The investigation spread beyond Briarwood. State authorities began reviewing historical adoption records and interviewing former employees of the children's home. Several surviving staff members agreed to speak. One remembered unusual late night transfers. Another described being instructed to rewrite documents after certain children left the facility. A retired bookkeeper admitted she'd questioned payments made to outside agencies but was told they were legitimate administrative expenses.
Charles Whitmore denied wrongdoing. Through his attorney, he described the allegations as misinterpretations of incomplete historical documents. Richard Whitmore, his son and the foundation's current executive director, stated that he had no knowledge of improper activities conducted decades earlier.
Investigators emphasized that the evidence required careful examination before anyone could be charged.
Meanwhile, Mara continued searching for Margaret Price.
She discovered that a woman matching Margaret's age and identifying details had lived under several addresses before settling in western Pennsylvania. The latest records pointed toward a residential care facility.
Angela wanted to drive there immediately.
Mara asked her to wait until the information was confirmed.
Two days later, she called.
"Angela, Margaret Price is alive."
Angela sat down.
"Are you certain?"
"We've confirmed her identity."
"Where is she?"
"About ninety minutes away."
Angela closed her eyes. For decades, she'd believed every important connection to her mother's past had disappeared. Now people once presumed lost were reappearing.
Mara explained that Margaret was seventy-six and receiving long term care. Her physical health was fragile, but she remained mentally alert. When facility staff asked whether she wished to speak with someone connected to Daniel Samuel Price, Margaret began crying.
She agreed to meet Angela.
The following afternoon, Angela arrived carrying photographs and the silver pendant.
Margaret sat beside a window overlooking a small garden. Her hair was silver, her hands thin and trembling.
When Angela entered, she looked up.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
Then she whispered, "Evelyn?"
Angela felt tears rising.
"No. I'm her daughter."
Margaret covered her mouth.
"Angela?"
She nodded.
Margaret began crying.
"Your mother saved my son's life."
Angela sat beside her.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Margaret reached for her hand.
"Samuel loved Daniel. He wanted to acknowledge him publicly. Charles refused to accept our relationship."
"Why?"
Margaret looked away.
"Because I worked as a housekeeper."
She explained that Samuel discovered suspicious financial records and intended to report them.
Then he disappeared.
Shortly afterward, Daniel was taken from her.
Margaret spent years trying to recover him. Every official inquiry led to missing documents or unanswered questions.
Angela showed her the pendant.
Margaret began sobbing.
"I gave that to my baby."
Then she whispered something unexpected.
"Daniel came to see me once."
Angela froze.
"When?"
Margaret looked toward the window.
"On his eighteenth birthday."