Chapter 9: The Man Daniel Framed
I didn’t open the door until I had seen both badges through the camera and confirmed uniformed local officers were standing behind them.
Even then, my hand shook on the lock.
The woman entered first.
“Sarah Collins?””
“Yes.””
“Special Agent Rebecca Sloan.””
She glanced at my soaked dress.
Then at the overturned furniture visible through the back windows.
“Are you injured?””
“I’m fine.””
It wasn’t completely true.
My ankle hurt.
My arm was red where Daniel had grabbed me.
But pain suddenly felt unimportant.
The male agent introduced himself as Agent Cole Bennett.
“We’re looking for Daniel Mercer.””
“He left about twenty minutes ago.””
“In what vehicle?””
I told them.
Rebecca exchanged a look with Bennett.
“Do you know where he went?””
“No.””
“Has he contacted you?””
“No.””
My phone vibrated in my hand.
Everyone looked down.
A message from Daniel.
*Tell them nothing.*
I almost laughed.
Instead, I turned the screen toward Rebecca.
“He just did.””
She read it.
“Don’t respond.””
“I wasn’t planning to.””
Bennett walked toward Daniel’s office.
“Did your husband remove anything?””
“A laptop. Possibly documents.””
Rebecca looked at me.
“How do you know?””
“The office was searched after he left.””
I showed her the safe.
The papers.
The insurance policy.
Her expression changed when she saw it.
“Where did you get this?””
“Inside the safe.””
“Did Daniel know you found it?””
“I don’t know.””
She looked at the date.
Then at me.
“Six weeks ago?””
“Yes.””
Rebecca placed the policy carefully on the desk.
“We’re going to photograph everything. Don’t alter anything else.””
My phone rang again.
Madison.
Rebecca noticed the name.
“Madison Blake?””
“You know her?””
The agents exchanged another look.
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
Rebecca asked, “How do you know Madison?””
“She’s Daniel’s secretary.””
Bennett spoke from across the room.
“She hasn’t been his secretary for very long.””
“Two years.””
“That’s not what I meant.””
I frowned.
Rebecca gestured toward a chair.
“Sarah, sit down.””
“I’m tired of people telling me to sit down.””
Her expression softened slightly.
“Fair enough.””
I remained standing.
“Tell me what’s happening.””
Rebecca looked toward Bennett.
Then back at me.
“We’ve been investigating financial irregularities connected to Mercer Development.””
“For how long?””
“Eleven months.””
My mouth went dry.
“Did you know about me?””
“Yes.””
That answer hit hard.
“Then why didn’t anyone tell me?””
“Because until recently, your name appeared on multiple entities receiving funds.””
I stared at her.
“You thought I was involved.””
“We didn’t know.””
“I didn’t create those accounts.””
“We’re aware that may be the case.””
“May be?””
Rebecca stayed calm.
“We follow evidence, Mrs. Collins.””
Not Mercer.
Collins.
I noticed.
“Madison said Daniel framed her father.””
Rebecca’s expression changed.
“Thomas Blake?””
“Yes.””
Bennett walked closer.
“What exactly did Madison tell you?””
“That Thomas discovered Daniel moving money. Daniel blamed him.””
The agents looked at each other again.
“What?”” I demanded.
Rebecca spoke carefully.
“Thomas Blake disappeared four years ago.””
My skin prickled.
“Disappeared?””
“His vehicle was found outside Amarillo.””
“Was he arrested?””
“No.””
“Then where is he?””
“We don’t know.””
I immediately called Madison.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Rebecca watched me.
“Has Madison been helping you?””
“Tonight she has.””
“That’s a recent development?””
“Very.””
I told them everything.
The affair.
The messages.
The confrontation.
The pool.
Madison’s confession.
Rachel’s call.
When I finished, Bennett looked grim.
“Rachel Hayes contacted you directly?””
“Yes.””
“Did she say where she was?””
“No.””
Rebecca asked, “Do you still have the files Madison sent?””
I handed her my phone.
She examined them without touching anything unnecessary.
Then she stopped.
“What?””
She enlarged one image.
“Where did Madison get this?””
“I don’t know.””
Rebecca showed Bennett.
His face changed.
“What is it?”” I asked.
Neither answered immediately.
I stepped closer.
The image showed a ledger.
Rows of transactions.
Names.
Dates.
Amounts.
Then I saw one name repeated beside several transfers.
*Thomas Blake.*
I pointed.
“That’s Madison’s father.””
Rebecca nodded.
“But look at the dates.””
I did.
My stomach dropped.
The transactions continued long after Thomas supposedly disappeared.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“No,” Rebecca said.
“It doesn’t.””
My phone suddenly rang again.
Madison.
I answered immediately.
“Where are you?””
Her breathing was frantic.
“Sarah, I found him.””
“Daniel?””
“No.””
“Then who?””
There was a sound behind her.
A door closing.
Then Madison whispered:
“My father.””
I looked at Rebecca.
The agent went completely still.
“Madison, where are you?””
“I can’t tell you.””
“You called me.””
“Because he told me something about Daniel.””
Rebecca silently gestured for me to keep Madison talking.
“What did he tell you?””
Madison started crying.
“My father didn’t disappear because Daniel framed him.””
“Then why?””
“He disappeared because he helped Daniel.””
My chest tightened.
“Helped him do what?””
Madison took a shaking breath.
“Build the accounts.””
The room went silent.
I looked at the documents scattered across Daniel’s desk.
All those transfers.
All those companies.
All those years.
“Why would your father help him?””
“I don’t know everything yet.””
“Madison—”
“He says Daniel betrayed him too.””
A man’s voice sounded faintly behind her.
I couldn’t understand the words.
Madison suddenly said, “Wait.””
Then silence.
“Madison?””
Nothing.
“Madison!””
The line remained connected.
I could hear movement.
A chair scraping.
Then a man picked up the phone.
His voice was low.
Older.
Exhausted.
“Sarah Collins?””
Rebecca moved closer.
I swallowed.
“Yes.””
“My name is Thomas Blake.””
I looked at the agents.
Rebecca’s eyes widened.
Thomas continued.
“If you want to understand why Daniel married you, stop looking at the affair.””
My heart hammered.
“What should I look at?””
A long silence followed.
Then Thomas said:
“Look at your father.””
My entire body went cold.
“My father died twelve years ago.””
“I know.””
Thomas breathed slowly into the phone.
“Daniel knew him.””
I couldn’t speak.
“He never told me that.””
“He wouldn’t.””
“Why?””
Thomas’s next words changed everything.
“Because the money Daniel has been stealing…”
May you like
He paused.
“…was your father’s first.””
