Chapter 15 - Emma’s SecretDaniel nearly dropped the phone.
His father looked at him.
“Who was that?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
He called Emma.
No response.
Again.
Nothing.
His father grabbed his coat.
“We have to go.”
They drove back to town.
At the house, the front door was open.
Emma was gone.
Daniel ran inside.
Maya was on the floor.
Conscious.
Bleeding from her forehead.
“Where’s Lily?”
“Gone.”
“Who took them?”
Maya shook her head.
“Someone I know.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel froze.
Maya looked terrified.
“Rachel was right.”
“About what?”
“She said someone would use Emma to get to Lily.”
Daniel crouched beside her.
“What did you see?”
“A woman.”
“What woman?”
Maya whispered:
“Claire.”
Daniel frowned.
“You’re Claire.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“The woman who took them used my old name.”
Daniel’s father stepped forward.
“She’s working with Michael.”
Daniel turned.
“How do you know?”
“Because she was one of his operatives.”
Daniel looked at him.
“What happened to your brother?”
His father’s face darkened.
“He became obsessed with NorthStar.”
“He killed Rachel?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Rachel had the money.”
Daniel shook his head.
“You said the money was in a trust.”
“It is.”
“Then why does Michael care?”
“Because he knows how to unlock it.”
Daniel stared.
“How?”
His father said:
“With Emma.”
Daniel’s blood ran cold.
“What does Emma have to do with the trust?”
“The trust requires a biological guardian.”
Daniel stared.
“Me.”
“No.”
His father shook his head.
“Rachel changed it.”
“To whom?”
“Emma.”
Daniel couldn’t speak.
The trust was designed to transfer control to Emma if Daniel died.
And Michael wanted the account.
Then Daniel heard something.
A ringtone.
From upstairs.
He followed the sound.
Emma’s phone lay on her bed.
A video was playing.
Emma appeared on screen.
Her face was frightened.
“Daddy, I’m okay.”
Daniel’s knees weakened.
A voice behind the camera spoke.
“Tell him what you found.”
Emma looked at the camera.
“I found Mom’s diary.”
Daniel stared.
“What diary?”
Emma continued.
“Mom wrote that the money isn’t in a bank.”
The video ended.
A message appeared.
COME TO THE CHURCH WHERE YOU MARRIED RACHEL.
Daniel recognized the place.
They drove there.
The old church was empty.
Dust covered the pews.
At the altar, a single box sat waiting.
Inside was Rachel’s diary.
Daniel opened it.
Page after page.
Numbers.
Names.
Coordinates.
Confessions.
Then one sentence:
The person Daniel trusts most will be the one who must betray him.
Daniel looked at Marcus.
Then at Maya.
Then his father.
The diary continued:
I arranged this because only a betrayal can reveal who is watching us.
Daniel frowned.
Suddenly, the church doors slammed shut.
A voice came over the speakers.
“Congratulations, Daniel.”
Michael stepped from the shadows.
But he was not alone.
Emma stood beside him.
Lily was in his arms.
Daniel took a step forward.
“Let them go.”
Michael smiled.
“Of course.”
Then he looked at the baby.
“Right after you tell me something.”
“What?”
May you like
Michael lifted Lily slightly.
“Which one of you is willing to die for her?”
