Chapter 9 - Midnight at the CourthouseAt 11:54 p.m., I entered the courthouse.
Alone.
Or so they thought.
Dad had followed me.
Ben had followed Dad.
We had parked three blocks away and entered through separate doors.
The ledger was inside my bag.
A small recorder was hidden in my coat.
At midnight, the old courtroom lights came on.
A man stepped forward.
Daniel Cross.
Older now.
Thinner.
But unmistakable.
I knew his face instantly.
“You have your mother's eyes,” he said.
“Where is she?”
He smiled sadly.
“Safe.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I asked:
“Why did you let me believe she was dead?”
“Because she wanted you protected.”
“From you?”
“From the people who killed her identity.”
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Your mother discovered the account. She knew the money was being hidden.”
“By Gary?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Gary was only a courier.”
I felt cold.
“Then who?”
Daniel looked toward the door.
“Someone you still trust.”
The lights went out.
A crash sounded behind me.
I turned.
Someone grabbed my bag.
I fought back.
The ledger fell.
Footsteps.
Shouting.
Then the lights returned.
Daniel was gone.
The ledger was gone.
And someone had left a single black glove on the floor.
Dad rushed in.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Where's the ledger?”
“Gone.”
Ben appeared behind him.
His face was pale.
Then he saw the glove.
He froze.
I noticed.
“You recognize it.”
“No.”
“You do.”
Ben didn't answer.
Dad picked up the glove.
Inside was a tag.
Three letters.
M.H.C.
Ben whispered:
“No…”
“What?”
He took a step backward.
“I thought they were gone.”
“Who?”
Ben looked at me.
“Your mother's old security team.”
I stared.
“My mother had a security team?”
He nodded.
“She was worth protecting.”
“Why?”
Before he could answer, my phone buzzed.
A message.
You met Daniel. Good. Now you know enough to be dangerous.
Then:
Tomorrow, Ben chooses.
I looked at my husband.
“What does that mean?”
His eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to buy us time.”
“From whom?”
Ben looked at Dad.
Then back at me.
“I have until tomorrow morning.”
“To do what?”
May you like
He whispered:
“Hand you over.”
