Chapter 2 - THE FILE MY FATHER HIDThe helicopter lifted before I could ask another question.

Mason lay strapped to a pediatric stretcher beside me.

An oxygen mask covered his face.

His fever had climbed.

“His oxygen saturation is dropping,” the medic said.

My father's hand rested on Mason's shoulder.

“Take him first.”

I looked at Dad.

“You said someone weakened the building.”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“I don't know.”

“You said ask Daniel.”

“I said ask your husband why he was there.”

My stomach tightened.

“What do you mean?”

My father's expression remained unreadable.

“There are three ways a support column can fail like that. Structural decay. Intentional cutting. Or explosive damage.”

“You think someone planted explosives?”

“I think someone wanted the annex to come down.”

“And Daniel?”

Dad looked at me.

“You tell me.”

I shook my head.

“I don't understand.”

He reached into his flight jacket and pulled out a folded document.

He handed it to me.

The first page had the hotel corporation's name.

Below it was another name.

Daniel Hale.

I scanned the document.

My hands began to shake.

It was a property acquisition agreement.

“Why do you have this?”

Dad said nothing.

I flipped the page.

A line had been highlighted.

The hotel annex was scheduled for demolition in nine days.

Nine days.

The earthquake had happened today.

“Dad…”

“The earthquake didn't cause the demolition plan.”

I looked up.

“Daniel knew?”

My father nodded.

“Your husband's company bought the hotel three months ago.”

I stared at him.

“That can't be right.”

“Why?”

“Daniel told me his firm was only consulting on the renovation.”

My father looked away.

“He lied.”

The helicopter cabin suddenly felt too small.

My husband had told me this trip was a business conference.

He said Vanessa came because she was handling the corporate account.

He said the hotel was hosting several investors.

He had even joked that I should be grateful because he had found us a luxury room at a discounted rate.

But none of it was true.

The hotel wasn't merely a conference venue.

It was an asset.

A property scheduled for demolition.

I looked at Mason.

He coughed beneath the oxygen mask.

My father immediately leaned toward the medic.

“How is he?”

“Still fighting, but we need to get him to the hospital.”

The helicopter banked.

Through the window, I saw smoke rising from the city.

Buildings were damaged everywhere.

Emergency sirens echoed below.

I turned back to Dad.

“Why didn't you tell me Daniel bought the hotel?”

“Because I wasn't certain he was involved.”

“Involved in what?”

Dad hesitated.

That was the first time I'd ever seen hesitation from him.

“There was another company bidding for the property.”

“Which company?”

He looked straight into my eyes.

“Your husband's.”

I felt a chill.

“You mean Daniel was competing against himself?”

“No.”

Dad's voice became quiet.

“He was working for someone.”

The helicopter shook.

A warning light flashed overhead.

The pilot announced turbulence.

Mason suddenly started coughing violently.

His body convulsed.

“His airway!”

The medic moved instantly.

My father grabbed my hand.

“Stay calm.”

“That's my son!”

“We are landing.”

“Dad!”

He held my eyes.

“Trust me.”

I did.

Because there was something else I hadn't told him.

Something I hadn't admitted even to myself.

For months, Daniel had been acting differently.

Late-night phone calls.

Locked office drawers.

Sudden trips.

A new password on his phone.

And Vanessa.

Always Vanessa.

I had asked him once whether he was sleeping with her.

He laughed.

He called me jealous.

Then he hugged me.

And I believed him.

Now I remembered one night three weeks earlier.

I'd come downstairs at 2 a.m.

Daniel had been standing in the kitchen.

He was talking to someone on the phone.

I heard one sentence before he noticed me.

“The annex will be empty when it comes down.”

He had turned around.

I had asked who he was talking to.

He said it was a contractor.

I let it go.

My stomach twisted.

“Dad…”

He looked at me.

“I heard Daniel say something.”

“What?”

“He once said, ‘The annex will be empty when it comes down.’”

My father's face went completely still.

The medic looked up.

“What happened?”

Dad ignored him.

He stared at me.

“Exactly when?”

“Three weeks ago.”

“Did he say anything else?”

“No.”

Dad looked at the pilot.

“Land at the nearest secure hospital.”

Then he turned back to me.

“Your husband didn't choose Vanessa today.”

“What?”

“He chose the operation.”

I couldn't breathe.

“What operation?”

Dad reached into his jacket again.

This time he pulled out a photograph.

It showed the hotel annex.

Taken from across the street.

A small red circle marked one of the lower support columns.

Written beneath it were four words.

MASON HALE MUST DIE.

My vision blurred.

“No.”

Dad gripped my shoulder.

“Listen to me.”

“That can't be real.”

“I wish it weren't.”

“Why would anyone want my son dead?”

Dad looked toward Mason.

Then back at me.

“Because your son inherited something they desperately need.”

My heart stopped.

“What?”

Dad folded the photograph.

“You were never supposed to know.”

The helicopter descended toward the hospital.

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