Chapter 10 - The First DaughterClaire told them she had never disappeared.
Not exactly.
She had escaped.
After years of being controlled by Daniel, she had run away and changed her identity.
Victor had helped her.
He had created a new life for her.
A new name.
A new city.
A new beginning.
"But why didn't you go to the police?" Elena asked.
Claire laughed bitterly.
"Because I did."
She looked at Hale.
"They didn't believe me."
"Why?"
"Because Daniel got there first."
Claire explained.
Daniel had already prepared a story.
She was unstable.
Rebellious.
Angry.
A troubled teenager.
The evidence had been manipulated.
Witnesses had been pressured.
And the police officer assigned to her case had been connected to Daniel.
The same officer whose signature appeared in the storage unit.
Ava felt sick.
"Victor helped you."
"Yes."
"So why did he fake his death?"
Claire looked away.
"Because Daniel found him."
"What happened?"
"Victor disappeared."
Hale leaned forward.
"Three years ago?"
Claire nodded.
"He called me once."
"What did he say?"
"He said Daniel was preparing for something."
"Did he tell you what?"
Claire looked at Ava.
"Your eighteenth birthday."
Ava frowned.
"Why?"
"Because Daniel knew once you turned eighteen, you could leave legally without him controlling where you lived."
Ava remembered.
Her eighteenth birthday.
Her father had thrown an elaborate party.
He had cried.
He had told everyone how proud he was.
Now the memory felt rotten.
Claire continued.
"He wanted to make sure you stayed silent until then."
Elena closed her eyes.
"And after?"
"After that, he had another plan."
"What plan?"
Claire stared at the wall.
"Make you disappear."
Ava stopped breathing.
Hale's voice sharpened.
"Explain."
Claire shook her head.
"I don't know the details."
"Who does?"
"Victor."
"Where is he?"
Claire hesitated.
"I don't know."
Then Ava noticed something.
Claire was holding a small piece of paper.
"What is that?"
Claire looked down.
She unfolded it.
A single address.
"The place Victor told me to go if he ever stopped answering."
Hale took it.
Ava recognized the street.
It was only two miles from Daniel's office.
Claire looked at Ava.
"You need to understand something."
"What?"
"The recordings aren't his real secret."
"Then what is?"
Claire's eyes filled with fear.
"Daniel wasn't collecting evidence against you."
Ava frowned.
"Then what was he doing?"
Claire whispered:
"He was collecting evidence against everyone else."
Hale stared at her.
"Why?"
"Because he planned to use it."
"For what?"
Claire looked at Ava.
"To control them."
Then Hale's phone rang.
He answered.
A voice on the other end spoke urgently.
He listened.
His face drained of color.
"Are you certain?"
The voice answered.
Hale hung up.
Elena asked:
"What happened?"
He looked at Ava.
"The district attorney just received an envelope."
"What was inside?"
"Copies of private recordings."
"Whose?"
Hale swallowed.
"Everyone's."
May you like
Claire closed her eyes.
"He started Phase Three."
