Chapter 4: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
“Richard Cole wasn't just your father's business partner.””
Margaret's voice trembled.
“He was the man your mother was trying to protect you from.””
Daniel stared at her.
The ballroom had become so quiet that the soft hum of the air-conditioning seemed unbearably loud.
“What does that mean?”” he asked.
Margaret glanced toward the projection screen.
“It means your father wasn't the man who raised you.””
Daniel blinked.
For a moment, he thought he had misunderstood.
“What?””
Eleanor Harrington immediately stepped forward.
“Margaret, stop this madness.””
But Margaret didn't look at her.
“Your mother was twenty-two when she met Richard Cole. They were together before she married your father. When she discovered she was pregnant, Richard promised he would marry her.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“That's impossible. My father and mother were married for thirty-eight years.””
“They were,” Margaret replied.
“But Richard disappeared before you were born. Your mother believed he had abandoned her.””
Daniel looked toward Eleanor.
“And you knew?””
Eleanor lifted her chin.
“I know nothing about this woman's fantasies.””
Margaret continued.
“Your father knew the truth. He knew you might be Richard's son, but he loved your mother. He raised you as his own. He never treated you differently.””
Daniel's hands began to shake.
“Then why did nobody tell me?””
“Because your father wanted you to grow up without carrying someone else's mistakes.””
Daniel looked at the screen.
“And Richard?””
Margaret's eyes hardened.
“Richard came back when you were twelve. He wanted money. Your father refused to give him control of the company. After that, the threats began.””
Victoria suddenly stepped forward.
“This is disgusting. You are destroying a family with stories you cannot prove.””
Margaret turned toward her.
“Then perhaps we should let the evidence speak.””
She nodded at Jason.
The DJ reopened the final folder.
A video appeared.
The footage showed a hospital room. The date was twelve years earlier.
Daniel recognized the room immediately.
It was the private hospital where his father had been taken after the fatal car accident.
A man sat beside the bed, his face turned away from the camera.
Then he spoke.
“Eleanor, I need the documents signed before morning.””
Eleanor's voice answered.
“Your problem is that you always want everything immediately.””
“Your husband is dead. The boy is still young. There is no reason to make this complicated.””
Daniel leaned closer.
The man turned.
Richard Cole.
Older, thinner, but unmistakable.
Eleanor handed him a folder.
“What happens if Daniel asks questions?””
Richard smiled.
“Then you tell him his father made the decision himself.””
Eleanor hesitated.
“And the driver?””
Richard's smile disappeared.
“He won't be a problem.””
The video ended.
Daniel felt his stomach turn.
“My father's accident…”
Margaret nodded.
“Your father discovered Richard had been stealing from the company. He confronted him the night before the accident.””
Daniel shook his head.
“The police investigated.””
“They investigated what they were told to investigate.””
Eleanor suddenly shouted.
“That's enough!””
She marched toward the DJ booth.
“Turn it off!””
Jason stepped away from the laptop.
Daniel blocked her path.
“Don't touch anything.””
“You don't understand what you're doing!””
“Then explain it.””
Eleanor's face was flushed.
“Richard was trying to protect the company.””
“From my father?””
“Your father was going to destroy everything!””
Daniel stared at her.
“Everything that belonged to my family?””
Eleanor's lips tightened.
“Your family was already falling apart.””
Margaret stepped forward.
“Your husband was supposed to sign the revised trust documents the morning after the accident. Richard had arranged everything. But he died before he could complete the transfer.””
Daniel slowly turned.
“Why are you involved?””
Eleanor said nothing.
Margaret answered.
“Because Richard promised her a share of the company.””
Eleanor laughed bitterly.
“Don't pretend you understand business.””
“I understand greed.””
Eleanor pointed toward Margaret.
“You were paid to keep your mouth shut!””
Margaret's expression changed.
Daniel turned sharply.
“What?””
Eleanor realized her mistake.
Margaret reached into her handbag and removed another envelope.
“This is the last payment Richard made to me before he disappeared.””
Eleanor looked stunned.
Margaret continued.
“I was offered money to destroy the hospital recording. I refused. When Anna discovered what happened, she begged me to help her.””
Daniel took the envelope.
