Chapter 5: The Email He Never Meant Me to See
I read the email three times.
Not because the words were difficult to understand.
Because I desperately wanted them to mean something else.
The message was short.
It had been sent to someone saved in Daniel's contacts as M. Reed.
The situation with Emily needs to be resolved before the investor meeting. She knows too much about the accounts, and she's refusing to sign the revised ownership agreement. I can't keep explaining why she has control over everything.
Below that, another sentence appeared.
We need to make sure she can't interfere anymore.
My hands began to shake.
"Who is M. Reed?"" I asked.
Vanessa looked down.
"I don't know. Daniel used to receive calls from that name, but he always said it was a business consultant.""
Mr. Collins took a photograph of the screen.
"Can you forward this email to me?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at her.
"Why are you giving me this?""
She swallowed.
"Because I'm carrying a child who deserves to know who his father really is.""
The words hung between us.
I wanted to tell her that she had made her choices.
That she had accepted my home, my jewelry, and my husband without asking enough questions.
But I remembered how Daniel had lied to me.
How easily he had made himself look like the victim.
So I simply nodded.
"Thank you.""
We left the hotel through a private entrance.
Outside, the November rain had turned the pavement silver. Black cars lined the curb, and photographers were gathering near the main doors.
Mr. Collins guided me toward his vehicle.
"Don't speak to reporters tonight," he advised.
"We need to preserve the evidence and let the authorities handle the next steps.""
I climbed into the back seat.
Richard followed us.
He sat opposite me, looking unusually tired.
"There's something I haven't told you," he said.
I turned toward him.
"Another surprise?""
He gave a humorless smile.
"I wish there weren't.""
He removed a small photograph from his coat pocket.
It showed a younger Daniel standing outside a restaurant with a man in a gray suit.
I recognized the man from the email signature.
Michael Reed.
Richard explained that Reed had once worked as a financial adviser for Cole Industries.
"He approached me shortly before Daniel and Vanessa became involved," Richard said.
"He wanted me to invest in Harrington Global.""
"Why didn't you?""
"Because the financial statements didn't match the company's actual performance.""
I frowned.
"Daniel said you refused because you didn't believe in him.""
Richard looked ashamed.
"That was what he told Vanessa.""
He leaned forward.
"I refused because I suspected the company was being used to move money between accounts. I didn't want my daughter involved.""
I glanced at Vanessa's empty seat in my mind.
"Yet he convinced her anyway.""
"Yes.""
Richard took a breath.
"After your accident, Daniel approached me again. He claimed you were unable to manage your affairs and asked me to help him secure a temporary credit facility.""
I stared at him.
"Why would he need your help if he already owned the company?""
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "Because he didn't.""
Mr. Collins looked up from his tablet.
"Mr. Cole, are you saying Daniel requested financing using company shares he didn't own?""
"That's exactly what I'm saying.""
My stomach tightened.
Richard continued.
"He told me you had signed over your ownership rights before the accident. He showed me a document with what appeared to be your signature.""
I shook my head.
"I never signed anything like that.""
"I know that now.""
"How?""
"Because I spoke to your former surgeon.""
I looked at him sharply.
"The woman in the photograph?""
Richard nodded.
"She contacted me three weeks ago. She had been receiving anonymous letters accusing her of helping Daniel conceal information about your injuries.""
"Why would anyone accuse her?""
"Because she had signed a medical statement saying you were conscious enough to understand legal documents during your hospitalization.""
I frowned.
"I was unconscious for days.""
"Exactly.""
The car seemed suddenly too small.
"Are you telling me Daniel used a medical document to make it look like I signed away my company while I was unconscious?""
Richard nodded.
"That's what we're investigating.""
Mr. Collins closed his tablet.
"Emily, we need to contact the police immediately.""
I looked out at the rain.
For two years, I had believed Daniel had simply abandoned me after the accident.
Now I was beginning to understand that the accident might have been the beginning of a much larger plan.
And the worst part was that I had helped him build the company that gave him the means to carry it out.
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then another message arrived.
You need to stop asking questions about the accident.
A second message followed.
Daniel isn't the only person who will lose everything if you keep digging.
I showed Mr. Collins.
His expression changed.
"Don't respond.""
He photographed the messages.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown caller.
I answered on speaker.
A man's voice came through.
"Mrs. Harrington?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Michael Reed.""
Richard sat upright.
Mr. Collins reached for his phone.
Reed continued.
"I understand you've received some documents tonight.""
"How do you know that?""
"Because Daniel called me ten minutes ago.""
I looked at Richard.
Reed's voice lowered.
"You need to understand something. Daniel isn't the only person who signed those agreements.""
"Who else?""
A pause.
Then he said:
"Your father.""
The world stopped.
I gripped the edge of the seat.
"My father died twelve years ago.""
"I know.""
"Then explain what you're talking about.""
Reed took a breath.
"Your father didn't die believing Daniel was a good man, Emily.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"What does my father have to do with this?""
"He was the first person to discover what Daniel was doing with the company.""
My mouth went dry.
Reed's final words came quietly.
"And before he died, he left something for you. Something Daniel has been trying to find for years.""
The call ended.
Nobody spoke.
Then Richard slowly turned toward me.
"Emily, what was your father's full name?""
I stared at him.
"Robert Bennett.""
Richard closed his eyes.
May you like
When he opened them again, he looked terrified.
"Then we have a much bigger problem.""
