“Then explain why you did.”
“I approached him because of Charles.”
“Why?”
“My mother worked for Whitmore Construction twenty-eight years ago.”
“So?”
“She was Thomas Hale’s sister.”
The entire conversation shifted.
“Thomas Hale?”
Vanessa exhaled.
“Yes.”
“Daniel’s possible biological father.”
“You know.”
“Patricia told me.”
“Then she finally stopped protecting them.”
“Who is Thomas?”
“He was an architect.”
“Was?”
“He d/i/e/d when I was six.”
There was something in Vanessa’s voice that made me soften despite myself.
“How?”
“A heart condition.”
She continued.
“Before he d/i/e/d, he left documents with my mother. Letters. Financial records. Proof that he and Barbara were together before Daniel was born.”
“Why does that matter now?”
“Because Thomas also designed the original Riverside plans.”
I felt the puzzle pieces clicking together.
“Charles used them.”
“Yes.”
“Without credit?”
“More than that. Thomas had ownership rights in the early project concept.”
