Chapter 5 - THE SECOND DAUGHTER The revelation destroyed the fragile peace Julian had managed to build around himself.
A sister.
Another child.
Another secret.
He demanded proof.
Samuel gave him none.
Instead, he handed him a location.
A children's hospital in northern Vermont.
"Her name is Nora."
Julian drove through the night.
Reed followed.
Clara stayed with Lilly.
The hospital was nearly empty when they arrived.
A nurse led Julian through a silent corridor.
Then she opened a door.
A teenage girl sat beside the window.
Dark hair.
Pale skin.
A small scar above her eyebrow.
Julian stopped breathing.
She looked remarkably like Emily.
The girl turned.
"Are you Julian Vance?"
"Yes."
She studied him.
"My mother told me you'd come someday."
Julian stepped closer.
"Who is your mother?"
The girl smiled sadly.
"Emily."
His knees nearly gave out.
"Where is she?"
Nora looked away.
"She disappeared again."
"Again?"
"She came here six months ago."
Julian stared.
"She's been alive this entire time?"
Nora nodded.
"She told me to wait."
"Wait for what?"
"For you."
Julian sat beside her.
"Why didn't she come home?"
Nora's eyes filled with tears.
"Because someone was watching."
"Who?"
She reached into a drawer and removed a photograph.
Victoria stood in the background.
But she wasn't alone.
Beside her was a man Julian recognized immediately.
His father's former attorney.
A man officially reported dead twelve years earlier.
Julian whispered:
"Richard Hale."
Nora nodded.
"He's alive."
Julian felt the pieces falling into place.
Victoria had not created the conspiracy.
She had inherited it.
And someone else was still running it.
Then Julian's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
No one spoke.
Then a woman's voice whispered:
"Julian?"
He froze.
Emily.
"Where are you?"
A pause.
"Don't come looking for me."
"Emily!"
"I love you."
The line went dead.
Julian stared at the phone.
Then came a second message.
A photograph.
Emily.
Alive.
May you like
Bound to a chair.
And behind her stood Richard Hale.
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