Chapter 3 - The Locked Door
Daniel ignored Nathan’s warning.
He told his mother and sister to take a taxi to Evelyn’s house, then walked two blocks before ordering a ride to Saint Catherine’s Hospital.
He did not mention the anonymous message.
Part of him believed Claire had sent it to frighten him.
Another part feared she had not.
During the ride, Daniel searched Claire’s name online.
He expected to find her employee profile.
Instead, he discovered an article published six years earlier.
WILLIAM BENNETT’S DAUGHTER EXPECTED TO ASSUME LARGER ROLE IN PRIVATE MEDICAL EMPIRE.
The article contained an old photograph of Claire standing beside her father at a charity event.
Daniel enlarged the image.
Claire wore a simple black dress, but the people around her included hospital executives, politicians, and corporate donors.
He searched Bennett Medical Logistics.
Estimated annual revenue: 420 million dollars.
Daniel stopped breathing for a moment.
He searched property records.
The house where he had lived belonged to Bennett Residential Holdings.
The SUV belonged to Bennett Fleet Services.
The investment account he had secretly accessed was associated with a trust.
Every object he considered his had belonged to Claire’s world.
She had never been dependent on him.
He had been dependent on her.
The realization did not produce shame.
It produced fury.
She had deceived him.
She had watched him struggle while hiding hundreds of millions of dollars.
She had allowed him to believe he controlled the marriage.
By the time he reached the hospital, anger had replaced panic.
The lobby was quieter than usual. A security officer stood near the reception desk.
Daniel approached confidently.
“I’m here to see my wife and daughter. Claire Mercer, maternity floor.”
The receptionist typed his name.
Her expression changed.
“I’m sorry. You are not authorized to visit.”
“I’m the husband.”
“I understand.”
“Then give me the room number.”
“I cannot.”
Daniel leaned over the desk.
“My wife just gave birth.”
The security officer moved closer.
“Sir, step back.”
“This is a family matter.”
“You have been denied access.”
“By who?”
The officer looked directly at him.
“Your wife.”
Daniel’s face burned.
He pulled out his phone and called Claire.
No answer.
He sent a message.
I KNOW ABOUT THE COMPANY.
Another message followed.
YOU LIED TO ME.
Then another.
I AM NOT LEAVING WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER.
The typing indicator appeared.
Daniel waited.
Claire’s response contained only five words.
SHE IS NOT YOUR PROPERTY.
Daniel pushed away from the desk.
“I want to speak with a supervisor.”
Before the receptionist could respond, the hospital doors opened.
Nathan Hale entered with two men in dark suits.
Daniel recognized one as the head of security for Bennett Medical Logistics from a company website.
Nathan stopped several feet away.
“You were specifically told not to come here.”
“You don’t control me.”
“No. But the hospital controls access to its patients.”
“I want to see my child.”
Nathan’s expression remained unreadable.
“Then you should have remained with her when she was born.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“You people think Claire is some kind of victim. She lied to me for years.”
“She protected herself.”
“From what?”
Nathan looked at him for a long moment.
“From exactly what you became.”
Daniel lunged forward, but the security officer blocked him.
“You need to leave,” the officer said.
Daniel pointed at Nathan.
“This isn’t over.”
“No,” Nathan replied. “It is beginning.”
Daniel’s phone vibrated.
The anonymous number had sent another message.
THE MAN BESIDE HALE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO WILLIAM BENNETT.
Daniel looked at the two security men.
One was tall with gray hair.
The other had a scar running from his left ear to his jaw.
The message continued.
ASK ABOUT THE NIGHT CLAIRE’S FATHER DIED.
Daniel stared at Nathan.
“How did William Bennett die?”
For the first time, Nathan’s composure cracked.
Only slightly.
But Daniel saw it.
Nathan stepped forward.
“Who have you been speaking to?”
Daniel smiled.
“So there is something.”
“Show me your phone.”
“No.”
“This may concern Claire’s safety.”
“You just told me to leave.”
Nathan’s gaze hardened.
“Daniel, whatever you think this is, you are not prepared for it.”
Daniel backed toward the exit.
“Maybe Claire isn’t the only person who kept secrets.”
He turned and walked into the night.
Across the street, inside the parking structure, a camera lens followed him.
Upstairs, Claire watched the security feed from her hospital room.
She saw Daniel enter.
She saw Nathan confront him.
She also saw a figure standing near the stairwell exit across the road.
The figure wore a dark coat and a baseball cap.
Claire zoomed in.
The image blurred.
Then the figure raised one hand.
A silver ring reflected the light.
Claire’s body went cold.
May you like
She had seen that ring before.
It had belonged to her father.
