Chapter 10: The Man Who Knew Too Much
Nobody moved.
Dr. Nathan Cole stood inside my house like he belonged there.
That was the first thing that scared me.
Not his expression.
Not his calm voice.
The fact that he walked through the front door without hesitation.
Like he had done it before.
Like he knew exactly where everything was.
I stepped in front of Oliver.
“What are you doing here?””
Dr. Cole looked past me.
His eyes landed on the necklace around Oliver’s neck.
And for a brief moment, his calm expression disappeared.
“You found it.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did you say?””
He corrected himself quickly.
“I mean… you found the evidence.””
Diana stepped away from him.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
The doctor looked at her.
“You should have told me sooner.””
My head turned.
“You two know each other.””
Neither answered.
That was answer enough.
Lorraine moved closer to me.
“Daniel, call the police.””
Dr. Cole smiled slightly.
“I think that would be a mistake.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
“Because you don’t understand what you’re dealing with.””
I laughed quietly.
“You walked into my house after threatening my family.””
“I didn’t threaten anyone.””
“You sent the message.””
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
“You received a message?””
Diana looked at him.
“You told me you weren’t going to do anything.””
Dr. Cole’s eyes narrowed.
“Careful, Diana.””
The way he said her name made my skin crawl.
Not like a doctor.
Like someone giving an order.
I stepped closer.
“What did you do to my wife?””
He looked at me.
“I tried to help Emma.””
“Help her?””
I pointed toward the photo and the hidden drive on the table.
“You were recorded saying she wouldn’t live long enough to expose you.””
His expression hardened.
“You don’t understand that recording.””
“Then explain it.””
Silence.
Dr. Cole looked around the room.
At Emma’s pictures.
At Oliver.
Then back at me.
“Emma was investigating something dangerous.””
“What?””
“Your wife discovered someone was stealing from a company account.””
I frowned.
“What company?””
“The charity foundation she helped manage.””
I looked at Lorraine.
Emma had always been involved in helping others.
She never talked about money.
“She found financial fraud,” Dr. Cole continued.
“And you were involved?””
“No.””
His answer came too quickly.
Diana stepped forward.
“Stop lying.””
Everyone turned.
Dr. Cole looked at her.
“You really want to do this?””
Diana’s face was pale.
“Yes.””
My eyes moved between them.
“What is going on?””
Diana took a breath.
“I wasn’t the one Emma was afraid of.””
Dr. Cole said nothing.
“She asked me to help her investigate.””
My anger remained.
“You lied to me for two years.””
“I know.””
“You hid the necklace.””
“I know.””
“Why?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I was trying to keep you alive.””
The room went quiet.
I stared at her.
“That makes no sense.””
Diana looked at Dr. Cole.
“Tell him.””
The doctor stayed silent.
“Tell him what you told me.””
Still nothing.
Then Diana whispered:
“Emma wasn’t killed because she discovered the theft.””
She looked at me.
“She was killed because she discovered who was behind it.””
My heart pounded.
“Who?””
Dr. Cole suddenly moved toward the table.
I stepped forward.
“Don’t.””
He stopped.
For the first time, he looked nervous.
That told me everything.
I picked up the flash drive.
“You came here for this.””
“No.””
“You didn’t come to talk.””
I held it tighter.
“You came to take this.””
Dr. Cole’s expression changed.
“You have no idea what’s on that drive.””
“Then why are you afraid?””
He looked at Oliver.
And that was the moment I knew.
He wasn’t afraid of the evidence.
He was afraid of what the evidence revealed.
“Oliver,” I said quietly.
My son looked at me.
“Go upstairs with Grandma.””
He nodded.
As Lorraine guided him away, Dr. Cole watched.
And that terrified me.
Because his eyes weren’t on me.
They were on my son.
I stepped between them.
“You stay away from him.””
Dr. Cole sighed.
“You really think Emma wanted you to keep him away from the truth?””
I froze.
“What truth?””
He smiled.
A cold, empty smile.
“The truth about Oliver’s birth.””
The room stopped.
Diana whispered:
“No.””
I looked at her.
“What did he mean?””
She looked terrified.
“Daniel…”
“What did he mean?””
Dr. Cole reached into his coat.
I reacted immediately.
But he only pulled out a folder.
A medical file.
He placed it on the table.
“Ask your wife’s best friend why Emma was at the hospital months before she died.””
I stared.
“My wife’s best friend?””
He looked at Diana.
Then back at me.
“Ask her why Emma made her promise never to tell you.””
And before anyone could stop him, Dr. Cole walked toward the door.
I shouted:
“You’re leaving?””
He stopped.
Without turning around, he said:
“Open the file.””
Then he added:
“You’ll finally understand why Emma was afraid to lose Oliver.””
The door closed.
And I looked at Diana.
Because she was crying.
Not angry.
Not defensive.
May you like
Terrified.
“What is in that file?””
