Chapter 6 - The Secret in the PhotographFor several seconds, Hannah couldn't breathe.
She looked from her mother to Sabrina.
Then back to the photograph.
"What does she mean?"
Margaret stepped inside.
"Hannah, please let me explain."
"Who is the baby?"
Margaret looked at Walter.
He lowered his head.
Hannah's voice rose.
"Who is the baby?"
"Your brother's daughter."
The words seemed to echo through the empty building.
"Daniel had a child?"
Margaret nodded.
"Her mother died shortly after giving birth. Daniel brought her to us because he was afraid Arthur Calder would discover she existed."
Hannah looked at the photograph again.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Daniel begged us not to."
"That's not an answer."
"He believed the child would be safer if nobody knew she was connected to him."
Hannah looked at Walter.
"Where is she?"
Neither parent answered.
Sabrina smiled faintly.
"That's what I've been trying to find out."
Vincent stepped between Sabrina and Hannah.
"You're not taking anything from this family."
Sabrina laughed.
"You still think you can give orders."
"Where is the file you stole?"
"Somewhere safe."
"What do you want?"
"Everything your father built."
Vincent's expression became cold.
"He's dead."
"His money isn't."
Sabrina pulled a small pistol from her handbag.
Hannah gasped.
Walter moved instinctively toward his daughter.
Vincent raised both hands.
"Put it down."
"You know what I find fascinating about you, Vincent? You spent nine years pretending to be a devoted husband while keeping your wife in the dark about her brother's death."
Hannah stared at him.
Sabrina continued.
"And you were so busy protecting your precious marriage that you never noticed what was happening inside your own company."
"What happened?"
Sabrina looked at Hannah.
"Arthur didn't just order Daniel's death. He had help."
Vincent's jaw tightened.
"Who?"
Sabrina smiled.
"Your uncle."
Vincent went still.
Richard Calder.
His father's younger brother.
A man who had been absent from the family for years.
Everyone believed he had moved to Europe after a bitter inheritance dispute.
"Richard is dead," Vincent said.
"That's what your father wanted everybody to believe."
Sabrina's hand shook slightly.
She was frightened too.
Hannah noticed.
"You're not working for him, are you?"
Sabrina's expression changed.
For the first time, her confidence slipped.
"No."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"Because he has something I want."
"What?"
Sabrina looked at Vincent.
Then at Hannah.
"My daughter."
The room went silent.
Vincent stared at her.
"You have a daughter?"
Sabrina nodded.
"She disappeared three years ago. Richard told me she was dead. Then I found records showing that she had been moved through one of his private medical facilities."
Hannah lowered her voice.
"Why would Richard take your child?"
"Because she was born with information that could destroy him."
Vincent looked confused.
Sabrina swallowed.
"Her father was Daniel Whitaker."
Hannah's knees nearly gave way.
The baby in the photograph.
Daniel's daughter.
Her niece.
Sabrina lowered the pistol.
"I wasn't just interested in your husband's money. I wanted to find my child."
Hannah stared at her.
"And the affair?"
Sabrina looked down.
"That was real."
Vincent's face tightened.
"I never promised you anything."
"No. You promised yourself you could have everything without consequences."
Hannah felt sick.
She looked at Vincent.
He didn't deny it.
A sudden noise came from outside.
A vehicle door slammed.
Michael's voice sounded through the building.
"Mr. Calder!"
Vincent turned.
Michael rushed inside.
"We have a problem. Someone has taken Walter's car."
Walter looked toward the road.
"Margaret!"
She wasn't there.
Hannah spun around.
May you like
Her mother had disappeared.
And the photograph was gone.
