Chapter 14 - THE MAN BESIDE HIM
Daniel Cross was waiting in the mansion.
The house had survived the fire.
Barely.
Smoke stained the walls.
Windows were broken.
The basement was destroyed.
But Daniel stood in the foyer as if nothing had happened.
He was sixty years old.
Elegant.
Calm.
Perfectly dressed.
Ethan entered with Mara, Sophie, and Sheriff Cole behind him.
Daniel smiled.
“Ethan.”
Ethan stared at him.
“You knew.”
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“About what?”
“The children.”
“The fire.”
“Caroline.”
Daniel said nothing.
Ethan stepped closer.
“You knew everything.”
Daniel sighed.
“I knew enough.”
“Did you poison my wife?”
“No.”
“Did you poison my children?”
“No.”
“Did you kill Marcus?”
“No.”
Ethan grabbed him by the collar.
Daniel didn't resist.
“You have five seconds.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Your wife trusted me.”
Ethan's hand tightened.
“She trusted everyone.”
“No.”
Daniel's voice became quiet.
“She trusted me because she knew what you didn't.”
Ethan released him.
“What?”
“Your father didn't create the Trust.”
Ethan froze.
Daniel continued.
“Your mother did.”
Ethan looked toward his mother.
She stood in the doorway.
Daniel smiled bitterly.
“She built it to protect the family from your father.”
His mother shook her head.
“Daniel.”
“No more secrets.”
He looked at Ethan.
“Your father was violent. Controlling. He used the family fortune to destroy anyone who opposed him.”
“Then why did my mother disappear?”
“Because she was blamed for his crimes.”
Ethan stared.
Daniel continued.
“Caroline found the records. She planned to expose everything.”
“Who stopped her?”
Daniel looked toward Sheriff Cole.
The sheriff lowered his eyes.
Ethan's expression changed.
“Cole.”
The sheriff stepped forward.
“I was working undercover.”
“Since when?”
“Since your wife died.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because we believed the organization had people everywhere.”
Ethan stared.
“Then who killed Caroline?”
Daniel looked at him.
“Dr. Harris.”
Ethan froze.
“He altered her medication.”
“Why?”
“Because someone paid him.”
“Who?”
Daniel didn't answer.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Daniel fell.
Ethan pulled Mara down.
Sheriff Cole drew his weapon.
Sophie screamed.
Another bullet struck the wall.
Then silence.
Ethan crawled toward Daniel.
The older man was bleeding.
“Who?”
Daniel coughed.
“Not… who.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
“Why.”
Daniel grabbed his wrist.
“Your mother didn't disappear to escape your father.”
Ethan looked toward the old woman.
“She disappeared because she was protecting someone.”
“Who?”
Daniel whispered:
“Your sister.”
Ethan froze.
He had no sister.
His mother had always told him he was an only child.
Daniel's eyes closed.
Ethan turned toward his mother.
“Is that true?”
The woman was crying.
“Yes.”
Ethan's voice broke.
“Where is she?”
His mother looked at Sophie.
Then at Mara.
Then at Ethan.
“She is the reason Caroline died.”
The room went silent.
Ethan stepped backward.
“What does that mean?”
His mother whispered:
“Your sister is alive.”
A car engine roared outside.
Sheriff Cole rushed to the window.
A black SUV was leaving.
Inside sat Dr. Harris.
And beside him—
Caleb Rourke.
Ethan stared.
“Caleb.”
Sheriff Cole shouted:
May you like
“Don't shoot!”
But Ethan was already running.
