Chapter 4
Julia’s employment lawsuit had continued after her death through her estate where legally permitted.
Her attorney, Melissa Crane, had been trying to obtain the prenatal DNA report for almost a year.
Daniel’s lawyers claimed they could not locate a final copy.
The laboratory had changed ownership.
Records were archived.
The billing account had been routed through a private concierge medical service.
Everything moved slowly.
Then Claire found the sealed envelope.
Not in Whitmore records.
In Julia’s safe-deposit box.
Julia had left instructions giving her estate attorney access.
Inside was the laboratory’s original certified report.
And a handwritten note.
He knows. Margaret knows. If they ever say otherwise, this is why I kept a paper copy.
Claire received a copy from Melissa because Claire had become Lily’s temporary caregiver and the paternity proceeding needed the evidence.
That was the paper she brought to the birthday party.
She had not planned to throw it at Margaret.
She had planned to give Daniel one final chance to acknowledge Lily voluntarily before the next hearing.
Then she found Lily tied outside.
After the party, Melissa reopened discovery around the employment case.
Why?
Because Daniel’s sworn testimony contained a problem.
Six months earlier, his deposition had included the question:
“Did you ever have a sexual or romantic relationship with Ms. Bennett?”
Daniel answered:
“No.”
“Did Ms. Bennett ever tell you that you were the father of her child?”
“Yes.”
“Did you believe that claim?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because it was inconsistent with the nature of our relationship.”
That was now difficult to reconcile with a prenatal paternity report showing Daniel as the tested alleged father before Julia was fired.
Someone had arranged the test.
Someone had paid for it.
Someone had received it.
The lab’s archived billing data identified the purchaser.
Whitmore Executive Health Services.
A private medical concierge account funded by Whitmore Hospitality.
Approving executive:
Daniel Whitmore.
Claire stared at the invoice.
“He paid for the test.”
Melissa answered:
“Through the company medical account.”
“Before Julia was fired?”
“Yes.”
“Before he testified there was no relationship?”
“Yes.”
Then another record surfaced.
Margaret’s assistant had emailed the concierge service.
Mrs. Whitmore requests no copies be mailed to corporate headquarters. Deliver directly to residence.
Date:
The day after the result.
Claire asked:
“Why was Margaret involved?”
Melissa answered:
“We don’t know yet.”
That became the question.
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Margaret had spent months calling Lily a bastard.
But the documents increasingly suggested she knew exactly whose child Lily was before Lily was even born.
