Chapter 5: What Our Father Left Behind
The old Cross warehouse stood on the outskirts of Dallas.
My father had used it decades earlier when our family business was still a small construction company. After his death, the property had remained empty.
At 9:25 p.m., Marcus and I arrived.
Two security vehicles waited outside.
The warehouse lights were off.
A single figure stood near the loading entrance.
Daniel.
He looked nothing like the confident executive who had attended our last foundation meeting.
His shirt was wrinkled. His tie hung loosely around his neck. His eyes were bloodshot.
When he saw me, he immediately approached.
"Alexander.""
I stopped several feet away.
"Start talking.""
He looked toward Marcus.
"I asked you to come alone.""
"And I decided not to.""
Daniel rubbed his face.
"Fine.""
I held up the enrollment instruction.
"Did you sign this?""
He stared at the document.
Then he nodded.
"Yes.""
My jaw tightened.
"Why?""
"Because Richard told me it was necessary.""
"Necessary for what?""
Daniel looked down.
"To pressure you.""
I stepped forward.
"You used my daughter?""
"I didn't know Tyler would hurt her.""
"That isn't an answer!""
My voice echoed through the warehouse.
Daniel flinched.
"I know.""
I grabbed his jacket.
"She's eight years old, Daniel!""
"I KNOW!""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Daniel pulled away.
"Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I wanted Emily anywhere near those people?""
"Then why did you sign?""
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small USB drive.
"Because Richard had something on me.""
I didn't take it.
"What?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Two years ago, after Father's death, I approved several transfers from the foundation's investment account. Richard promised the money would be returned before the annual audit.""
"How much?""
"Initially, $80,000.""
"And then?""
He looked away.
"More.""
"How much, Daniel?""
"Over four hundred thousand.""
I felt sick.
"Did you steal from the scholarship fund?""
"No. The first transfers came from an investment account. But Richard convinced me to move the money through Westbridge to disguise where it was going.""
I stared at him.
"You helped him steal money meant for children.""
"I was going to fix it.""
"With what?""
He didn't answer.
I laughed bitterly.
"You always said you were protecting Father's legacy.""
"I was trying to protect the family.""
"By putting my daughter in Tyler's classroom?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Richard discovered that you were planning to review the foundation's accounts.""
That was true.
I'd scheduled an independent financial review two months earlier after noticing irregularities in several investment reports.
I'd told Daniel about it during a family dinner.
He'd said everything was fine.
Daniel continued.
"Richard believed you would discover the transfers. He wanted leverage. He knew Emily's enrollment would make you emotionally invested in Westbridge.""
"How?""
"He told me that if you refused to cooperate, he could create a situation that would force you to negotiate.""
I stared at him.
"Negotiate what?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Control of the foundation.""
The words hung between us.
Richard wanted control of the charitable organization my father had built.
"Why would he need Emily involved?""
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Because Richard knew you would never willingly sign away your voting rights. But he believed that if something happened to Emily at school, you might become desperate enough to accept a private settlement.""
My hands curled into fists.
"Did you know Tyler was bullying her?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"I saw two reports.""
"Two?""
"Richard told me Harris had everything under control.""
I stepped back.
"You saw reports about my daughter's abuse and did nothing?""
"I was afraid.""
I looked at him.
"She was afraid, too.""
Daniel's face crumpled.
For the first time, he looked ashamed.
He handed me the USB drive.
"This contains the original financial records, the emails, and the contracts Richard wanted destroyed.""
I took it.
"Why give it to me now?""
"Because after Emily was hurt, Richard called me.""
"What did he say?""
Daniel looked toward the dark loading bay.
"He said the plan had gone too far. Then he told me something worse.""
"What?""
"Someone had been paying Tyler's older cousin to intimidate scholarship students.""
I stared at him.
"Who?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know. But the payments came from a company registered under a different name.""
He reached into his pocket and handed me a printed invoice.
The company was called Northstar Student Services.
The recipient's name was listed as a consultant.
I read it carefully.
Then I noticed the authorization.
Daniel Cross.
"You're still involved," I whispered.
He shook his head.
"I signed the original agreement. I didn't know what it was being used for.""
I looked at Marcus.
He had gone unusually still.
"Sir," he said quietly.
I turned.
"What?""
Marcus was holding his phone.
"One of our security vehicles just received an alert.""
"From where?""
"Your home.""
My heart stopped.
"What happened?""
He turned the screen toward me.
A photograph showed our front gate.
Someone had placed a wooden stick across the entrance.
Attached to it was a small white envelope.
I immediately called Victoria.
She answered on the first ring.
"Alexander?""
"Where are you?""
"At home. Why?""
"Lock every door. Stay with Emily. Don't open anything.""
There was a pause.
"Alexander, what's happening?""
"Just do what I say.""
Then I heard Emily's voice in the background.
"Daddy?""
Victoria spoke again.
"She wants to talk to you.""
I took a breath.
"Put her on.""
"Daddy, there's a man outside.""
Everything inside me went cold.
"What man?""
"He keeps looking at my bedroom window.""
I turned toward Marcus.
He was already moving.
"Emily, listen to Daddy. Go with Mommy to the room with no windows.""
"Okay.""
"And don't come out until Marcus tells you it's safe.""
"Okay, Daddy.""
Then she whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"Daddy, he has the same black crow on his jacket.""
The same symbol from the threatening note.
I looked at Daniel.
He had gone completely pale.
"Alexander," he whispered.
I turned toward him.
"What?""
He stared at the photograph of the warehouse entrance.
"That's not Richard's symbol.""
"Then whose is it?""
May you like
Daniel swallowed.
"Northstar.""
