Chapter 11: The Man Ethan Blamed
Daniel stood beside the window with both hands pressed against the glass.
Michael closed the laptop.
I stared at my fiancé.
"Explain.""
Daniel turned around.
"I knew Ethan was suspicious of me. I didn't know he had recorded that message.""
"Why would he tell me never to trust you?""
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"Because he believed I had helped your father.""
"Did you?""
He didn't answer immediately.
That hesitation was becoming unbearable.
"Daniel!""
He finally sat down.
"Three years ago, your father approached me with a business proposal.""
I crossed my arms.
"What kind of proposal?""
"He wanted to purchase several properties through my company. He offered me a percentage of the profits.""
"Using my inheritance?""
"Yes.""
I felt sick.
"Did you accept?""
Daniel nodded.
"For a short time.""
Michael stepped forward.
"You knew Robert was using Emily's money?""
"No. I thought the funds came from legitimate investments.""
"That's convenient," Michael snapped.
Daniel looked at me.
"When Ethan discovered the transactions, he confronted me. He showed me documents proving some of the companies were fake.""
I stared at him.
"And you did what?""
"I withdrew from the arrangement.""
"Did you report your father?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because Robert threatened to expose me as a participant in the transactions. I was young, my company was struggling, and I was afraid.""
I laughed bitterly.
"So you protected yourself.""
"Yes.""
The honesty hurt more than another excuse would have.
Daniel continued.
"After Ethan died, I found out the documents he had shown me were genuine. I spent months trying to recover the money.""
"And you never told me.""
"I thought I could fix it before you found out.""
Michael shook his head.
"You don't fix betrayal by hiding it.""
Daniel didn't argue.
I looked back at the laptop.
"Play the video again.""
Michael reopened the file.
This time, I noticed something behind Ethan.
A metal shelf.
A clock.
And a small television displaying a local news broadcast.
Michael paused the footage.
"Look at the date.""
It was November 14.
Three years earlier.
That was four months after Ethan's supposed funeral.
I leaned closer.
"Can we identify the location?""
Michael zoomed in on the television.
A news presenter was discussing a local election.
The screen showed a weather forecast and a small station logo.
Daniel recognized it.
"That's Savannah Channel 8.""
I stared at him.
"How do you know?""
"I used to travel there for work.""
Michael searched the station's archives using the date shown in the video.
A local report appeared.
The footage had been broadcast from a small commercial district near the Savannah River.
We found the building in an old street photograph.
It was a former printing company.
Now abandoned.
"That's where he recorded this," I whispered.
Michael called the police.
An officer agreed to meet us there.
But before we could leave, someone knocked on the suite door.
Three sharp knocks.
Michael checked the peephole.
He looked confused.
"It's Jessica.""
I opened the door.
Jessica stood outside holding a brown envelope.
Her mascara was smeared, and her hands were trembling.
"Emily, I need to talk to you.""
I stepped aside.
She entered and looked at Daniel.
"Is he still here?""
"Yes," I answered.
Jessica shook her head.
"Then you need to hear this before you go anywhere.""
She placed the envelope on the table.
Inside were several printed emails.
They were between Vanessa and Robert Mitchell.
The earliest was dated eleven months earlier.
The same month Daniel proposed.
I read the first message.
*Vanessa:* Emily is getting married. I can't let that happen.
*Robert:* Then make sure she doesn't.
The next email made my stomach turn.
*Vanessa:* What about Daniel?
*Robert:* Daniel is useful. Keep him close until the documents are recovered.
I looked up.
"Recovered?""
Jessica nodded.
"Vanessa was working with your father from the beginning. She wasn't just trying to steal Daniel.""
"Why?""
"Because she believed your father would give her a share of the money once Ethan's evidence disappeared.""
Daniel grabbed another page.
"This is a transfer authorization.""
Michael examined it.
"Twenty-five percent of the recovered assets.""
Jessica nodded.
"Vanessa thought she was going to become rich.""
I looked at the dates.
There were messages sent just two days before the wedding.
*Robert:* The wedding must not happen. If Emily marries Daniel, he may finally confess everything.
*Vanessa:* I'll make sure she never reaches the altar.
I felt a strange calm settle over me.
My best friend had been helping my father destroy my life for nearly a year.
But one question remained.
"Jessica, why are you bringing this to me now?""
She began crying.
"Because I saw Vanessa last night.""
My heart skipped.
"Where?""
"At the hotel.""
"She was in the hotel.""
Jessica nodded.
"After everyone thought she'd gone back to her room, she met a man in the underground parking garage.""
"Who?""
Jessica looked directly at Daniel.
"Your father-in-law.""
I stared at her.
"Robert was arrested.""
"Not last night," she whispered.
"The meeting happened before the police arrived at the estate.""
Michael stood.
"That's impossible.""
Jessica shook her head.
"No. It gets worse.""
She opened the final email.
It contained a photograph of Ethan.
He was standing beside Vanessa.
Both were smiling.
The date was from three weeks earlier.
I felt my knees weaken.
"Ethan met Vanessa?""
Jessica nodded.
"She told me she was arranging a meeting between him and Daniel.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My brother was alive.
And he had been meeting the woman who planned to destroy my wedding.
Then Jessica whispered:
"Emily, Vanessa wasn't trying to find Ethan. She was helping him hide.""
I stared at her.
"Why would Ethan trust Vanessa?""
Jessica lowered her voice.
"Because Vanessa told him she knew who really caused the accident.""
Before I could ask another question, Michael's phone rang.
It was the police officer assigned to the estate.
He answered.
"Hello?""
His expression changed.
"What do you mean he escaped?""
I grabbed his arm.
"Who?""
Michael slowly lowered the phone.
"Your father.""
The officer continued speaking.
May you like
Robert Mitchell had disappeared during a medical transfer.
And the last person seen helping him into a vehicle was Vanessa Reed.
