Chapter 13 - Someone Was Still WatchingDaniel called Kate before he called police.
“Where are you?”
“In the car.”
“Is Sophie with you?”
“Yes.”
“Lock the doors.”
“What happened?”
“Just do it.”
Kate heard something in his voice and stopped arguing.
Daniel called Ruiz next.
Within minutes, officers were heading toward Kate.
Daniel drove there too.
He didn't remember most of the trip.
He remembered red lights.
His hands shaking.
Megan's face in the video.
If I die, don't assume it was an accident.
Kate's SUV sat in the driveway when Daniel arrived.
Two patrol cars were outside.
Sophie was inside with an officer.
Daniel pulled her into his arms.
“Daddy?”
“I'm here.”
“Why are the police here?”
“Someone sent me a scary message.”
“Vanessa?”
Daniel looked at Ruiz.
“We don't know.”
That was true.
Vanessa's phones had been seized.
But she could have another.
Or someone could be helping her.
Detective Ruiz examined the photograph.
“Taken today.”
“Yes.”
“Metadata stripped.”
“Of course.”
Daniel looked across the street.
Every parked vehicle suddenly seemed suspicious.
Kate walked over.
“What did the message say?”
Daniel didn't want Sophie hearing.
He showed her silently.
Kate's face changed.
“She threatened Sophie?”
“Someone did.”
Kate handed the phone back.
“Vanessa isn't coming near her.”
“She won't.”
Daniel wanted to believe it.
That night, Sophie slept in Kate's room.
Daniel stayed awake in the living room.
At 2:13 a.m., his phone rang.
Marcus.
“I heard about Megan's case.”
“How?”
“Detective called me.”
Daniel rubbed his eyes.
“What's wrong?”
“I remembered something.”
Daniel sat up.
“Tell me.”
“The week Megan died, she said Vanessa wasn't working alone.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
“She thought someone was giving Vanessa information.”
“Who?”
“She didn't know.”
“What kind of information?”
“Your schedule. Megan's schedule. Things from inside the house.”
Daniel stared into the dark.
“Why didn't you tell police three years ago?”
“Because nobody believed there was a crime.”
Daniel stood.
“Did Megan suspect anyone?”
“One person.”
“Who?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Your father.”
Daniel stopped.
“My father was dead.”
“I know.”
Thomas Carter had died two months before Megan.
Cancer.
Marcus sighed.
“Not your father. Her father.”
Daniel's confusion deepened.
“Megan's dad?”
“Yes.”
Robert Hayes.
A retired accountant.
Daniel hadn't spoken to him since Megan's funeral.
Robert blamed Daniel for his daughter's death.
Daniel couldn't blame him.
“Why would Robert help Vanessa?”
“I don't know if he did.”
“What did Megan say?”
“That Vanessa knew things only family knew.”
Daniel remembered the stolen business money.
Robert had helped Megan with taxes.
Maybe he knew the accounts.
But stalking?
Blackmail?
No.
Daniel called Robert the next morning.
The old man's voice was colder than winter.
“What do you want?”
“I need to talk about Megan.”
“You had your chance.”
“I know.”
Silence.
Daniel forced himself to continue.
“Police reopened her crash.”
Robert inhaled sharply.
“Why?”
“Vanessa.”
Another silence.
Then Robert whispered:
“Vanessa Petrov?”
Daniel's blood went cold.
“You know her.”
“Of course I know her.”
“How?”
“She worked for me.”
Daniel gripped the phone.
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“What did she do?”
“Bookkeeping.”
The missing money.
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Robert, Megan discovered Vanessa stealing.”
“Yes.”
“You knew?”
“I fired her.”
“Why didn't you report her?”
Robert didn't answer.
“Why?”
“She begged me.”
“Vanessa?”
“No.”
“Megan.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why would Megan protect her?”
“Because Vanessa threatened to destroy your marriage.”
Daniel felt sick.
“So Megan knew.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Longer than you think.”
Daniel paced.
“Did you ever help Vanessa?”
“What?”
“Give her information?”
Robert exploded.
“Go to hell.”
“Someone did.”
“And you think it was me?”
“I don't know what to think anymore.”
Robert breathed heavily.
Then his anger faded.
“There was someone.”
Daniel stopped.
“Who?”
“I told Megan not to trust him.”
“Who?”
“Your friend.”
Daniel's pulse jumped.
“Marcus?”
“No.”
Robert's voice became quiet.
“Your attorney.”
Daniel frowned.
“My divorce attorney?”
“Yes.”
“Peter Lawson?”
“Megan thought Peter was feeding Vanessa information.”
Daniel stared at the wall.
Peter Lawson had known everything.
Daniel's schedules.
Court filings.
Financial records.
Where Daniel lived after leaving Megan.
The anonymous sender had known his apartment address.
The place Megan was driving when she died.
Daniel's hand tightened around the phone.
“Why would Peter help Vanessa?”
May you like
Robert answered:
“Because she was paying him.”
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