Chapter 8: The Man in the Hallway
Emily refused to believe it.
“No.””
She shook her head so hard that her hair came loose from its clip.
“That isn't possible.””
I held the phone out.
“It is.””
“That picture could be fake.””
Richard studied it.
“The timestamp matches the hospital records.””
Emily looked at him.
“Dad.””
He didn't answer.
“Dad, tell me it's fake.””
Richard's silence was enough.
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
“Noah told me he met my family for the first time two years ago.””
Mom whispered, “He lied.””
Emily turned toward her.
“You knew him?””
“No.””
“You knew he was there.””
“I didn't know who he was.””
“But you've seen him before.””
Mom looked down.
“Once.””
“When?””
“The night your father died.””
Emily pressed a hand to her mouth.
I could see the exact moment something inside her broke.
“Noah said he didn't know Dad.””
Richard opened his phone.
“I’m calling him.””
He dialed.
Straight to voicemail.
Again.
Nothing.
Then Richard's phone rang.
The screen displayed Noah's name.
Everyone went silent.
Richard answered.
“Where are you?””
Noah didn't respond immediately.
Then his voice came through.
“Dad?””
“Where are you?””
“I'm at the hotel.””
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“No, you're not.””
A pause.
“What do you mean?””
“I know about the hospital.””
Silence.
Emily grabbed the phone.
“Noah?””
His voice changed.
“Emily.””
“Were you there?””
Another pause.
“Where?””
“The hospital. Seven years ago.””
Noah exhaled.
“I can explain.””
Emily's face crumpled.
“That's not an answer.””
“I was there.””
She closed her eyes.
“Why?””
“I needed to talk to someone.””
“Who?””
Noah said nothing.
I took the phone.
“You came to see my father.””
“I didn't know he was your father.””
“You were in the room with Marcus.””
“I wasn't.””
“You were in the hallway.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Noah's voice dropped.
“Because Marcus asked me to come.””
Richard stiffened.
“Why would my brother ask you?””
“I worked for him.””
“What did you do?””
“I handled accounts.””
My stomach tightened.
“Fake accounts?””
Noah went silent.
I heard Emily inhale sharply.
Richard said, “How long?””
“Three years.””
“You stole from Hale Industries.””
“No.””
“You helped Marcus.””
“I didn't know what he was doing.””
Richard's voice became colder.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I didn't know at first.””
“At first?””
Noah swallowed.
“Your father found out.””
I closed my eyes.
“About Marcus?””
“Yes.””
“Then why were you there?””
“Marcus wanted me to retrieve something.””
“What?””
“A ledger.””
Richard looked at me.
“What ledger?””
I remembered Daniel's warning.
The missing file.
The Hale documents.
I asked, “Did you find it?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because your father had already hidden it.””
“Where?””
Noah hesitated.
“I don't know.””
My mother suddenly spoke.
“Under the floor.””
Everyone looked at her.
“What?”” Richard asked.
Mom stared at the dashboard.
“Your father had a hidden compartment in his study.””
I turned toward her.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“What's inside?””
“I don't know.””
“Then how do you know?””
“Because your father told me.””
Richard looked furious.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Marcus was looking for it.””
Noah suddenly said, “He still is.””
I looked at the phone.
“Where are you?””
“At the hotel.””
“You're lying.””
“No.””
“Then why aren't you answering Emily's calls?””
“Because Marcus is with me.””
Emily's face went white.
“What?””
Noah continued.
“He knows Claire has the trust documents.””
Richard stood.
“Where exactly?””
“I can't say.””
“Then get out.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because Marcus has your daughter.””
The world stopped.
Emily whispered, “What?””
Noah's voice cracked.
“He took her twenty minutes ago.””
I looked at Emily.
She was standing directly beside me.
Richard was beside her.
I looked back at the phone.
“Which daughter?””
Noah went silent.
Then he said:
May you like
“Your other daughter.””
Mom screamed.
