Chapter 4: The Night He Left My Father Behind
Emma read Adrian's message four times.
I remember leaving him behind.
The words seemed to move across the screen, becoming more horrifying with every reading.
She stood in the middle of the apartment, still holding the photograph her mother had given her.
"Mom," she whispered.
"Did Adrian leave Dad to die?""
Margaret covered her mouth.
"I don't know.""
"You saw him that night.""
"I saw a young man standing beside Victor Hale. I didn't know who he was until years later, when his photograph appeared in the newspapers.""
"And you never told me?""
"I was afraid.""
Emma placed the photograph on the table.
"Everyone keeps saying that. Everyone was afraid. Everyone had a reason to stay quiet. Meanwhile, I spent eleven years believing my father died alone in a warehouse.""
Margaret began crying.
"Your father loved you more than anything.""
"Then why did he leave me?""
"He didn't choose to.""
Emma looked away.
Her phone vibrated again.
Adrian was calling.
She answered.
"Tell me what happened.""
There was a long silence.
"Emma, I want to explain this in person.""
"No. You can explain it now.""
"I was twenty-four. My father had sent me to meet Daniel Carter. He told me Daniel had stolen confidential company documents.""
"Did you believe him?""
"At the time, yes.""
"And what happened?""
Adrian exhaled.
"I arrived at the mountain road shortly after midnight. Daniel was standing beside my car. Victor was there too. They were arguing.""
"About what?""
"I couldn't hear everything. But I remember Daniel shouting that he had proof Richard was moving money through illegal accounts.""
Emma gripped the phone.
"What happened next?""
"Victor pulled a gun.""
Margaret gasped.
Emma closed her eyes.
"Did he shoot my father?""
"I don't know. I heard a gunshot. Then the car went over the barrier.""
"Who was inside?""
"I was.""
"And Dad?""
"He was outside the vehicle when it went over.""
"Then why did you leave him?""
Adrian's voice became strained.
"Because Victor told me he was dead.""
"Did you check?""
"No.""
Emma's eyes filled.
"You didn't check?""
"I was bleeding. My head was injured. Victor dragged me away from the road and told me Daniel had been shot. He said there was nothing I could do.""
"So you trusted him.""
"I was young and stupid.""
"You were old enough to know a man was lying.""
"I know.""
"Did you see my father again?""
"No.""
"Then you don't get to tell me how much you regret it.""
She ended the call.
Margaret reached for her.
Emma stepped away.
"I need to go.""
"Where?""
"To see the man who says he remembers leaving my father behind.""
Adrian was waiting in the library when Emma arrived at the Blackwood estate.
He wore a dark charcoal suit, his sleeves rolled slightly above his wrists. The wheelchair was nowhere in sight.
A thick folder rested on the table.
Emma didn't sit.
"Show me the report.""
Adrian slid the folder toward her.
She opened it.
The first page contained an incident summary from St. Mary's Hospital, dated eleven years earlier.
Patient: Daniel Carter.
Condition: Multiple traumatic injuries.
Status: Alive upon admission.
Emma's knees weakened.
She grabbed the edge of the table.
"He's alive here.""
Adrian nodded.
"Yes.""
"Where did he go?""
"The next page.""
She turned it.
A transfer order had been issued six hours after admission. The destination hospital was listed as a private rehabilitation facility.
But the patient's signature was missing.
So was the receiving physician's name.
"Who authorized this?""
Adrian pointed to the bottom.
"Richard Blackwood.""
Emma looked up.
"Your father.""
"Yes.""
"Why would he transfer my father?""
"I don't know.""
She turned another page.
A handwritten note appeared in the margin.
Patient must remain unidentified. No family contact.
Emma's fingers began trembling.
"He was alive. My father was alive, and your family made him disappear.""
Adrian looked down.
"That's what it appears to show.""
"Don't say it like you're discussing a business contract!""
"I'm not.""
