Chapter 12: The Man Who Was Supposed To Be Dead
The police arrived before sunrise.
They searched the property.
The fields.
The road.
The woods behind the farmhouse.
Nothing.
No person.
No vehicle.
No explanation.
But the footprint remained.
A single muddy mark beneath Lily’s bedroom window.
Daniel stood outside staring at it.
He didn’t believe in ghosts.
He believed in evidence.
And this evidence meant one thing.
Someone wanted them to think his father was involved.
Someone wanted fear.
Someone wanted confusion.
“Daniel.””
He turned.
Victoria stood behind him.
“What?””
She looked toward the footprint.
“This was never about your company.””
Daniel stared.
“What do you mean?””
“Richard wanted control.””
She lowered her voice.
“But someone else wanted something your father hid.””
Daniel remembered the letter.
The trust.
The evidence.
“The original files.””
Victoria nodded.
“Yes.””
“What’s inside them?””
“I don’t know.””
Daniel studied her.
“You really don’t?””
She looked away.
“I saw part of it.””
“What part?””
Victoria hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Your father discovered someone had been using the company for something much bigger than theft.””
Daniel frowned.
“Bigger?””
“He was moving money.””
“Richard?””
“No.””
Victoria looked at him.
“Someone above him.””
Daniel felt cold.
“Who?””
Victoria didn’t answer.
Because a car suddenly stopped outside.
Both of them turned.
A black sedan.
An old man stepped out.
Daniel immediately recognized him.
Thomas Blake.
His family attorney.
But he looked different.
Older.
Terrified.
Daniel walked toward him.
“You disappeared.””
Thomas looked past him.
“Where is Lily?””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Why?””
Thomas stepped closer.
“Because if Richard knows what I found, he won’t stop.””
Daniel stared.
“What did you find?””
Thomas looked around.
Then whispered:
“The person controlling Richard is alive.””
Daniel felt his heartbeat increase.
“What are you saying?””
Thomas reached into his coat.
He pulled out a file.
“I found this hidden in your father’s private records.””
Daniel took it.
The cover had only one word.
*ORIGIN.*
“What is this?””
Thomas looked directly at him.
“The beginning.””
Daniel opened the file.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph taken recently.
Not years ago.
Not old.
Recent.
His father was standing beside another person.
A person Daniel recognized.
His hands went numb.
Because the person standing next to his supposedly dead father…
Was someone Daniel had seen just yesterday.
Victoria.
Daniel slowly looked up.
Victoria’s face turned pale.
May you like
And Thomas whispered:
“Your father didn’t die alone.””
