CHAPTER 11 : The Empty Grave
Police searched the abandoned hotel but found no trace of Charles, Celeste, or the man on the balcony.
Victoria survived and was placed under protection.
She finally admitted that Daniel’s body had never been formally identified.
The family had received a sealed coffin after a private aircraft went down over the ocean. Charles’s associates pressured them to hold the burial quickly.
Claire obtained a court order to open Daniel’s grave.
Inside the coffin was the body of an unidentified man.
He wore Daniel’s watch.
But the dental records did not match.
Daniel had never been buried there.
News of the empty grave spread across the country.
Ashford Crown stock collapsed.
Board members resigned.
Former employees came forward with stories of secret payments, surveillance, and intimidation.
Claire released the charity records but kept the information about Noah private.
She feared Charles would use public attention to claim the child.
For three days, nothing happened.
Then Daniel’s old phone number called.
Claire answered immediately.
“Daniel?”
A man spoke through heavy static.
“You opened the grave.”
“Where are you?”
“You should not have done that.”
“I saw you at the hotel.”
“No. You saw what they wanted you to see.”
“Is this really you?”
The caller ignored the question.
“Charles has a second archive. Everything he collected about politicians, judges, and companies is stored there.”
“Tell me where.”
“Beneath the first Ashford house.”
“Briar House?”
“No. The house before Briar.”
Claire had never heard of another property.
“Daniel, why did you leave me?”
The line remained silent for several seconds.
Then the voice softened.
“I did not leave you willingly.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Come home.”
“I cannot.”
“Why?”
“Because the person who arranged my disappearance is standing in your office.”
Claire turned.
Through the glass wall, she saw Adrian speaking with Naomi.
Samuel stood beside them.
All three looked toward her.
“Who?” Claire whispered.
But the line had disconnected.
A photograph arrived seconds later.
It showed Daniel tied to a chair.
The date displayed on a newspaper beside him was that morning.
Behind Daniel stood someone wearing Claire’s white gala dress.
The woman’s face was hidden.
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At the bottom of the photograph were six words:
ASK YOUR SISTER WHO SHE BURIED.
