**The Second Murder**
Before investigators could exhume Emily's father...
Richard Vale was found dead.
His car had been discovered abandoned near the coast.
Police initially suspected suicide.
Daniel didn't.
The timing was too perfect.
Richard had been exposed.
Sophia had confessed.
The evidence was closing in.
Someone had silenced him.
But why?
Daniel examined Richard's final phone records.
One call stood out.
A number belonging to Mark Ellis.
Daniel immediately issued a warrant.
Mark was found hiding in a motel outside Los Angeles.
During interrogation, he broke down.
"I didn't kill Richard."
"Who did?"
"I don't know."
"Then tell me what happened."
Mark swallowed.
"Richard was supposed to leave town."
"Then someone followed him."
"Who?"
Mark shook his head.
"I never saw the face."
Daniel placed the photograph of the mysterious man on the table.
Mark stared at it.
Then whispered,
"That's not him."
Daniel froze.
"What?"
"The man following Emily..."
"He's not Richard's killer."
"Then who is he?"
Mark looked terrified.
"I don't know."
"But Richard was afraid of him."
Daniel's case had just opened another door.
And behind it was someone even more dangerous.
