Chapter 16 - Daniel's Choice“Put the gun down.”
Daniel's hands shook.
“I didn't want any of this.”
Mom slowly rose.
“You've always wanted more.”
“You don't get to say that!”
Daniel's voice cracked.
“You gave everything to Lucy. Everything to Jenny.”
He looked at me.
“Dad never even trusted me.”
I couldn't speak.
Daniel's pain had been hiding in plain sight for years.
Steve had promised him money.
Power.
A role inside Northbridge.
And Daniel took it.
He helped move money.
He helped falsify documents.
He helped hide evidence.
But he insisted he had never wanted anyone dead.
“I only wanted my share.”
Mom laughed bitterly.
“There is no share.”
Daniel's eyes hardened.
“You stole it.”
“You were not entitled to it.”
“I was your son.”
“And Jenny was the beneficiary.”
The gun shook in his hand.
I stepped toward him.
“Daniel.”
He looked at me.
“Don't.”
“I know you're scared.”
“You don't know anything.”
“I know you're my brother.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“That's why this hurts.”
I stopped.
“Let me help you.”
He stared at me.
Then slowly lowered the gun.
A shot rang out.
The window behind him shattered.
Daniel fell.
I screamed.
Mom dropped to the floor.
Someone outside had fired.
A car sped away.
I ran to Daniel.
Blood spread across his shirt.
He was still breathing.
“Call 911!”
Mom grabbed my arm.
“No.”
“What?”
“Look at the bullet.”
I froze.
The wound was shallow.
The bullet had grazed him.
Daniel opened his eyes.
He whispered:
“It wasn't a warning.”
“What?”
“It was a message.”
He handed me his phone.
One text.
COME TO THE NORTHBRIDGE VAULT ALONE.
Below it was an address.
And a photograph.
Lucy.
Bound to a chair.
I looked at Mom.
“They took Lucy.”
She nodded.
“Then we go.”
“No.”
I looked at her.
“You said no?”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
Mom's face went pale.
“The vault isn't a vault.”
“What is it?”
“A bunker.”
“For what?”
She whispered:
“Evidence.”
I stared.
“How much?”
“Enough to destroy every person connected to Northbridge.”
Daniel tried to sit up.
“Jenny…”
I looked at him.
“Do you know who took Lucy?”
His face changed.
He whispered:
“Yes.”
“Who?”
He swallowed.
“Dad.”
I laughed in disbelief.
“Dad is dead.”
Daniel looked at me.
“I know.”
“Then what do you mean?”
May you like
He gave me the answer that made every secret before it look small.
“Someone has been pretending to be dead.”
