Chapter 10 - Why Daniel Chose Rachel
Rachel read the message twice.
Then she handed the phone to Daniel.
"Why did you choose me?"
He looked confused. "Because I fell in love with you."
"That's not what Vanessa means."
"Vanessa is trying to break us apart."
"She can't break what you don't hide."
Daniel stood, then stopped himself from moving closer.
"Three months before we met, an investigator from the old federal inquiry called me. He said one of the names in the Westbridge records belonged to the daughter of a man who had tried to expose the scheme. Rachel Morgan."
The room went quiet.
Rachel's chest tightened.
"You knew my name before we met."
"Yes."
"And then you met me at the hospital fundraiser."
"Yes."
"Was that arranged?"
"No. I swear."
Rachel's eyes filled, but she refused to cry.
"Did you date me because of my father?"
"No. At first, I knew who you were. I thought maybe I should stay away. Then we talked for three hours. You made fun of the terrible auction prizes. You stole the olives out of my drink. I forgot every warning in my head."
"When were you planning to tell me?"
Daniel had no answer.
That hurt more than any answer could have.
Melissa interrupted gently. "We still have an immediate problem. Vanessa is being held somewhere."
Police told them not to respond to the kidnappers.
Evan, however, recognized the wall behind Vanessa in the photo.
"Old Harland Paper Mill," he said. "My father met Marcus there once."
Bell called tactical officers.
Rachel grabbed her coat.
Daniel shook his head. "You're staying here."
"No."
"Rachel—"
"If this whole thing was built around my name, I am done sitting in a room while everyone else decides what I am allowed to know."
At the mill, officers moved in first.
They found an empty chair, cut plastic ties, and Vanessa's handbag.
No Vanessa.
Inside the handbag was Rachel's framed wedding photo.
The same one from the wall.
Behind the cardboard backing, someone had taped a tiny memory card.
Officer Bell inserted it into a secure laptop.
A video appeared.
Vanessa sat across from Marcus in a restaurant six years earlier.
Marcus slid a folder toward her.
"Use Morgan's daughter," he said. "If this ever comes back, we point to her."
Vanessa smiled.
Then the camera angle shifted.
May you like
A fourth person entered the booth.
Daniel.
