Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Chandler always hated Claire, I think. Even when she was a baby. He was ten years older than her. Did you know that? His mother, she was a good woman, but Chandler?” He shakes his head. “He was a bad seed. Rotten from day one. My mistake was in letting him see how much I loved her. My mistake was not realizing how his hate festered and how vulnerable my little girl was.”
Wow.
“I still am not sure if he hurt her to spite me or out of pure hatred for her. When she ran off with Horatio, I assumed Horatio was the child’s father. I had no reason to doubt that. That’s why the story of a kidnapping. I was desperate to bring my daughter home. The fact that Horatio managed to keep himself and her hidden, well, that was unexpected. But then my accountant found the transactions. The amounts weren’t large enough to attract attention, but they caught his eye during an internal audit and that’s how I learned Horatio had had help. It’s how I eventually learned the truth. And too soon after that, Claire drowned, and it didn’t matter anymore.”
I wonder if he knows she committed suicide of if he believes her death was an accident. I don’t ask.
“I cut Chandler off entirely then. Disowned him. And I didn’t think I could stand to look at the child that bastard fathered because in a way, I suppose I blamed that baby, too, for my daughter being gone. I always knew where they were but never more. I didn’t want to for a very long time.”
“But now that you’re dying, you want to?” I ask.
“It’s not her fault, is it?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Grief does strange things to you.”
I know that well.
“Besides, when Sullivan Fox contacted me and Chandler came out of the woodwork, my hand was forced. And, well, let me just say this, after seeing Ophelia, I am sorry I did not know her sooner because all I see when I look at her is my Claire. And out of love for my daughter, whom I failed so utterly, I owe Ophelia my protection, to the extent I can give it.”
“Making her the sole inheritor of your estate is going to do the opposite.”
“I will take care of Chandler. The lawyers have already drawn up paperwork and a contract. He’s looking them over now. He’ll want more, of course, but that’s accounted for.”
“Is he blackmailing you?”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is he’s gone.”
“What sort of contract are we talking?”
“He will be paid a generous annual stipend to stay away from Ophelia. He doesn’t deserve a penny, but it’s the only way to keep her safe. I know that.”
“Will he do it?”
“He’s a greedy bastard. He’ll do it.”
“He may be a violent bastard.”
“He’s more lazy than violent and I’ve made sure he realizes just what is at stake if he goes back on his word.”
“With all due respect, you’re not going to be here forever.”
He grins. “I have made sure I can reach him from beyond the grave. I’ll have my lawyer send you the files in the morning so you can be sure but Ophelia, she doesn’t know any of this,” he says. “She can’t ever know it.”
“She believes Horatio is her father. She’s never had any reason to doubt it and I agree with you and Horatio, she can’t know.”
“Good. Make sure, Silas. Don’t let him destroy her like he destroyed her mother.”
My phone buzzes with a text. I take it out of my pocket and read it. It’s Nigella telling me she’s wrapping up.
Me: I need an hour.
Nigella: I’ll have Hamish take the long way.
I put the phone away and stand.
“I need to go. She wants to come see you again, by the way. I won’t allow her near Chandler, so you make sure you’re right that he’s gone.” I take a card out of my pocket and hand it to him. “This is my phone number. You will let me know.”
He takes the card and nods.
I need to get to the house before she does. I want to burn the envelope that contains what was in Horatio Hart’s hidden box. I walk to the elevator and push the button and as I wait, I take my phone out and scroll to Sly’s number. Because there are still too many loose ends. If Chandler is taken care of, assuming he sticks to the bargain Carlisle-Bent is offering, that leaves Horatio, Ophelia’s grandfather, and me. We aren’t going to talk.
But what if Sly does know? What if he figured it out? He’s cunning enough to wait to use the evidence until it serves him. Ethan? He doesn’t know. He’s not as clever as Sly, nor is he as cunning. Besides, if I know Ethan, he wouldn’t go near Ophelia if he knew something like this about her.