Chapter 14 - The Man Behind DanielThe basement door opened.
My father was sitting in a chair.
Alive.
Older.
Thinner.
But unmistakably himself.
“Dad.”
I ran toward him.
Marcus raised the gun.
“Stay where you are.”
My father smiled at me.
“It's okay.”
“No, it isn't.”
His eyes moved to Evelyn.
Then back to me.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why did you leave me?”
“Because every time I came near you, they watched.”
“They watched Noah.”
“Yes.”
“Daniel?”
“Not at first.”
My father looked at Marcus.
“Marcus built the operation.”
Marcus laughed.
“Built?”
“You expanded it.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Your father always wanted to believe he was smarter than everyone.”
“And you always wanted to believe money made you untouchable.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“The list.”
I held the device.
“You want this?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me who ordered my father's murder.”
Marcus smiled.
“You're still thinking too small.”
“What does that mean?”
“Your father wasn't supposed to die.”
“What?”
“He was supposed to disappear.”
My father stared at him.
“Until Daniel changed the plan.”
I looked at my father.
“Daniel?”
Marcus nodded.
“Your husband wanted control too early.”
“He betrayed you?”
“He tried.”
Marcus laughed.
“That is why he became useful.”
Everything suddenly made sense.
Daniel had not been the mastermind.
He had been a man who believed he could steal from criminals without becoming disposable himself.
Marcus continued.
“He found the hidden trust.”
“He found the money.”
“And he wanted more.”
“So he started stealing.”
“Yes.”
“Then Vanessa?”
“A distraction.”
“Bellamy Jewelers?”
“A final payment.”
“To who?”
Marcus smiled.
“Richard.”
I turned to Richard.
He had entered the basement unnoticed.
He stood behind Marcus.
“Don't.”
Richard's face was pale.
“Claire, listen to me.”
Marcus turned.
“You should have stayed loyal.”
Richard raised a weapon.
Marcus moved faster.
A shot cracked.
Richard dropped.
I screamed.
Evelyn pulled me down.
My father shouted:
“Claire!”
Marcus grabbed the device.
I held on.
He pulled.
The device slipped.
It fell to the floor.
Evelyn kicked it beneath a table.
Marcus turned toward her.
I saw an opening.
I grabbed the metal chair.
I swung.
It struck Marcus across the shoulder.
He staggered.
My father pushed himself up.
“Run!”
We moved.
Footsteps exploded behind us.
The basement erupted into chaos.
Police sirens sounded above.
Marcus shouted.
Someone had called them.
Evelyn grabbed the device.
We ran toward the stairs.
Daniel appeared at the top.
He looked terrified.
“Claire!”
I stopped.
For one second, I saw the man I married.
The man who kissed my forehead that morning.
The man who helped Noah build his first bicycle.
The man who lied.
“You.”
Daniel looked at my father.
His face collapsed.
“You're alive.”
My father stared at him.
“You knew.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I thought you were dead.”
“You helped them.”
“I didn't know.”
“You knew enough.”
Daniel looked at me.
“Claire, I can explain.”
“You bought Vanessa a house.”
He flinched.
“You stole from the company.”
“I can fix it.”
“You lied to Noah.”
“I was afraid.”
“You were greedy.”
He looked down.
Tears filled his eyes.
“I loved you.”
I answered quietly.
“You loved what you thought you owned.”
Police stormed the basement.
Marcus was arrested.
Richard was alive.
Daniel was taken for questioning.
But before the officers led him away, he turned toward me.
“Claire.”
I didn't respond.
He said:
“There’s one thing you still don't know.”
I waited.
“The list isn't complete.”
I frowned.
“What?”
Daniel looked at my father.
Then at Evelyn.
Then at me.
“There’s one name your father never put on it.”
My heart began pounding.
“Whose?”
Daniel whispered:
“Yours.”
Then they took him away.
I turned to my father.
“Why would my name be missing?”
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he said:
“Because you weren't supposed to be a witness.”
He reached into his coat.
Pulled out an envelope.
Yellow.
My stomach dropped.
Another yellow envelope.
He handed it to me.
May you like
And on the front was my own name.
CLAIRE CARTER.
