Chapter 2 - Three Days Earlier
Three days before the hospital recording, Margaret had been sitting alone in her small kitchen when Daniel arrived without calling.
Her son had always been confident, but that evening he appeared exhausted. His dark hair was untidy, and he checked the street twice before closing the curtains.
“Are you being followed?” Margaret asked.
Daniel forced a smile. “I’ve been working too much.”
Margaret did not believe him.
Daniel had inherited Hale Medical Transport after his father’s death. The company operated ambulances and non-emergency vehicles across the county. It had once been modest, but under Daniel’s management it had grown quickly.
Marissa handled the company’s charity division, which paid for transportation for elderly and low-income patients. She was praised at fundraisers, photographed beside hospital executives, and described in newspapers as the compassionate heart of the Hale family.
Margaret had never trusted the image.
Marissa was charming whenever cameras were nearby, but she became cold when no one important was watching.
Daniel poured himself coffee and did not drink it.
“Mom, do you remember Dad’s old workshop?”
“Of course.”
“Is it still locked?”
“I haven’t opened it since he died.”
Daniel placed a small brass key on the table.
“If anything happens, there’s a blue folder behind the loose panel under his workbench.”
Margaret stared at him.
“What have you done?”
“Nothing.”
“Then what has Marissa done?”
Daniel stood abruptly.
“I didn’t say this was about her.”
“You didn’t have to.”
For the first time, Daniel looked genuinely frightened.
He explained that several charity accounts did not match the company’s official records. Money meant for patient transportation had been routed through consulting businesses that appeared to exist only on paper.
When Daniel asked Marissa about them, she claimed the transfers had been approved by his father before his death.
“That is impossible,” Margaret said. “Your father refused to let anyone touch the charity funds.”
“I know.”
“Go to the police.”
“I need proof.”
Margaret reached across the table.
“You need to stay alive.”
Daniel squeezed her hand.
Then his phone lit up with a message from Marissa.
Dinner is ready. Come home now.
Daniel stared at the screen for a long moment.
May you like
“I’ll handle it,” he said.
Margaret watched him leave, already knowing he was wrong.
