mother."
"Then why would Lily say that?"
"Because someone wants her to believe it."
Claire's eyes filled.
"That isn't enough anymore, Vincent. I need facts."
He nodded.
"You deserve them."
He handed Dana the records recovered from the warehouse.
"The last shipment was authorized under my father's name, but the signature doesn't match his handwriting."
Dana examined it.
"Who had access to his documents?"
"Three people. My father, his attorney, and Richard Vale."
"Where is the attorney now?"
Vincent hesitated.
"Retired. Living in Florida."
Dana made a call.
Within minutes, she had an answer.
The attorney had died six months earlier.
His estate had been purchased by a company registered to Nathan Vale.
Claire closed her eyes.
"Everything leads back to him."
"Maybe," Dana said. "But we're missing the person who ordered the murder."
Vincent looked at the old shipping ledger.
A name had been written beside the final transaction.
Thomas Hayes.
Claire stared.
"My grandfather?"
Dana nodded.
"The records suggest he authorized the shipment that disappeared."
"But he was supposed to be dead."
"Which means either someone used his identity or he never died at all."
Leo entered the room.
"Boss, we've located the van used in the kidnapping."
"Where?"
"An abandoned printing plant near the river."
Vincent grabbed his coat.
Dana stopped him.
"Police are preparing a coordinated response. You cannot charge in."
Vincent looked at Claire.
"I won't risk Lily."
They followed the official team to the plant.
Inside, investigators found the van, a child's drawing, and a broken phone.
But Lily was gone.
Claire picked up the drawing.
It showed three people holding hands.
Mommy.
Daddy.
Lily.
At the bottom, in a child's uneven handwriting, were the words:
Please don't fight anymore.
Claire began to cry.
Vincent knelt beside her.
"I promise we'll bring her home."
She looked at him.
"You promised me a lot of things once."
He lowered his head.
"I know."
A technician approached Dana.
"We recovered deleted messages from the phone."
She read them quickly.
Then her expression changed.
"What is it?" Vincent asked.
Dana turned the screen toward them.
One message had been sent minutes before Lily disappeared.
The child is secured. Proceed with the second phase.
The sender was Nathan Vale.
The recipient was a number registered to a private account.
Dana traced it.
May you like
The account belonged to a woman.
Isabella Moretti—Vincent's mother, who had supposedly died seven years earlier.
