Chapter 12 - The Daughter No One Remembered
Richard stood motionless before the illuminated screen. His fingers remained wrapped around the brass key, but he no longer attempted to turn it. The faded family photograph refused to leave his mind.
Daniel looked at him carefully.
"You know who she is."
Richard closed his eyes.
"I knew."
The difference between the two words hung heavily in the silent chamber.
Edward stepped forward.
"Mr. Morgan..."
Richard raised one hand.
"No."
His voice was quiet.
"You've hidden enough."
He stared once more at the scratched face of the little girl.
"My daughter..."
Everyone froze.
Maria covered her mouth.
Daniel looked from Richard to Edward, unable to believe what he had heard.
"The world believes Jonathan was your only child."
Richard nodded slowly.
"That is what every newspaper reported."
"But it wasn't true."
Richard's breathing became uneven.
"Her name was Emily."
The name echoed through the underground vault.
"I was told she died when she was eight."
Edward lowered his head.
"You were told many things."
Richard turned sharply.
"What exactly are you saying?"
Edward hesitated.
"The accident happened."
"So she survived?"
"I never said that."
Richard stepped closer.
"For twenty-eight years I buried my daughter."
"I know."
"I visited an empty grave every month."
"I know."
"My wife died believing our child was gone."
Edward could no longer meet Richard's eyes.
Daniel interrupted.
"Someone changed the records."
Edward nodded once.
"Every hospital document."
"Every police report."
"Every insurance file."
"Every newspaper article."
Richard's hands trembled with controlled anger.
"Who had that kind of power?"
Edward answered with a name Richard had never heard before.
"The Meridian Circle."
Silence followed.
Edward continued.
"They were never interested in your hotels."
"They were interested in your family."
Richard frowned.
"My family owned hotels."
Edward shook his head.
"No."
"They owned something much older."
Before Richard could ask another question, the vault monitor flickered again.
The scratched photograph disappeared.
A new message slowly appeared.
EMILY MORGAN STATUS: UNKNOWN
May you like
Then another line formed beneath it.
SEARCH PROTOCOL REACTIVATED.
