Chapter 3 - THE FATHER SHE THOUGHT WAS DEAD
Norah had buried her father six years earlier.
At least, she believed she had.
The funeral had been small.
A closed casket.
A priest.
Three neighbors.
And Raymond Miller standing beside her, holding her hand while she cried.
Now Gabriel Rossi was telling her Thomas Hayes might still be alive.
She stared at him.
“No.”
Gabriel remained silent.
“My father died.”
“I know that's what you were told.”
She shook her head.
“I saw the death certificate.”
“Vincent found inconsistencies.”
Norah's voice rose.
“Then somebody made a mistake.”
Gabriel gently placed a folder on the table.
Inside were medical billing records.
A photograph.
And a facility identification card.
The photograph showed an older man sitting in a wheelchair.
His hair had turned white.
His shoulders were thinner.
But his face was unmistakable.
Norah covered her mouth.
“Daddy?”
Her knees weakened.
Gabriel pulled out a chair.
She sat.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Then she whispered, “Where is he?”
“A private recovery facility near Lake Geneva.”
“Why didn't anyone tell me?”
Gabriel shook his head.
“I don't know yet.”
Tears streamed down her face.
Six years.
Six years of birthdays.
Christmas mornings.
Graduations she'd never completed.
Every difficult night she'd wished she could hear his voice.
And he'd been alive.
Somewhere.
Without her.
“I want to see him.”
Gabriel nodded.
“We'll arrange that through the proper channels. My attorney is already contacting the facility and authorities.”
Norah stared.
“Today?”
“As soon as it's safe and legally permitted.”
She looked toward her cast.
Then at Gabriel.
“Why would your brother do this?”
His expression hardened.
“That's what I intend to find out.”
Later that morning, Vincent arrived with another report.
Raymond Miller had been located by police after Norah reported the assault.
He was questioned about the attack and the financial transfers.
Initially, he denied everything.
Then investigators confronted him with the surveillance footage.
Raymond admitted someone had paid him to frighten Norah.
But he claimed the broken wrist had been an accident.
Norah listened to the update in silence.
For months, Raymond had controlled her life through fear.
Now she understood he hadn't simply wanted money.
Someone had been paying him to keep her frightened.
To keep her poor.
To keep her from asking questions.
Gabriel watched her expression.
“Are you okay?”
She gave a broken laugh.
“No.”
He nodded.
“Fair answer.”
For the first time, she almost smiled.
Then Vincent's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“Boss, we have a problem.”
Gabriel stood.
“What happened?”
“The facility near Lake Geneva has been contacted.”
“And?”
“They say Thomas Hayes was transferred.”
Norah stopped breathing.
“Transferred where?”
Vincent looked toward her.
Then back at Gabriel.
“The paperwork lists a new guardian.”
Gabriel frowned.
“Who?”
May you like
Vincent swallowed.
“Mrs. Gable. Your head housekeeper.”
