Chapter 6 - A Diagnosis That Never Happened
Daniel had never been diagnosed with anything.
He had never even met the physician whose name appeared on the letter Nathan emailed him.
Dr. Peter Lang.
Neurology.
Private practice.
The document claimed Daniel suffered memory lapses, emotional volatility, and impaired judgment.
Grant read it twice.
“This makes no sense.”
Daniel pointed at him. “Your lawyer filed it.”
“My lawyer filed what Vanessa signed. I never saw this.”
Vanessa sank into a chair.
“I thought I was protecting the children.”
Daniel looked at her wedding dress, her shaking hands, the ring he had put on her finger less than an hour ago.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Grant said you’d think I was trying to replace Sarah.”
“That should have been my choice to think.”
Vanessa flinched.
Before she could answer, Noah appeared in the doorway.
“Dad?”
Daniel softened instantly. “What is it?”
Noah held up a phone.
Not his own.
“I found this under the cake table.”
The device was cheap, black, and unlocked.
Only one app was open.
Messages.
The most recent thread had no saved contact name.
8:07 — SHE IS BESIDE THE CAKE.
8:12 — PULL WHEN GRANT MOVES TO THE COLUMN.
8:15 — DONE.
8:16 — GIRL DID NOT PANIC ENOUGH.
8:17 — USE THE LOCKET.
Daniel’s hand tightened around the phone.
Grant leaned over his shoulder.
“Someone framed me.”
Daniel said nothing.
Noah pointed at the screen.
“There’s a picture.”
The last message contained a photo taken inside Daniel’s home office.
His desk.
His safe.
The drawer where Sarah’s locket had been kept.
In the corner of the image, reflected in a framed photograph, was part of a man’s face.
Rachel zoomed in.
Vanessa gasped.
Daniel recognized him.
Not Martin Crowe.
Not Grant.
It was Owen Price, Daniel’s longtime personal assistant.
May you like
A man who had worked beside him for eleven years.
A man who was standing somewhere in that hotel right now.
