Chapter 6: The Enemy Strikes Back
I grabbed Laura’s phone.
The message was already gone.
Deleted.
But the fear on her face remained.
“Who sent it?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
“Yes, you do.””
She looked away.
“Daniel.””
I studied her.
“How?””
Laura looked around the coffee shop.
“Because he always knows.””
That answer bothered me.
Not because of the threat.
Because of the confidence behind it.
Daniel didn’t act like someone hiding.
He acted like someone who believed consequences were for other people.
I stood.
“We’re leaving.””
Laura immediately followed.
Outside, I scanned the street.
A black SUV was parked across the road.
The engine was running.
Laura stopped walking.
“That wasn’t there when I arrived.””
I looked at the vehicle.
“Do you recognize it?””
She whispered:
“Daniel’s driver.””
We moved quickly.
Not running.
Running attracts attention.
But every step had purpose.
We entered my vehicle and locked the doors.
Laura looked at me.
“You’re not afraid?””
I started the engine.
“I’m concerned.””
“What’s the difference?””
“Fear controls your decisions.””
I looked at her.
“Concern sharpens them.””
When I returned to the hospital, I found Emily sitting up.
A police officer was standing near her bed.
My instincts immediately activated.
“Who are you?””
The officer turned.
“Detective Mark Collins.””
He showed his badge.
“Your daughter filed a statement.””
I looked at Emily.
“You did?””
She nodded.
“I’m tired of being afraid.””
I walked closer.
“That’s my girl.””
Detective Collins opened his notebook.
“We need to discuss the flash drive.””
I studied him.
“Why?””
“Because Daniel Hayes filed a report claiming your daughter stole confidential company information.””
I almost smiled.
Of course.
Attack the victim first.
“He filed that report when?””
“This morning.””
Emily laughed quietly.
Not because it was funny.
Because she finally understood.
“He’s trying to make me look like the criminal.””
The detective looked uncomfortable.
“Unfortunately, he has resources.””
I looked at him.
“And you?””
He paused.
“I have evidence.””
That caught my attention.
“What evidence?””
He placed a folder on the table.
“Security footage from the Hayes guest house.””
Emily went pale.
“What?””
The detective opened the folder.
“Your daughter mentioned being locked there.””
I looked at Emily.
She nodded slowly.
“He installed cameras.””
My stomach dropped.
“Where is the footage?””
The detective looked serious.
“That’s the problem.””
“What problem?””
“The footage was deleted.””
Emily closed her eyes.
“Of course.””
But the detective continued.
“However…”
Everyone looked at him.
“We recovered a backup.””
The room became silent.
“From where?””
He looked at Emily.
“From a hidden server connected to Daniel Hayes’ home network.””
I felt something change.
For the first time, Daniel wasn’t controlling the story.
We had something he couldn’t erase.
The detective reached into the folder.
“But there’s something you need to see before you watch it.””
He pulled out a photograph.
A picture of Daniel.
Standing beside someone.
Someone I recognized.
Someone who should not have been there.
Laura stepped closer.
Her face lost all color.
“That’s impossible.””
I looked at the photograph.
Then at her.
“Who is that?””
Laura whispered:
“The person Daniel told everyone was dead.””
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And before anyone could say another word…
The hospital lights suddenly went out.
