Chapter 10: The Threat Against My Daughter
"Get me to my daughter!""
I grabbed Detective Harris's arm before he could finish his phone call.
"My daughter is seven years old. Someone just sent me a photograph of her outside school. I want to know where she is!""
Detective Harris immediately motioned to the two officers.
"Officer Miller, contact the school. Officer James, get a patrol car to the Bennett residence. I want protection dispatched to both locations.""
Michael was already dialing a number.
"I know someone who can get to the school faster.""
The detective turned sharply.
"Who?""
"An investigator I've been working with.""
"Put the phone down. We have officers handling this.""
Michael hesitated, then ended the call.
Daniel sat motionless.
I turned toward him.
"You said they paid you to keep Michael dead. Who are they?""
He rubbed his face.
"I don't know their real names.""
"Don't lie to me!""
"I'm not lying!""
I stepped closer.
"Someone is threatening our daughter because of something you did eleven years ago. You owe me the truth.""
Daniel looked toward Michael.
His brother finally spoke.
"Tell her about Victor's clients.""
Daniel swallowed.
"They were investors. Wealthy people who had money tied up in our original business.""
"Names.""
"Victor handled everything.""
Michael shook his head.
"Victor was just their attorney. The people behind him were the ones financing the operation.""
I stared at Daniel.
"What operation?""
He looked down.
"Money laundering.""
The words hung in the air.
Daniel explained that the original business had been used to move money through several companies. My father discovered the transactions and threatened to report them.
When he died, Daniel and Victor took advantage of the confusion surrounding his estate.
Michael had tried to expose them.
Instead, they made him disappear.
"And you helped them?"" I whispered.
Daniel nodded.
"I thought it would be temporary. They promised to clear my debts.""
I stared at him.
"You allowed an innocent man to be declared dead.""
"I was scared!""
"And you let your mother mourn him for eight years!""
Daniel covered his face.
"I know.""
I stepped backward.
For the first time, I didn't see the man I had married.
I saw a stranger who had spent years building a comfortable life on top of other people's suffering.
My phone rang.
It was Sophie's school principal.
I answered immediately.
"Where is my daughter?""
"Mrs. Bennett, Sophie is safe. We have moved her into the administrative office.""
I nearly collapsed with relief.
"Is someone there?""
"Yes. A man came to the front entrance asking to collect her. He presented identification, but our staff couldn't verify the authorization.""
My blood ran cold.
"Who was it?""
There was a pause.
"He said he was her uncle.""
I looked at Michael.
His expression changed.
"Did he give you a name?"" I asked.
"Michael Bennett.""
I turned toward Michael.
He shook his head.
"I wasn't there.""
The principal continued.
"Our staff contacted the number on file. The caller instructed us not to release Sophie.""
"Thank you. Please keep her inside until police arrive.""
I ended the call.
Daniel stood abruptly.
"Michael has been trying to take Sophie!""
Michael turned on him.
"What?""
"You're the one who sent those messages!""
I looked at Michael.
"Did you?""
"No, Olivia. I swear.""
The detective stepped between them.
"Nobody leaves this room until we establish what's happening.""
Then an officer entered.
"Detective, we've identified the vehicle outside the school.""
"Whose is it?""
The officer looked at Daniel.
"It's registered to a company connected to Victor Shaw.""
Daniel's face went white.
I turned toward him.
"How did they know where Sophie was?""
He didn't answer.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message appeared on the screen.
Daniel read it.
His expression collapsed.
I reached for the phone.
He tried to pull it away, but the detective intervened.
The message contained a photograph of our house.
The front door was open.
Beneath it were the words:
You have until midnight to deliver the original trust documents.
The detective immediately called for officers at the property.
I looked at Daniel.
"Where are the documents?""
He shook his head.
"I don't have them.""
Michael stepped closer.
"Daniel, stop protecting these people.""
Daniel finally broke.
"The original documents are in Victor's office. He kept them after your father died.""
I stared at him.
"Then why did you say Michael stole them?""
"Because I needed everyone to believe the trust had disappeared.""
The detective wrote something down.
"Do you know where Victor is right now?""
Daniel nodded.
"He's probably at the old Bennett warehouse.""
Michael looked alarmed.
"That's impossible. That property was sold years ago.""
Daniel met his eyes.
"No. It wasn't.""
He looked at me.
"There's something inside that warehouse you need to see, Olivia.""
"What?""
He lowered his voice.
"Your father's original recording.""
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Then he added:
"And the truth about the night he died.""
