Chapter 13 - THE BRIDE'S LAST SECRETRebecca finally told us everything.
Her father, Richard, had been working with Thomas for nearly twenty years.
He had helped move money.
Forged signatures.
Created false identities.
Destroyed witnesses.
And when Sarah discovered the operation, Richard arranged her disappearance.
I looked at Rebecca.
“How could you marry me knowing this?”
“I didn't know at first.”
“When did you find out?”
“When I was twenty-four.”
I stared at her.
“What did you do?”
“I stole the first file.”
She pulled a USB drive from her pocket.
“This.”
My father took it.
“What is this?”
“Everything I found.”
Bank transfers.
Recordings.
Names.
Photographs.
Including one that made my knees weak.
Richard.
Thomas.
My father.
Sarah.
Together.
Twenty years ago.
But there was another person in the photograph.
My mother.
I closed my eyes.
“Everyone.”
My mother whispered:
“I was trying to save your father.”
“And you failed.”
She nodded.
“I did.”
Rebecca looked at me.
“I wasn't trying to take Emily from you.”
“You were trying to protect her.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Thomas had someone inside your office.”
My heart stopped.
“My office?”
Rebecca nodded.
“He knew your schedule.”
“He knew your messages.”
“He even knew the day you proposed to me.”
I looked at the USB drive.
Then at my father.
“Who is it?”
He answered quietly.
“Daniel.”
My brother.
I felt as if the ground had disappeared.
“No.”
My father shook his head.
“Not the Daniel you grew up with.”
I looked at the hallway.
Daniel had been with us all day.
Helping.
Protecting Emily.
Running through the chapel.
Was he really part of this?
Then my phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
“Where are you?”
His voice came through.
“With Emily.”
I froze.
“Put her on.”
A pause.
Then Emily's voice.
“Daddy?”
I nearly collapsed.
“Emily, baby, are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you?”
She whispered:
“Grandpa's red room.”
My father closed his eyes.
Thomas had her.
But Daniel was with him.
“Don't worry,” Daniel said.
“We're coming.”
Then the line went dead.
I looked at everyone.
My father picked up a flashlight.
“We have twenty minutes.”
“To do what?”
“To stop Thomas from opening the room.”
“What happens if he does?”
“He will recover the ledger.”
“And then?”
My father stared at me.
“He'll erase every witness.”
“How many?”
“Thirty-two.”
I felt sick.
“Emily is one of the last.”
We rushed to the old estate.
The red room was hidden beneath the library.
Thomas stood beside Emily.
Daniel stood behind him.
I shouted:
“Let her go!”
Thomas smiled.
“My nephew.”
I stepped forward.
“Where is the ledger?”
He pointed at Emily.
“She knows.”
Emily looked terrified.
“Daddy, I don't remember.”
Thomas crouched.
“You will.”
I moved toward him.
My father raised his gun.
Thomas laughed.
“You won't shoot.”
“Try me.”
Thomas held up a detonator.
“Because if you shoot…”
He pressed his thumb against it.
“…the red room goes up.”
I looked around.
Explosives were wired into the walls.
Thomas smiled.
“Thirty seconds.”
I had no idea what to do.
Then Emily suddenly looked at me.
Her expression changed.
Not fear.
Recognition.
She pointed at the ceiling.
“Daddy.”
She whispered:
“The bell.”
Everyone looked up.
And I understood.
The ledger was not in the room.
It was in the chapel.
Above the bell.
Thomas's face changed.
He had realized it too.
He turned toward the door.
May you like
And for the first time all night…
he was afraid.
