Chapter 4: The Man I Trusted
Daniel knew the man on the screen.
Martin Cole.
For nearly ten years, Martin had handled Daniel's taxes, business paperwork, and every complicated financial form Daniel hated looking at.
After Rachel died, Martin had sat beside Daniel at the dining room table while Lily slept upstairs.
"Don't worry about the paperwork," he'd said.
"Take care of your daughter. I'll handle the rest.""
Daniel had trusted him.
Now Martin was sitting across from Melissa in an eighteen-month-old recording.
"If Daniel ever learns what we did to Rachel's trust, we both go down.""
Daniel turned up the volume.
Melissa's recorded voice sounded irritated.
"Then make sure he doesn't learn.""
"You've already taken too much.""
"I took what I needed.""
"It's Lily's money.""
Melissa laughed.
"She's three.""
Daniel's stomach turned.
On screen, Martin leaned forward.
"The trust wasn't designed for you.""
"Daniel's my husband.""
"That doesn't make you a beneficiary.""
Melissa lowered her voice.
"But it makes me close enough to get his signature.""
Daniel paused the video.
"My signature?""
Melissa backed toward the counter.
"Daniel, listen to me.""
He looked at her.
"Did you forge my name?""
"No.""
Carol whispered, "Melissa.""
Melissa snapped toward her.
"Stay out of this.""
Carol flinched.
Daniel pressed play again.
Martin rubbed his forehead.
"We've already moved ninety thousand.""
Daniel felt the blood drain from his face.
Ninety thousand.
Melissa's voice came through the speaker.
"And nobody noticed.""
"Yet.""
"Then stop panicking.""
"The annual trust review is coming.""
"So intercept it.""
"I can't keep intercepting everything.""
"Then change the mailing address.""
Martin stared at her.
"You're asking me to commit another crime.""
Melissa smiled.
"You crossed that line a long time ago.""
The video continued for another minute.
They discussed account notices.
Signatures.
Transfers.
A post-office box Daniel had never heard of.
Then Martin said something that made Daniel grip the phone harder.
"What happens when Lily turns five and Daniel gets the first education distribution notice?""
Melissa answered without hesitation.
"She won't be living with him by then.""
The video ended.
Daniel slowly lowered the phone.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Rain hammered the windows.
Noah whimpered against Daniel's shoulder.
Then small footsteps came down the stairs.
Lily appeared wearing purple rain boots and carrying a tiny backpack.
The stuffed dog was tucked beneath one arm.
"I'm ready, Daddy.""
Daniel immediately changed his expression.
He crouched.
"Good job.""
Lily looked at Melissa.
"Is she coming?""
"No.""
Relief crossed Lily's face.
Daniel saw it.
So did Melissa.
"Lily," Melissa said, "don't you want me to come?""
The little girl stepped behind Daniel.
"No.""
One word.
Barely audible.
But devastating.
Melissa's mouth tightened.
"I've taken care of you for two years.""
Lily pressed herself against Daniel's leg.
Daniel stood.
"Don't make her responsible for your feelings.""
Melissa stared at him.
"You're turning her against me.""
"I've been home twenty minutes.""
Daniel lifted Lily with his free arm.
"Whatever she feels happened before I walked through that door.""
He carried both children toward the hallway.
Carol followed.
"Daniel.""
He stopped.
"I have something else.""
Melissa's face changed.
"Mom.""
Carol ignored her.
"There are more recordings.""
Daniel looked at the phone.
"I saw the folders.""
"Not on my phone.""
"Where?""
Carol hesitated.
"I copied some videos onto a memory card.""
"Why?""
"Because Melissa started deleting things.""
Melissa laughed bitterly.
"This is unbelievable.""
Carol looked at her daughter.
"No. What's unbelievable is what I let myself watch.""
Melissa's expression hardened.
"You helped me.""
Carol's face collapsed.
"I know.""
"You laughed.""
"I know.""
"You told me Lily needed discipline.""
Carol began crying.
"I know.""
Daniel didn't comfort her.
Regret didn't erase what she'd done.
"Where's the memory card?""
Carol pointed toward her purse.
"In the side pocket.""
Melissa moved first.
She grabbed the purse.
Carol caught the strap.
"Give it to me.""
"No.""
"Melissa!""
The purse fell.
Its contents scattered across the floor.
Keys.
Lipstick.
Receipts.
A wallet.
And a tiny black memory card inside a clear plastic case.
Daniel picked it up.
Melissa stared at it.
"That proves nothing.""
"Then you shouldn't be afraid of it.""
"I'm not.""
But her hands were shaking.
Daniel put the card in his pocket.
Then he took the children outside.
Rain blew beneath the porch roof.
Lily buried her face against his neck.
"Are we in trouble?""
"No, sweetheart.""
"Is Melissa mad?""
"That isn't your problem anymore.""
He buckled Lily into her car seat.
Then Noah.
As Daniel closed the back door, Melissa appeared on the porch.
"Daniel!""
He turned.
"If you leave, don't come back.""
Daniel stared at her.
Then he looked at the house.
The house where he'd believed his children were safe.
The house where his daughter had learned to cover her head when an adult approached.
"I won't.""
He climbed into the truck.
Ten minutes later, Lily was asleep with the stuffed dog against her cheek.
Daniel called his older brother, Ben.
"Can the kids and I stay with you tonight?""
A pause.
Then Ben asked, "What happened?""
Daniel looked at Lily in the mirror.
"I came home early.""
Something in his voice made Ben stop asking questions.
"Come here.""
Daniel ended the call.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He almost ignored it.
But something made him answer.
"Hello?""
Silence.
Then a man's voice.
"Daniel Carter?""
"Who's asking?""
"My name is Martin Cole.""
Daniel tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
His former accountant.
Martin sounded terrified.
"If you're calling me because of Melissa—"
"I'm calling because Carol just texted me.""
Daniel glanced toward the memory card in the cup holder.
Martin continued.
"Whatever she gave you, don't take it to your house.""
"I'm not going home.""
"Good.""
"Why?""
Martin took a breath.
"Because the money isn't the worst thing Melissa did.""
Daniel felt cold.
"What are you talking about?""
Martin's next words came slowly.
"Rachel discovered the trust was being tampered with before she died.""
Daniel nearly missed the turn.
"What?""
"She confronted me.""
"When?""
"Three days before she went into the hospital.""
Daniel's heart slammed against his ribs.
"You told me Rachel never knew about the trust.""
"I lied.""
"Why?""
Martin went silent.
May you like
Then Daniel heard him whisper:
"Because Rachel told me she had discovered who Melissa really was.""
