Chapter 10: The Photograph
The photograph slipped from the man’s fingers and landed face-up on the hardwood floor.
I stared at it.
My father stood beside Daniel.
Same face.
Same gray hair.
Same crooked smile.
The date on the back said six months after his funeral.
“That’s impossible,” I whispered.
Daniel looked at the photograph.
Then at me.
“I can explain.””
I turned on him.
“Stop saying that.””
One of the men stepped forward.
“My name is Victor. This is Paul. We’re not here to hurt you.””
Rachel laughed bitterly from behind me.
“You broke into her house.””
Victor glanced at her.
“We're here because Daniel owes people a lot of money.””
I looked at Daniel.
“How much?””
He said nothing.
Victor answered.
“More than the house is worth.””
My knees weakened.
I grabbed the back of a chair.
“Then why do you have a photograph of my father?””
Victor crouched and picked it up.
“Because your father was involved in the original deal.””
“No.””
“He wasn't dead when this was taken.””
I stared at him.
“My father died six years ago.””
Victor shook his head.
“The date on the photograph is wrong.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“The photograph was taken six years ago. Someone altered the date.””
Daniel suddenly stepped forward.
“Give me that.””
Victor held it out of reach.
“You don't get to make demands anymore.””
Daniel's voice trembled.
“Where did you get it?””
“From Mark.””
Daniel froze.
Again.
My father's name.
Mark's name.
The trust.
All roads seemed to lead back to secrets Daniel had buried.
I looked at Victor.
“Where is Mark?””
“Safe.””
“Is he hurt?””
“No.””
“Then why isn't he here?””
“Because he was afraid Daniel would find him.””
Daniel shook his head.
“I would never hurt my brother.””
Victor gave him a cold look.
“You threatened him yesterday.””
“I was angry.””
“You told him if he went to the attorney, he'd regret it.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Emily, I was trying to keep him from making everything worse.””
I stepped toward him.
“Everything was already worse.””
Paul, the second man, placed a thick envelope on the table.
“Mark gave us these.””
I opened it.
Inside were photographs.
Bank statements.
Copies of emails.
And one document that made my hands shake.
It was a handwritten note.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
My father's.
I read the first line.
*Emily, if you're reading this, Daniel has finally done what I feared he would.*
My breath caught.
I read on.
*I need you to know that I never gave Daniel control of the house. I gave him one opportunity to prove he could protect you. He failed.*
I looked at Daniel.
He had stopped trying to speak.
The note continued.
*There is another person involved. Someone you know. Someone Daniel believes is loyal to him.*
I stopped reading.
“Who?””
Victor looked at Daniel.
Daniel's face had gone white.
“Don't.””
I looked at him.
“Who did my father mean?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.””
Victor said, “Keep reading.””
I did.
*The person who helped Daniel access the trust records is the person I least expected.*
The next line was underlined.
*My own attorney.*
I looked at the phone on the table.
The attorney was still connected.
Silence.
“Mr. Harris?””
No answer.
“Are you there?””
The call disconnected.
I stared at the screen.
Rachel whispered, “That can't be a coincidence.””
Daniel suddenly ran toward the back door.
Paul caught him before he reached it.
“Let me go!””
Victor grabbed Daniel by the collar.
“You're not going anywhere.””
Daniel struggled.
“Emily!””
I watched him.
For years, I had thought my husband was simply irresponsible.
Then selfish.
Then dishonest.
Now I wasn't sure I knew him at all.
I looked down at my father's letter.
There was one final sentence.
*Do not trust the man who tells you he is protecting you.*
I folded the paper.
Then I looked at Daniel.
“Who is Harris?””
Daniel stopped struggling.
His face changed.
“That's my attorney.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“My father's attorney.””
Daniel stared at me.
Then I understood.
The man who had told me to leave Daniel.
The man who knew about the trust.
The man who knew about the forged signature.
The man who had told me not to let Daniel leave.
He had known everything.
And somehow, he had been helping Daniel access the very records he claimed to protect.
I looked at Victor.
“Where is Mark now?””
Victor's expression hardened.
“That's the problem.””
“What problem?””
“Mark disappeared an hour ago.””
My heart dropped.
“Where?””
“We don't know.””
Victor looked at Daniel.
“But we found this in Mark's car.””
He pulled out another envelope.
My name was written across the front.
May you like
Under it were four words:
*If I'm gone, trust Emily.*
