Chapter 7: The Man Behind the Rescue
For the first time that night, I stepped away from Daniel.
It was only one step.
But everyone noticed.
Daniel looked at me, and something in his expression broke.
Not anger.
Not disappointment.
Fear.
“Sarah…”
I held up the letter.
“My mother wrote this.””
His eyes moved to the paper.
“I know.””
“You know?””
He froze.
A thousand questions rushed through my head.
“How do you know what it says?””
Daniel looked at Michael.
Then back at me.
“I don’t.””
“Then why did you react like that?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
I felt my stomach twist.
The man who had walked into the restaurant like a hero.
The man who had defended me.
The man who had promised my mother he would protect me.
Was there something he wasn’t telling me?
Michael slowly moved closer.
“Sarah, listen to me.””
I looked at him.
“Do you trust him?””
His silence was the answer.
I looked at Daniel.
“Did you know my mother left this letter?””
“No.””
“Did you know she was afraid of you?””
His face changed.
“No.””
“Then why does she say not to trust you?””
Daniel sat down.
For the first time, he looked exhausted.
“Because your mother had a reason to be suspicious.””
That wasn’t what I expected.
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel rubbed his hands together.
“Years ago, when your mother came to me, she didn’t just ask for help.””
“What did she ask for?””
“She asked me to investigate my own company.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because she believed someone inside my organization was working with people who wanted Michael gone.””
I looked at my father.
Michael nodded.
“She found evidence.””
Daniel continued.
“But she didn’t know who she could trust.””
“Not even you?””
He looked down.
“Not even me.””
The honesty caught me off guard.
Most people lied when they were afraid.
Daniel admitted things that made him look guilty.
That was harder to understand.
I looked at the letter again.
“My mother knew someone was dangerous.””
“Yes.””
“And she wrote this before she died.””
“Yes.””
“So why did she leave it with you?””
Daniel’s eyes lifted.
“She didn’t.””
The room went quiet.
“What?””
“She left it somewhere else.””
“Where?””
Daniel looked at Michael.
Michael answered.
“With me.””
I turned.
“But you said you couldn’t find me.””
“I couldn’t.””
“Then how did Daniel get the letter?””
Nobody spoke.
And then I realized.
Someone had given it to him.
Someone who knew exactly where I would be.
Someone who wanted me to find it.
A knock interrupted us.
A police officer stood outside the room.
“Mr. Whitmore?””
Daniel stood.
“Yes?””
“There’s a problem.””
“What kind of problem?””
The officer looked at me.
“Your name came up in a report from earlier tonight.””
My eyebrows pulled together.
“What report?””
The officer held up a folder.
“Someone filed a complaint against you.””
I almost laughed.
“A complaint against me?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
The officer hesitated.
“Emily Whitmore.””
My heart sank.
Of course.
Even now.
Even after everything.
“She said I assaulted her?””
The officer shook his head.
“No.””
That surprised me.
“Then what?””
He opened the folder.
“She claims you stole confidential documents from her family.””
I stared.
“That’s impossible.””
The officer looked uncomfortable.
“I know.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“She’s lying.””
The officer nodded.
“That’s what we need to determine.””
I looked at Daniel.
“This is what she meant.””
He frowned.
“What?””
I held up my phone.
“The message.””
His expression darkened.
“You should have stayed on your knees tonight.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Michael whispered:
“She’s trying to scare you.””
“No.””
I looked at the three of them.
“She’s trying to stop me.””
The officer closed the folder.
“Ms. Carter, there’s one more thing.””
“What?””
“The documents she claims you stole…”
He paused.
May you like
“They were found in your apartment.””
My blood ran cold.
