Chapter 13 - before they ever met)
Daniel met Beatriz two years after Claire's death.
At least, that was what he had believed.
A charity auction in Madrid.
She had been introduced by a mutual acquaintance.
Elegant.
Funny.
Patient with Isabella.
Never intrusive.
She seemed almost deliberately different from the socialites Daniel avoided.
Now Daniel wondered whether any part of that meeting had been accidental.
He searched old photographs.
Emails.
Guest lists.
Mara cross referenced facial recognition archives Daniel legally possessed through company event footage.
Three hours later, they found Beatriz in the background of a photograph taken five years ago.
At Claire's father's memorial foundation event.
Beatriz stood near Victor Hale.
Daniel stared.
"She knew Claire."
Adrian looked at the photograph.
"Maybe indirectly."
Daniel turned.
"You keep saying maybe."
"Because facts matter."
"Then give me one."
Adrian looked at him.
"Beatriz worked for Hale."
Daniel felt something settle into place.
"Doing what?"
"Social engineering."
Ethan frowned.
"Meaning?"
"She gained access to people."
Daniel's anger became almost quiet.
"Relationships."
"Sometimes."
"She targeted me."
Adrian did not answer.
That was enough.
Daniel sat.
Every memory of the past two years changed shape.
Beatriz meeting Isabella.
Beatriz listening when Daniel spoke about loneliness.
Beatriz refusing expensive gifts at first.
Beatriz telling him she understood grief.
Beatriz gradually moving into the villa.
Every kindness now had another possible explanation.
"Did she ever care about us?"
No one answered.
Daniel looked toward the stairs.
Isabella had been manipulated by someone trained to gain trust.
So had he.
He almost laughed at the symmetry.
The successful businessman who believed he could read people.
The father who believed danger would announce itself.
His phone rang.
Beatriz.
This time Daniel answered immediately.
"Where are you?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I want to hear the truth from you."
Beatriz was silent.
Daniel continued.
"You knew Claire."
Another silence.
"Yes."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Before you met me."
"Yes."
"Did Victor send you?"
"At first."
Everyone in the room listened.
Daniel's voice remained controlled.
"Why?"
"To watch you."
"And Isabella?"
"She wasn't supposed to be involved."
Daniel's control nearly broke.
"She was eight years old dragging garbage through my garden."
"I know what it looked like."
"What it looked like?"
Beatriz started crying.
Daniel felt nothing.
"You don't understand what Victor does to people."
"Explain."
"He owns secrets."
"Yours?"
"Yes."
"What secret?"
She did not answer.
Daniel waited.
"Beatriz."
Her breathing shook.
"I helped him years ago."
"With Claire?"
"No."
"Did you hurt Claire?"
"No."
"Did you know she was going to die?"
"No."
Daniel listened carefully.
"Did Victor kill her?"
"I don't know."
That answer sounded different.
Not denial.
Fear.
"What did you do to Isabella?"
Beatriz became silent.
Daniel's voice hardened.
"Say it."
"I frightened her."
"Why?"
"Because Victor needed recordings."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Recordings accusing me."
"Yes."
"And guardianship documents."
"Yes."
"And the blue room."
A pause.
"Yes."
"Why lock her there?"
"To make her cooperate."
Ethan looked away.
Daniel gripped the table.
"Did you ever intend to physically injure her?"
"No."
Daniel's voice became razor thin.
"You think that helps you?"
"No."
For the first time, Beatriz sounded genuinely broken.
"It doesn't."
Daniel continued.
"Who installed the hidden camera?"
"I did."
"Who used the tunnel?"
"Victor's people."
"Adrian?"
"No."
Adrian closed his eyes briefly.
Daniel looked at him.
"Why are his prints there?"
"I don't know."
Daniel almost asked another question.
Then Beatriz said, "Daniel, listen."
He waited.
"The Madrid restructuring is not the real objective."
"What is?"
"The company is valuable, but Victor wants the trust."
"He can't access it."
"Not directly."
"What does that mean?"
"Claire changed something before she died."
Daniel looked toward the Gibraltar drives.
"What?"
"I don't know exactly."
"Then why does Victor care?"
"Because the trust doesn't only contain money."
Daniel frowned.
"What else?"
"I heard him call it a key."
Ethan and Daniel exchanged looks.
"A key to what?"
"Something Claire found."
Daniel thought of the second ledger.
"Where are you?"
He asked again.
Beatriz began crying harder.
"I can't come back."
"You're going to the police."
"No."
"Yes."
"You don't understand."
"Then help me."
Silence.
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Tell the truth about Isabella."
"I will."
"On record."
Beatriz breathed slowly.
"All right."
Daniel looked at Jonah.
Jonah nodded.
"Come to the villa."
"No."
"Police station?"
"No."
"Choose somewhere."
Beatriz named a hotel near Málaga.
"One hour."
"I'll be there."
She stopped him.
"Daniel."
"What?"
"If I don't arrive, don't assume I changed my mind."
The call ended.
Daniel stared at the phone.
Jonah stood.
"I'll coordinate police."
Daniel nodded.
Ethan looked toward the staircase.
"You're going?"
Daniel thought of Isabella.
"No."
Ethan looked surprised.
Daniel sat.
"I promised her."
"Then I'll go."
Jonah nodded.
"So will I."
Adrian stood.
"I should come."
Daniel looked at him.
"No."
"Beatriz may trust me."
"That is exactly why you're staying where I can see you."
Adrian did not argue.
An hour passed.
Then ninety minutes.
Beatriz did not arrive.
Jonah called the villa.
"She's missing."
Daniel's pulse accelerated.
"How do you know?"
"Her phone was found in a hotel bathroom."
"Any sign of force?"
"No."
"Security cameras?"
"Checking."
Daniel looked at Adrian.
Then another phone began ringing.
The disposable phone.
Daniel answered.
Victor Hale's voice came through this time.
"Mr. Whitmore."
Daniel stood.
"Where is she?"
"Which she?"
"Beatriz."
Victor laughed softly.
"You still think the frightened woman is your biggest concern."
"Touch her and I'll destroy you."
"Threats are emotional. Evidence is useful."
Daniel's eyes hardened.
"What do you want?"
"Claire's drives."
"No."
"Then perhaps you should ask Isabella where her mother hid the ledger."
Daniel's breath stopped.
"She was four."
"Children remember more than adults believe."
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
Victor continued.
"Claire told her a story."
"What story?"
"Ask about the house beneath the sea."
The call ended.
Daniel slowly turned.
Isabella stood halfway down the staircase.
She had heard him.
Her eyes were wide.
"The house beneath the sea?"
Daniel approached.
"Do you remember that?"
She nodded.
"My mommy used to tell me."
Daniel crouched.
"What was it about?"
Isabella thought.
"A little girl had to hide something from a bad king."
"What did she hide?"
"A book."
Daniel's pulse quickened.
"Where?"
May you like
Isabella looked toward the ocean visible beyond the garden.
"In the house beneath the sea."
