Chapter 2 - Wesley’s SecretWesley refused to let go of Beatrice’s hand in the ambulance.
The paramedic examined the swelling along her cheek and the small cut near her mouth while another checked Wesley.
There were no serious physical injuries.
That should have comforted Beatrice.
It did not.
Wesley sat beneath a thin blanket, staring toward the open ambulance doors as though he expected Nadine to appear again.
“She can’t come back here tonight,” Beatrice told him.
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
He studied her face.
Children knew when adults lied to make them feel safe.
Beatrice had done enough of that in her life.
This time she meant it.
Detective Elena Ruiz arrived before the ambulance left.
Ruiz was in her forties, composed, direct, and careful with Wesley.
She did not begin by asking what Nadine had done.
She asked whether Wesley wanted water.
Then whether he wanted his grandmother beside him.
Only after he nodded did she begin.
“Can you tell me why you were near the SUV?”
Wesley looked at Beatrice.
“She told me Dad sent her.”
Beatrice stiffened.
“Nadine said that?”
Wesley nodded.
“She came to my room and said Dad needed me to come with her.”
“Did you believe her?”
“At first.”
His fingers tightened around the blanket.
“Then she asked where I put the little black thing.”
“What little black thing?”
Wesley swallowed.
“The drive.”
Beatrice frowned.
“What drive?”
“I found it yesterday.”
He looked embarrassed.
“In the study.”
Ruiz leaned forward slightly.
“Tell us exactly what happened.”
Wesley explained.
The previous afternoon, he had been looking for colored pencils in the built-in cabinet inside Daniel’s study.
Nadine had entered without seeing him.
She had been carrying several envelopes and a small black USB drive.
Wesley had stayed quiet because Nadine was speaking on the phone.
“She sounded mad.”
“What did she say?” Ruiz asked.
Wesley thought.
“She said, ‘Daniel already took the money. If his mother sees the notices, we’re both finished.’”
Beatrice felt something cold move through her.
Ruiz did not react.
“What happened next?”
“Nadine put the black drive on Dad’s desk. Then she opened the drawer where he keeps papers.”
“What papers?”
“I don’t know.”
Wesley rubbed his eyes.
“She left when her phone rang. I thought the drive was Dad’s, so I picked it up. Then I forgot it was in my pocket.”
“Where is it now?”
Wesley looked toward Beatrice.
“In my room.”
Ruiz’s expression sharpened.
“You’re sure?”
“I hid it in my Lego castle because Nadine kept asking me about it.”
That changed everything.
Police immediately secured Daniel’s study and Wesley’s bedroom.
The black USB drive was recovered exactly where Wesley said it would be.
Ruiz sealed it inside an evidence bag without plugging it into anything.
“We’ll get a warrant before examining this.”
Beatrice nodded.
But she could not stop thinking about Nadine’s final words.
Seven hundred forty thousand dollars.
Daniel arrived at the hospital forty minutes later.
He entered the emergency room pale and breathless.
“Wesley!”
His son ran to him.
Daniel dropped to one knee and pulled him into his arms.
“What happened? Are you hurt?”
“Nadine put me in the trunk.”
Daniel froze.
Beatrice saw it.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Then it disappeared.
Laura arrived minutes later and broke down when Wesley told her what had happened.
She held him.
She kissed his forehead.
She looked at Daniel.
“What did Nadine want with him?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I have no idea.”
Beatrice watched him.
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“Nadine told me to ask you something.”
Silence.
Laura turned toward them.
“Ask him what?”
Beatrice spoke slowly.
“What happened to seven hundred forty thousand dollars?”
All color left Daniel’s face.
Laura stared at him.
“What money?”
Daniel looked toward Ruiz, who stood several yards away speaking to another officer.
Then he looked back at his mother.
“Not here.”
Beatrice’s pulse quickened.
“That is not the answer of a man who has no idea what she meant.”
“Mom.”
“What money?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“It’s complicated.”
Laura stepped away from him.
“Oh my God.”
“Laura, please.”
“You knew she was involved in something.”
“No.”
“You just lied.”
“I didn’t know she would hurt Wesley.”
The sentence came out too quickly.
Everyone stopped.
Wesley looked up at his father.
Beatrice felt the room tilt.
“You didn’t know she would hurt Wesley,” she repeated. “But you knew something.”
Daniel shut his eyes.
That was answer enough.
Beatrice looked toward Detective Ruiz.
Then back at her son.
“Whatever you were protecting,” she said quietly, “it just put your child inside a locked trunk.”
Daniel opened his mouth.
Beatrice raised one hand.
“No more half-truths.”
He looked broken.
But Beatrice no longer cared how frightened he was.
Wesley had been frightened too.
And he had been eight years old, locked in darkness, pounding his fists against metal while the adults around him kept secrets.
Daniel finally whispered, “I borrowed money I wasn’t supposed to touch.”
Laura stared at him.
“How much?”
May you like
Daniel looked at Beatrice.
“Seven hundred forty thousand dollars.”
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