Chapter 15 - Daniel's Story
Emma put the call on speaker.
Nathan motioned the girls out of the room with Rachel.
Daniel’s voice filled the small medical office near the theater.
“Your mother told you I abandoned her. Convenient.”
Emma’s hands trembled. “You did.”
“No. Claire paid her to disappear.”
Nathan frowned.
Emma laughed in disbelief. “Claire was sixteen when I was born.”
Silence.
Daniel had made a mistake.
Emma heard it too.
“You don’t even remember the year,” she said.
Daniel’s voice hardened. “I remember enough.”
“No. You remember your own version.”
Nathan stepped closer to the phone. “Where is Victoria?”
Daniel ignored him.
“Emma, your mother stole documents from me. Claire helped her. Everything that happened after that was their fault.”
Emma’s eyes filled with anger. “You forged invoices. You stole money. You threatened a dying woman.”
“She was never innocent.”
Nathan nearly reached for the phone, but Emma shook her head.
Let him talk.
Daniel continued. “Claire wanted control. Nathan wanted control. Victoria wanted money. Everyone wants something.”
“What do you want?” Emma asked.
A pause.
Then Daniel said, “You.”
Nathan went still.
Emma’s face changed.
“You’re my daughter,” Daniel said. “You come with me, and this ends.”
Emma gave a disbelieving laugh. “You kidnapped children to ask for a family reunion?”
“I protected you from people who used you.”
“You don’t know me.”
“I know you came into that house because of me.”
“No. I came because of three little girls who deserved better than you.”
Daniel’s breathing sharpened.
The calm mask slipped.
“You think Nathan Cole will keep you once this is over?”
Emma glanced at Nathan.
Nathan said nothing.
Daniel laughed softly. “You’re staff. Useful staff. The second his crisis ends, you disappear.”
Emma looked down.
Nathan saw the words land.
He hated that Daniel had found the right wound.
Mills, now listening through a secure line, silently signaled that the trace was working.
Emma needed to keep Daniel talking.
She swallowed. “Where would I go?”
Daniel softened instantly. “I’ll tell you when you agree.”
“Agree to what?”
“To bring Claire’s flash drive tonight.”
Emma looked at Nathan.
Daniel gave an address.
An old marina north of the city.
Then he said, “Come alone.”
Emma answered, “Okay.”
Nathan grabbed her wrist as the call ended.
“No.”
Emma looked at him.
“It’s the first time he’s ever asked for me,” she said. “That means he’s running out of options.”
May you like
Nathan’s voice was low and fierce.
“And it means he may be planning to kill the last person who can testify against him.”
