Chapter 4: My Brother's Terrifying Confession
"Your daughter wasn't the real target. You were.""
Daniel's words echoed in my head long after the call disconnected.
I immediately called him back.
No answer.
I tried again.
Voicemail.
"Marcus!"" I shouted.
My security chief appeared in the doorway.
"Yes, sir?""
"Find Daniel. I want his location, his recent calls, and every vehicle registered to him.""
Marcus nodded.
"Understood.""
I turned toward Richard Whitmore, who was still standing near the office door.
"You seem to know a great deal about my brother's business.""
Richard shrugged.
"Daniel and I have worked together for years.""
"On what?""
"Financial matters.""
"Such as transferring $420,000 from a children's scholarship fund into your company?""
His expression tightened.
"Those were legitimate consulting arrangements.""
"Then you won't mind showing me the contracts.""
Richard picked up his briefcase.
"I'll have my attorney send them.""
"No. You'll show them to the independent auditors.""
He laughed.
"You can't simply walk into a school and start making demands.""
I stepped closer.
"Watch me.""
Principal Harris suddenly stood.
"Mr. Cross, please. We should all calm down.""
I turned toward him.
"How long have you known about these transfers?""
His mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Richard interrupted.
"That's enough. Harris, don't say another word.""
That told me everything I needed to know.
The principal wasn't simply frightened of Richard.
He was protecting him.
My phone rang again.
Victoria.
I answered immediately.
"How's Emily?""
"She's asking for you.""
"Is she okay?""
"The doctor says she has bruising and a small fracture near her wrist. Her prosthesis needs a complete inspection before she can use it again.""
I closed my eyes.
"Tell her I'll be there in ten minutes.""
Victoria lowered her voice.
"Alexander, there's something else.""
"What?""
"Emily told me Tyler wasn't the only one who threatened her.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who else?""
"She said another boy kept telling her that her father would lose everything if she didn't leave the school.""
I stared at Richard.
He was watching me.
"What was the boy's name?""
"She doesn't remember. She says he was older than Tyler.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Get the vehicle ready.""
Then I turned back to Richard.
"This conversation isn't over.""
He smiled without warmth.
"Of course it isn't.""
I left.
At the hospital, Emily was lying in bed with a small bandage around her wrist. Her pink backpack sat on the chair beside Victoria.
When she saw me, she reached out.
"Daddy.""
I took her hand.
"Hey, princess.""
"Are you angry?""
The question caught me off guard.
"At you?""
She shook her head.
"At Tyler.""
I sat beside her.
"I'm angry about what happened. But I'm not angry with you.""
She looked at her blanket.
"Maybe I shouldn't have told the teacher.""
Victoria immediately leaned forward.
"Emily, sweetheart, you did the right thing.""
"But she didn't help.""
I brushed my thumb over her little fingers.
"Sometimes adults make terrible decisions. That doesn't mean children should stop asking for help.""
Emily looked at me.
"Will I have to change schools?""
I hesitated.
"Only if that's what you want.""
She thought about it.
"I want to go back.""
Victoria and I exchanged glances.
"Why?"" I asked.
"Because I like my art teacher. And I made a friend named Sophie.""
I smiled gently.
"Then we'll make sure you can learn somewhere you feel safe.""
Emily reached toward her backpack.
"There's something in here.""
She pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I found it yesterday. It was inside my desk.""
I opened it.
The handwriting was uneven.
Tell your dad to stop asking questions. Nobody likes a little girl who causes trouble.
Below the sentence was a small drawing of a black crow.
I looked at Emily.
"Did Tyler give you this?""
She shook her head.
"No. A boy in the hallway put it there.""
"Do you know his name?""
"Not his name. But he had a red school badge.""
I folded the paper carefully.
"Thank you for showing me.""
After kissing her forehead, I stepped into the corridor.
Marcus was waiting.
"Sir, we found Daniel.""
"Where?""
"His apartment. But there's a problem.""
"What problem?""
"His security camera system was disconnected forty minutes ago. His car is gone, and his office computer has been wiped.""
I looked at the hospital window.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel.
*Meet me alone. 9:30 tonight. The old Cross warehouse.
Don't bring Marcus. I need to tell you what Father discovered before he died.*
I read the message twice.
My father had died three years earlier.
And Daniel had never mentioned anything about a discovery.
I looked at Marcus.
"Prepare the warehouse.""
"Are you going there, sir?""
May you like
I nodded.
"But I'm not going alone.""
