Chapter 4 - The Friend Who Introduced the Bride)
Thomas entered holding a champagne flute.
“You look like you saw a ghost.”
Daniel forced a laugh.
“Wedding nerves.”
“You?”
“It happens.”
Thomas studied him.
“Rebecca sent me.”
“Of course she did.”
“She says you’re hiding.”
“I needed five minutes.”
Thomas glanced at the laptop.
“Everything okay?”
Daniel closed it completely.
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
Thomas shrugged.
“Emily.”
Daniel watched his face carefully.
“What about her?”
“You were worried.”
“She’s fine.”
Thomas hesitated.
“You found her?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know?”
Daniel smiled.
“Because she called.”
The lie came easily.
Thomas’s reaction did not.
His eyes sharpened.
Only for an instant.
But Daniel saw it.
“What did she say?”
Daniel leaned against the desk.
“That she’s coming.”
Thomas slowly placed his champagne on the counter.
“To the wedding?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good.”
“Is it?”
Thomas laughed.
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“She hates Rebecca.”
“She’s your daughter. She should still be here.”
Daniel nodded.
“Do you remember the Harrington charity dinner?”
Thomas looked confused.
“Two years ago?”
“Eighteen months.”
“Why?”
“That’s where I met Rebecca.”
“I remember.”
Daniel kept his tone casual.
“You introduced us.”
“I introduced half the room.”
“Did you know her before that?”
Thomas answered immediately.
“No.”
Too immediately.
Daniel smiled.
“I thought you said she worked with your foundation.”
Thomas frowned.
“She donated through a client.”
“What client?”
“I don’t remember.”
“You don’t remember introducing me to the woman I’m marrying?”
Thomas’s expression hardened slightly.
“What is this?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re interrogating me.”
Daniel laughed.
“I’m asking how I met my fiancée.”
“You had too much coffee.”
“Probably.”
Thomas reached for the champagne again.
“Come on. We need to get you downstairs.”
Daniel did not move.
Thomas looked toward him.
“What?”
“I need you to do something.”
“Name it.”
“Stay with Noah.”
Thomas’s face changed almost imperceptibly.
“Why?”
“He’s frightened.”
“Of what?”
Daniel watched him.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”
Thomas set down the glass.
“Daniel, if something is wrong, tell me.”
For one painful second, Daniel almost did.
This was Thomas.
The man who had stood beside him at Catherine’s funeral.
The man who had carried Emily asleep from Daniel’s car when she was six.
The man who knew every major success and every humiliating failure Daniel had experienced since he was nineteen.
But Emily’s warning remained stronger.
Daniel touched Thomas’s shoulder.
“Keep Noah with you.”
“Fine.”
“And don’t let Rebecca take him.”
Thomas went very still.
“Why would she?”
Daniel smiled.
“She won’t. Because you’ll be there.”
He left before Thomas could respond.
Instead of walking toward the ballroom, Daniel took the service elevator to the twelfth floor.
Michael Holt had been given a suite there.
Daniel knocked.
No answer.
He called Michael’s phone.
Straight to voicemail.
Daniel tried the door.
Locked.
A housekeeper pushing a linen cart approached.
“Excuse me.”
Daniel produced his hotel event credential.
“My attorney is staying here. He left documents inside that I need before the ceremony.”
The housekeeper hesitated.
Daniel knew the hotel’s general manager personally.
Three minutes later, the door opened.
Michael was not inside.
His briefcase was.
Daniel shut the door behind him.
He knew searching it could create legal complications.
He also knew somebody had forged his signature.
Legal etiquette suddenly felt less important.
The briefcase contained wedding paperwork.
Prenuptial documents.
Marriage license copies.
A sealed folder marked ARDEN.
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a medical authorization form.
His medical authorization form.
The signature at the bottom looked genuine.
It was not.
The document permitted Rebecca Hale to make emergency medical decisions if Daniel became unconscious during the first thirty days of marriage.
Daniel read it twice.
Then he found another page.
A physician certification template.
Blank.
Below it lay a prepared trust activation request.
Daniel’s hands became cold.
If two doctors certified him mentally or physically incapable, temporary control of certain assets could shift.
Not permanently.
But long enough to move money.
Long enough to destroy records.
Long enough to make a fortune disappear.
The suite door opened.
Daniel turned.
Michael Holt stood there.
He wore a charcoal suit.
His face lost color.
“Daniel.”
Daniel held up the authorization.
“What is this?”
Michael closed the door.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Michael sighed.
“You weren’t supposed to see that until after the ceremony.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Interesting answer.”
Michael loosened his tie.
“Let me explain.”
“Please do.”
“It’s precautionary.”
“With a forged signature?”
Michael’s eyes flickered.
“That isn’t forged.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“I know my own signature.”
“Daniel.”
“Who paid you eighty-five thousand dollars?”
Silence.
Daniel continued.
“Hale Consulting.”
Michael’s face became blank.
“You went through my financial records?”
“My daughter did.”
Michael looked toward the door.
That was enough.
Daniel moved between him and the exit.
“Where is Emily?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying.”
“I swear to you.”
“You were recorded discussing how to keep her away from this wedding.”
Michael stopped.
Daniel saw the realization in his face.
“You have the recording.”
“I have more than that.”
Michael’s shoulders dropped.
Then something unexpected happened.
He smiled.
Not confidently.
Sadly.
“You have no idea how much danger you’re in.”
Daniel stared at him.
“From Rebecca?”
Michael shook his head.
“Rebecca is the part you can see.”
“Who is behind her?”
Michael looked toward the ceiling, as though cameras might be listening.
“Cancel the wedding.”
“I intend to.”
“No.”
Michael grabbed Daniel’s arm.
“Don’t announce anything. Don’t confront anyone. Take Emily and Noah and leave the city.”
Daniel pulled away.
“Where is my daughter?”
“I told you, I don’t know.”
“Then tell me who does.”
Michael’s phone vibrated.
He looked at it.
His face drained.
Daniel caught a glimpse of the screen.
One sentence.
HE KNOWS.
Michael shoved the phone into his pocket.
“Who sent that?”
Michael moved toward the door.
Daniel blocked him.
“Who sent it?”
Michael whispered, “If Rebecca realizes what you found, she’ll accelerate everything.”
“What does that mean?”
“I can’t help you here.”
“You already helped them.”
“I made a mistake.”
“For eighty-five thousand dollars?”
Michael shook his head.
“They weren’t paying me to join them.”
“What were they paying you for?”
“To stop asking questions.”
Daniel stared at him.
Michael opened the door.
Before leaving, he turned.
“Do not eat anything Rebecca gives you.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
Michael lowered his voice.
“And don’t drink the champagne.”
Then he disappeared into the hallway.
Daniel stood alone holding the forged medical authorization.
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Silence.
Then breathing.
“Hello?”
A woman whispered.
“Dad?”
Daniel’s knees nearly gave way.
“Emily?”
“Don’t say my name.”
“Where are you?”
“I can’t talk long.”
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay.”
“Where are you?”
A pause.
Then Emily whispered something that changed everything again.
May you like
“Don’t trust Thomas.”
The call ended.
