Chapter 8 - The Man Who Wanted My Father's LandDaniel Carter makes his offerDaniel arrived the next morning.
No convoy.
No security theater.
Just one black sedan.
He stepped out wearing a charcoal suit.
He looked nothing like Suzanne.
Nothing like Mom.
But there was something about his eyes.
Something familiar.
Dad's eyes.
He walked toward me.
“Evelyn.”
I couldn't speak.
He stopped several feet away.
“I'm Daniel.”
“I know.”
He smiled sadly.
“I suppose everyone knows now.”
Wade stood beside me.
“You financed the acquisition.”
“Yes.”
“You forged the title?”
“No.”
“Your mother?”
“No.”
Dale?
“No.”
“Then who?”
Daniel looked at me.
“That is what I came here to tell you.”
He held out a folder.
Inside were payment records.
Every payment Suzanne had received.
Every transfer Mom had made.
Every loan secured against the ranch.
And one recurring name.
Martin Cole.
“The accountant?”
Daniel nodded.
“He discovered the missing money.”
“What happened to him?”
Daniel's eyes darkened.
“He is alive.”
I froze.
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“You just said he is alive.”
“Because I spoke to him.”
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
“Why didn't you tell anyone?”
“Because Martin told me he couldn't trust the police.”
“Why?”
“He said the sheriff had been paid.”
My stomach dropped.
Parker.
The sheriff.
Daniel continued.
“Martin has evidence.”
“Where?”
“He won't tell me.”
“Then why did you come?”
Daniel put the folder down.
“To offer you a deal.”
I laughed bitterly.
“A deal?”
“Yes.”
“You finance my family's theft and then offer me a deal?”
“I didn't finance the theft.”
“You financed the buyer.”
“The buyer was my company.”
“You knew it was fraudulent.”
“I suspected.”
“That isn't good enough.”
Daniel looked at me.
“You think I want the ranch?”
“Don't you?”
“No.”
He took a breath.
“I want the people who destroyed my father.”
I stared.
Daniel continued.
“Dad died believing Mom betrayed him.”
“He did?”
“Yes.”
“You knew him?”
“Not until it was too late.”
Daniel's voice broke for the first time.
“He found me six months before he died.”
I felt tears burn my eyes.
“He told me who I was.”
“Why didn't he tell me?”
“Because he was afraid.”
“Of Mom?”
“Of what she would do.”
Daniel looked toward the ranch.
“Your father created the trust because he knew he wouldn't survive the fight.”
I swallowed.
“What is your offer?”
Daniel slid one final page across the table.
A transfer agreement.
He would withdraw the development contract.
He would cancel Suzanne's debt.
He would release every claim against the property.
In return, I would give him access to Dad's private files.
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because there is one document missing.”
“Which one?”
“The final ledger.”
“The second ledger?”
He nodded.
“The one Martin found.”
I looked at Wade.
Daniel stood.
“You have forty-eight hours.”
“For what?”
“To decide whether you want the truth.”
He turned toward the car.
Then stopped.
“There's one more thing.”
“What?”
He looked directly at me.
“Your mother is not the most dangerous person in your family.”
I felt a chill.
“Who is?”
He got into his car.
“The person Suzanne thinks is helping her.”
The sedan disappeared down the road.
I turned to Wade.
“Who could that be?”
His expression was grim.
“We already know.”
“Who?”
May you like
He looked toward the barn.
“Dale.”
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