Chapter 5 - Nora’s Second Confession
Nora was transferred from the mansion to police custody before sunrise.
Detective Collins interviewed her again.
This time, Ethan watched from behind the glass.
Nora looked exhausted.
Her hands trembled around a paper cup.
Sarah placed the anonymous messages in front of her.
“Did you send these?”
Nora shook her head.
“No.”
“Who did?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why does your name appear?”
Nora closed her eyes.
“Because Victor isn’t the only one involved.”
Sarah waited.
Nora finally spoke.
Seven years ago, a nurse named Claire Mason carried Lily from the burning maternity wing.
Claire believed Amelia and Ethan were both dead.
Victor intercepted her.
He told Claire the Blackwood family wanted the child protected secretly because of a kidnapping threat.
He paid Nora to pose as the child’s temporary caretaker.
At first, Nora believed the story.
Then she discovered the truth.
“Why didn’t you go to police?”
“Victor showed me photographs of my son.”
Ethan frowned.
“You have a son?”
Nora nodded.
“Daniel.”
“He was twelve.”
“Victor knew where he went to school.”
“He said if I talked, Daniel would disappear.”
Fear became money over time.
Victor paid Nora increasingly large amounts.
Eventually, she stopped being only a frightened participant.
She became complicit.
“I could have stopped it later.”
Nora cried.
“I didn’t.”
Ethan did not comfort her.
Sarah asked:
“Who else knew Lily survived?”
Nora whispered:
“Thomas Vale.”
Ethan’s stomach dropped.
Thomas was Blackwood Holdings’ longest-serving board member.
His father had helped Ethan’s grandfather build the company.
Thomas had been family in everything but blood.
He had carried Ethan’s mother’s casket.
He had given the eulogy at Amelia’s funeral.
“Why?”
Nora answered:
“Victor needed someone to protect the succession plan.”
“Thomas was supposed to make sure the board transferred control if Ethan died.”
“And if Victor was exposed?”
Nora looked through the glass as though she somehow knew Ethan was there.
“Thomas would sacrifice Victor.”
Sarah leaned forward.
“Meaning?”
“Victor thinks Thomas works for him.”
“He doesn’t.”
“He’s been collecting evidence for years.”
“Why?”
Nora shook her head.
“I never knew.”
Ethan entered the room.
Sarah did not stop him.
“Did Thomas send those messages?”
Nora looked at him.
“Maybe.”
“Why tell me to bring the tea?”
“Because poison proves attempted murder.”
“And Lily?”
“Her existence destroys Victor’s succession claim.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“Then why threaten her?”
Nora’s face tightened.
“Because Thomas doesn’t care about Lily.”
“He cares about controlling Blackwood Holdings.”
Ethan understood.
Victor wanted Ethan dead and Lily erased.
Thomas may have wanted Victor exposed and Ethan weakened.
Both men saw Lily as leverage.
Neither saw her as a child.
Nora then said something worse.
“Thomas helped choose the hospital where Amelia was kept.”
Ethan’s hands curled into fists.
“He knew she was alive?”
“Yes.”
“For seven years?”
“Yes.”
Ethan turned toward Sarah.
“Arrest him.”
Sarah shook her head.
“Not yet.”
“We need evidence.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“My wife was imprisoned for seven years.”
“My daughter was kidnapped.”
“He knew.”
“I believe you.”
“But belief isn’t enough.”
Ethan looked at the clock.
The board meeting began in three hours.
Then Sarah slid the poisoned tea evidence report toward him.
“Go to the board.”
“Do exactly what the message says.”
Ethan stared at her.
“You want me to walk into Thomas Vale’s room carrying evidence of attempted murder?”
Sarah nodded.
“Yes.”
“Because if Thomas believes Victor is finished…”
May you like
“…he may finally show us what he really wants.”
---
