Chapter 7 - The Truth About Daniel
Emily could barely speak.
Richard put the passport on the desk.
“Daniel asked me to keep this hidden.”
“You said he was a failure.”
“I lied.”
“You told everyone he was dead.”
“I had to.”
“You let me grieve him.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“I know.”
“You watched Noah grow up without his father.”
“I know.”
Emily slapped the passport onto the desk.
“You don't get to say you know.”
Richard accepted the anger.
“You're right.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
Emily stared at him.
“You helped him disappear and you don't know where he is?”
“He changed locations.”
“Why?”
“Because the people hunting him were connected to almost everyone he trusted.”
Emily thought of Vanessa.
“Was Vanessa one of them?”
Richard's silence answered.
Emily felt sick.
“She was.”
Richard nodded.
“She knew about Daniel's investigation.”
“Then why did you marry her?”
“I didn't know who she was.”
Emily laughed bitterly.
“You married a woman who knew my husband while pretending she didn't.”
“I made mistakes.”
“You made choices.”
Richard looked down.
“You're right.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Both turned.
The door opened.
Marcus stepped inside.
Richard immediately became tense.
“You shouldn't have come here.”
Marcus ignored him.
He looked at Emily.
“Daniel contacted me.”
Emily's heart jumped.
“When?”
“Last night.”
“Where is he?”
Marcus hesitated.
“He is coming back.”
Richard shook his head.
“No.”
Emily looked at him.
“What do you mean, no?”
Richard's voice became urgent.
“If Daniel comes back now, Vanessa will know.”
Marcus nodded.
“She already knows.”
The room fell silent.
Emily whispered,
“How?”
Marcus looked at her.
“Because Vanessa was the one who arranged the phone call.”
Emily's eyes widened.
“The call telling me to stop asking questions?”
Marcus nodded.
“She wanted you frightened.”
“Why?”
Marcus looked toward Richard.
“Because Daniel left one final account.”
Emily frowned.
“What account?”
“A trust.”
“For whom?”
Marcus looked directly at her.
“For Noah.”
Emily's breath caught.
Richard sat down.
The realization hit him.
Daniel had not built the trust for himself.
May you like
He had built it for his son.
And whatever was inside it was powerful enough to frighten everyone in the room.
