Chapter 16
For the first time, my father agreed to leave Chicago.
Not because he wanted to.
Because Detective Ortiz told him plainly that Leonard Price’s death changed the threat level.
We went to a secure property outside the city.
Dad.
Daniel.
Me.
No one else.
It felt strange to hide together.
Almost like childhood vacations.
Except armed security stood outside.
And none of us slept.
On the second night, Daniel found me in the kitchen.
I was eating cereal at two in the morning.
“Very billionaire heiress of you.”
I looked at his sweatpants.
“You look like a collapsed hedge fund.”
He sat across from me.
For a moment, we were just siblings again.
Then he said, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For believing Dad more than you.”
I frowned.
“When?”
“Our whole lives.”
“That’s dramatic.”
“I’m serious.”
He looked down.
“When Mom died, Dad made work the center of everything.”
“Yes.”
“I went with him.”
I said nothing.
“You didn’t.”
“No.”
“I thought that made you selfish.”
That hurt.
He saw it.
“I was wrong.”
“Why tell me now?”
“Because Victor used me.”
He rubbed his face.
“He knew I wanted Dad’s approval.”
My anger softened.
“I thought if I became indispensable, Dad would stop looking at me like I was the kid Mom left behind.”
My throat tightened.
Dad had not been the only one hiding in work.
Daniel had too.
“I never knew.”
“Exactly.”
He smiled sadly.
“We’re Bennetts. We don’t communicate. We acquire companies.”
I laughed.
Then cried.
It happened so suddenly I covered my face.
Daniel moved around the table.
He hugged me.
I hadn’t realized how badly I needed him.
“I was so scared you were involved,” I whispered.
He pulled back.
“You thought that?”
“For like five minutes.”
“Five?”
“Maybe twelve.”
He stared.
“I’m wounded.”
“Your badge was in a criminal’s car.”
“Fair.”
We laughed quietly.
Then the security alarm went off.
Every light turned red.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
Guards entered.
“Stay here.”
We didn’t.
Of course we didn’t.
Dad came down the stairs.
“What happened?”
“Perimeter breach.”
My heart slammed.
“Who?”
“No visual yet.”
One guard moved us into a reinforced interior room.
The door locked.
I hated it instantly.
No windows.
No control.
Dad reached for my hand.
I let him.
Ten minutes felt like an hour.
Then the radio crackled.
“Subject located.”
The guard beside us listened.
His expression changed.
“What?”
He opened the door.
“No threat.”
I stared.
“Then who is it?”
A few minutes later, they brought in Marcus Reed.
The missing security guard.
His hands were raised.
His clothes were dirty.
His face had a cut near one eye.
My father stood.
“Marcus?”
Marcus looked at him.
“I’m sorry.”
Dad’s voice was cold.
“You drove a Caldwell vehicle.”
“Yes.”
“You carried Daniel’s stolen badge.”
“Yes.”
“You photographed Claire.”
Marcus lowered his head.
“Yes.”
My father looked crushed.
“Why?”
Marcus started crying.
I had never seen him cry.
Not even at Mom’s funeral.
“They had my son.”
My anger stopped.
“What?”
Marcus looked at me.
“My youngest, Isaiah.”
His voice shook.
“He owes money.”
“To whom?”
“Gambling. Online.”
Dad frowned.
“How much?”
“A lot.”
“Richard paid it?”
“Victor.”
My stomach tightened.
Marcus continued.
“Then Victor said I owed him.”
“How long?”
“Two years.”
Dad sat down slowly.
“What did you give him?”
“Schedules.”
“Access?”
“Sometimes.”
“Did you help steal Daniel’s credentials?”
Marcus nodded.
My brother swore.
Marcus covered his face.
“I thought they were just trying to watch the family.”
“You thought surveillance was harmless?” I snapped.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I knew it was wrong.”
“Then why continue?”
“They threatened Isaiah.”
“Did they threaten to kill him?”
“They threatened prison. Exposure. Everything.”
My father whispered, “You could have come to me.”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“You were Daniel Bennett.”
Dad flinched.
“I was ashamed.”
That sentence landed harder than blame.
Shame had protected Victor better than locks ever could.
I asked, “Why are you here?”
Marcus looked toward the guards.
“Because Victor lied.”
“About what?”
“He told investigators Leonard was the Banker.”
“That’s what he said.”
“It isn’t true.”
The room went silent.
“Then who is?”
Marcus swallowed.
“I never knew his name.”
I nearly screamed.
“But?”
“I heard his voice.”
Dad leaned forward.
“When?”
“Phone calls.”
“Would you recognize it?”
“Yes.”
Daniel asked, “Male?”
“Yes.”
“Age?”
“Older.”
“Anyone from Bennett?”
Marcus hesitated.
“I think so.”
Dad stood.
“Why?”
“Because Victor called him sir.”
That mattered.
Victor called almost nobody sir.
“Did you hear anything else?”
Marcus nodded slowly.
“One name.”
“What?”
“Elaine.”
My chest tightened.
Marcus looked at Dad.
“The Banker hated your wife.”
Dad went pale.
“Why?”
“Because she nearly exposed them.”
I felt cold.
“Before she died?”
“Yes.”
“How long before?”
Marcus swallowed.
“Victor said the problem went away when she got sick.”
Nobody moved.
My father whispered, “What did you say?”
Marcus shook his head quickly.
“He didn’t mean they made her sick.”
My stomach turned anyway.
“He meant she stopped investigating.”
Dad looked like he couldn’t breathe.
Marcus continued.
“But she left something behind.”
“The trust amendment?”
“No.”
I stared.
“What?”
“A file.”
“What file?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where?”
Marcus looked at me.
“Victor said Elaine gave it to the one person Richard would never think to search.”
My heartbeat changed.
“Who?”
May you like
Marcus answered with one word.
“You.”