Inside was a bank transfer receipt.
The sender was an offshore company.
The recipient was Margaret Ellis.
The amount was $250,000.
Daniel looked at her.
“You accepted this?””
Margaret nodded slowly.
“I did.””
His expression hardened.
“Why?””
“Because I needed to get close enough to find out where Richard was hiding the original documents. I never spent a penny. Every dollar is still in an account your lawyer can examine.””
Daniel said nothing.
Margaret's eyes filled.
“I know how it looks. I know you have every reason to distrust me. But I promised your mother I would protect you.””
Daniel folded the receipt.
“Why didn't you tell me sooner?””
“Because Victoria had people watching you. I couldn't risk losing Lily too.””
Victoria suddenly laughed.
“You're unbelievable. You expect him to believe you were protecting a child while secretly hiding money?””
Lily stepped out from behind Margaret.
“My mommy trusted her.””
Victoria looked down at her.
“Stay out of this.””
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
“My mommy said you were the reason she couldn't see Daniel.””
Victoria's expression turned cold.
“Your mother was a liar.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don't you dare speak about Anna like that.””
Victoria threw up her hands.
“You've known this child for less than an hour!””
“And somehow she's shown me more honesty than you've shown me in three years.””
Victoria looked around.
Guests were recording everything.
Her mother was standing rigidly beside the stage.
Her wedding planner had disappeared.
The photographer was no longer taking pictures.
Everything Victoria had carefully arranged was falling apart.
She turned toward Daniel.
“You think this ends with me being embarrassed? You have no idea what will happen when Richard finds out.””
Daniel froze.
“Richard?””
Victoria immediately realized what she had said.
Margaret stared at her.
“You know where he is.””
Victoria shook her head.
“I didn't say that.””
“You just said Richard would find out.””
“I was speaking hypothetically.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Where is he?””
Victoria's eyes darted toward Eleanor.
Her mother gave a tiny shake of her head.
But Daniel had already noticed.
“Mother and daughter,” he said quietly.
“Both of you have spent years protecting him.””
Eleanor straightened.
“You have no proof Richard is alive.””
Daniel pointed toward the projection screen.
“I just watched him speak.””
“That footage could be twelve years old.””
Margaret interrupted.
“It's not.””
She took another small device from her handbag.
“This contains the original security files. The metadata was verified by an independent investigator. Richard was recorded three weeks ago.””
Daniel stared.
“Where?””
Margaret looked toward Victoria.
“At a private property registered to a company controlled by the Harrington family.””
Victoria backed away.
“No.””
Margaret nodded.
“Yes.””
Daniel turned toward Eleanor.
“Where is the property?””
Eleanor remained silent.
Then Lily spoke.
“I know.””
Everyone turned.
Daniel crouched.
“What do you mean, sweetheart?””
Lily reached into her red handbag and removed a small folded drawing.
It showed a large house, a swimming pool, and a long driveway lined with trees.
On the back, Anna had written an address.
Daniel recognized the location.
It was the old Harrington estate outside the city.
The property Victoria had claimed was abandoned.
He looked at Margaret.
“Why would Anna have this?””
Margaret swallowed.
“Because she went there eleven days before she died.””
Daniel stared at her.
“What happened?””
Margaret looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Anna found Richard.””
Before Daniel could respond, his phone began vibrating.
An unknown number appeared on the screen.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Daniel Whitmore?””
“Who is this?””
A quiet laugh.
“You've been making quite a scene.””
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“Richard?””
The man paused.
“Congratulations on your wedding. I hear it didn't go as planned.””
Daniel looked toward Victoria.
She had gone completely still.
Richard continued.
“Now, listen carefully. You have something that belongs to me.””
“What?””
“A little girl. A recording. And a collection of documents that should have been destroyed years ago.””
Daniel tightened his grip on the phone.
“If you come near my daughter—”
“Your daughter?”” Richard laughed.
“Daniel, you still don't understand what that child represents.””
The call ended.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Then a message appeared.
A photograph.
It showed the Harrington estate.
A black car was parked outside.
And standing beside it was Richard Cole.
May you like
Beneath the photograph were six words.
*COME ALONE, OR THE GIRL DISAPPEARS.*