"Then look at me!""
He raised his eyes.
Emma's voice broke.
"Did you know?""
"No.""
"Did you ever wonder what happened to him?""
"Every day.""
"But not enough to find out.""
Adrian absorbed the accusation without defending himself.
Emma turned another page.
There was a photograph clipped to the report.
It showed Daniel lying in a hospital bed. His face was bruised, his right arm wrapped in bandages, but his eyes were open.
Emma touched the image.
"Dad.""
The word escaped before she could stop it.
She remembered the sound of his laugh.
The way he whistled while fixing the kitchen sink.
The way he used to carry her on his shoulders when she was little.
Her tears fell onto the photograph.
Adrian quietly pushed a box of tissues toward her.
She didn't take one.
"Why did you call me here?"" she asked.
"Because I found something else.""
He opened a second folder.
Inside was a bank transfer record.
Three payments had been made to a private medical facility over the course of two years.
The account belonged to Blackwood Holdings.
The recipient was listed as a patient welfare trust.
Emma studied the dates.
The first payment had been made eleven years earlier.
The second, six years later.
The third, only four months ago.
"Four months ago?"" she asked.
Adrian nodded.
"I found the transaction yesterday.""
"Who approved it?""
He turned the page.
The authorization bore his own electronic signature.
Emma stared at him.
"You paid for his treatment?""
"I didn't know who the patient was. The account was inherited from my father's estate, and the payment was set to renew automatically.""
"You expect me to believe that?""
"No. I expect you to verify it.""
He handed her the transaction details.
The facility's name was printed at the top.
*RAVENHURST PRIVATE CARE CENTER.*
Emma took out her phone and photographed the page.
"I'm going there.""
"I'll come with you.""
"No.""
"Emma—"
"You have had eleven years to find my father. I'm not letting you control what happens next.""
She turned toward the door.
Adrian stood.
"Wait.""
She stopped.
"There's something about the accident you should know.""
"What?""
"The brakes on my car had been tampered with before we reached the mountain road.""
Emma slowly turned around.
"How do you know?""
"Because I found the mechanic's inspection report.""
"Who tampered with them?""
Adrian looked at her.
"Your father discovered the damage before the car left the garage.""
Emma felt her stomach drop.
"He knew?""
"He tried to stop me from driving that night.""
"Why didn't you listen?""
Adrian's expression crumpled.
"Because I believed my father when he said Daniel was trying to sabotage the company.""
Emma stared at him for a long moment.
Then she walked out.
In the hallway, Marcus was waiting.
"Miss Carter?""
She turned.
"Yes?""
He looked uneasy.
"I think you should know that someone accessed the estate's security records last night.""
"Who?""
Marcus handed her a printed photograph.
It showed a woman entering the private archive room.
Vanessa.
Emma frowned.
"What was she doing here?""
"She has a visitor's pass.""
"Does Adrian know?""
"Not yet.""
Emma studied the photograph.
Vanessa was holding a small leather bag.
A second image showed her leaving the archive seventeen minutes later.
The bag appeared noticeably fuller.
"What was in there?""
"We don't know.""
Emma handed the photographs back.
"Tell Adrian.""
Marcus nodded.
Before she could leave, his phone rang.
He answered, listened, and went pale.
"What happened?"" Emma asked.
Marcus looked at her.
"The medical facility just called.""
"Why?""
"They say Daniel Carter is no longer registered as a patient.""
Emma stopped breathing.
"Where is he?""
"They don't know.""
"How can they not know?""
Marcus swallowed.
"Because someone signed him out this morning.""
"Who?""
Marcus looked at the paper in his hand.
Then he said the name.
"Margaret Carter.""
Emma felt the blood drain from her face.
Her mother had just told her she knew nothing.
May you like
But someone had used her signature to remove Daniel Carter from a medical facility.
And Emma suddenly understood that the secrets surrounding her father were much closer to home than she had imagined.
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