Chapter 14: The Truth About Daniel
“No.””
The word came out before I could think.
Richard held up the phone.
“Check it yourself.””
I didn't move.
Margaret took the phone from him.
She studied the transaction.
“This could have been fabricated.””
Richard laughed.
“Then call the bank.””
Margaret did.
While she waited, I stared at Richard.
“You've lied to me for months.””
“I lied about some things.””
“You lied about Daniel.””
“Yes.””
“You lied about the money.””
“Yes.””
“You lied about my mother.””
Richard's expression changed.
“I did what I had to do.””
“That's what every liar says.””
He looked away.
Margaret ended the call.
“It's real.””
My heart sank.
“The transfer went to Daniel's account.””
Richard nodded.
“I told you.””
I grabbed my coat.
“I'm going to see him.””
Richard stepped in front of me.
“You can't.””
“Move.””
“He'll manipulate you.””
“He raised me.””
“He's been lying to you for seventeen years.””
I stopped.
“What?””
Richard's voice became quieter.
“Daniel knew he was your father.””
The world seemed to go silent.
“He knew?””
“Yes.””
I remembered Daniel's face when I asked him why he never told me.
His silence.
His tears.
His promise to my mother.
I had assumed he was protecting me.
But maybe he had been protecting himself.
“Why?””
Richard looked at the floor.
“Because your mother made him choose.””
“Choose what?””
“Between telling you the truth and keeping you safe.””
I shook my head.
“That's not enough.””
Richard swallowed.
“Your mother believed I would hurt you if I knew you were Daniel's daughter.””
“You did hurt me.””
His eyes filled with something like regret.
“I know.””
I walked past him.
“Emma,” he said.
I stopped.
“I didn't know how bad it would get.””
“What did you think would happen?””
He looked at me.
“I thought I'd take the money and disappear.””
My mouth fell open.
“You were planning to steal my inheritance and leave?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I owed people.””
“Gambling?””
He nodded.
“How much?””
“More than you can imagine.””
I stared at him.
“And Claire?””
“She helped me create the accounts.””
“Where is she?””
“I don't know.””
“You were with her today.””
Richard's expression changed.
“She wasn't Claire.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“The woman in the SUV wasn't Claire.””
“Then who was she?””
He looked terrified.
“Her daughter.””
I frowned.
“Claire doesn't have a daughter.””
“She did.””
I felt the pieces shifting again.
Richard stepped closer.
“Emma, your mother didn't die because of the money.””
“Then why?””
“Because she found out who Claire's daughter was.””
“Who?””
Richard looked at Margaret.
Margaret suddenly sat down.
She knew.
I turned toward her.
“You know.””
She didn't answer.
“Margaret.””
She closed her eyes.
“Your mother discovered that Claire had been using another identity.””
“Whose?””
Margaret looked at me.
“Yours.””
I couldn't understand.
“What?””
“Someone had been using your Social Security number.””
“For what?””
“Opening companies. Moving money. Creating accounts.””
I felt dizzy.
Richard whispered, “Claire's daughter had been living under your identity.””
“No.””
“She looked enough like you to fool people.””
“Who is she?””
Richard looked toward the garage door.
Then he said:
“Her name is Anna.””
My phone rang.
The screen showed a number from the detention center.
Daniel.
I answered.
“Dad?””
Silence.
Then Daniel's voice.
“Emma, listen carefully.””
“Are you okay?””
“I don't have much time.””
“What happened to my money?””
“I didn't take it.””
“Richard says it went to your account.””
“I know.””
“Then where is it?””
Daniel's breathing became unsteady.
“Your mother put it there.””
“What?””
“She knew Richard would eventually steal from you.””
“So she put the money in your account?””
“No.””
“Then why does the bank show your name?””
“Because the account isn't mine.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
Daniel whispered:
“It's a trust account.””
“For who?””
“For you.””
I closed my eyes.
“I don't understand.””
“You weren't supposed to receive the money until you found the truth.””
“What truth?””
Daniel paused.
Then his voice broke.
“I'm not your biological father.””
I couldn't speak.
“Emma,” he continued, “I am.””
I stared at the phone.
“I don't understand.””
“I know.””
“Then explain.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because someone just walked into the interrogation room.””
I heard a chair scrape.
Daniel whispered one final sentence.
May you like
“Emma, if you see Anna, don't let her convince you she's your sister.””
The line went dead.
