Chapter 1 - THE NAME THAT SILENCED A MILLIONAIRE
"Your mother is speaking."
Daniel Harrison's voice was so calm that Victor Langley took an involuntary step backward.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Emily Carter stood beside the entrance, holding her silver swallow pendant as though someone might try to take it.
The elderly woman looked at Daniel, then signed rapidly.
"Her name is Emily Carter. Ruth raised her. Laura was her mother."
Daniel frowned.
"Mom, who is Laura?"
His mother turned toward him.
And for the first time since entering the restaurant, fear crossed her face.
"Laura worked for our family twenty years ago."
Daniel's expression changed.
"The housekeeper?"
His mother shook her head.
"She was more than that."
Emily's heartbeat quickened.
"What happened to her?"
The elderly woman hesitated.
Then signed something that made Daniel's face turn pale.
"Your father made her disappear."
A terrible silence settled over the lobby.
Emily stared.
"Disappear?"
Daniel caught his mother's attention.
"Mom, are you accusing Dad of something?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
Victor Langley suddenly stepped forward.
"This conversation is inappropriate. Miss Carter, return to work immediately."
Daniel turned.
"Mr. Langley, if you interrupt my mother again, our business here is finished."
Victor stopped.
Emily had never seen her manager look frightened before.
Now sweat glistened across his forehead.
Daniel glanced toward the guests.
"Can we have somewhere private to talk?"
Emily swallowed.
"I'd like that."
Victor immediately said, "Our private dining room is available."
"No," Daniel replied. "Somewhere quiet. And Miss Carter is coming with us."
They moved into a small lounge overlooking the restaurant's courtyard.
Daniel's mother sat across from Emily.
"My name is Margaret Harrison," she signed.
Emily nodded.
"I'm Emily."
Margaret smiled sadly.
"I know."
Those two words made Emily's stomach tighten.
"You knew about me?"
Margaret nodded.
"For years."
Emily felt tears gathering.
"Then why didn't you come?"
Margaret's expression crumpled.
"Because I was told you were dead."
Emily stopped breathing.
Daniel leaned forward.
"Mom?"
Margaret signed slowly.
"Twenty years ago, Laura discovered something inside Harrison Global's original financial records."
"What?"
Margaret looked down.
"Money was disappearing from accounts belonging to vulnerable children."
Emily frowned.
"My mother investigated?"
"Yes."
"Was she fired?"
Margaret's hands began trembling.
"No."
Emily felt cold.
"Then what happened?"
Margaret looked toward Daniel.
Then back at Emily.
"She was carrying evidence the night she vanished."
Emily gripped her pendant.
"And?"
Margaret began crying.
"The next morning, your father told me Laura had stolen money and fled."
Emily shook her head.
"That's what Grandma always said."
Margaret nodded.
"But it wasn't true."
Before Emily could ask another question, Daniel's phone vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
"What's wrong?" Emily asked.
Daniel turned the phone toward her.
A message from Victor Langley.
MR. HARRISON, YOUR FATHER IS ON HIS WAY. HE SAYS THE GIRL MUST NOT LEAVE THE BUILDING.
Daniel stared at the message.
Then looked toward his mother.
Margaret's face had gone white.
May you like
And her hands formed four words.
"He's found her again."
