Chapter 5: The Man at the Door
Daniel read the sentence again.
*I think it's time you asked why your father hired me to do it.*
The bedroom went silent.
Lily pressed herself against Eleanor’s side.
Vanessa stood near the dresser with both hands over her mouth.
Marcus stared at the closed door.
Then he whispered, “Nobody opens it.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You said you came to protect my family.””
“I did.””
“Then tell me who’s standing downstairs.””
Marcus hesitated.
“I don't know his name.””
“That’s a lie.””
“I know the name he used.””
“What name?””
“Calvin Price.””
Daniel frowned.
“That doesn't mean anything.””
“It will.””
A soft chuckle came from behind the door.
The man outside had heard them.
“Still hiding behind Marcus, Eleanor?””
Eleanor shut her eyes.
Daniel turned toward her.
“You know him.””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
“Who is he?””
Her voice shook.
“Your father’s attorney.””
Daniel stared.
“My father had an attorney?””
“He represented him for years.””
“Why have I never heard that name?””
“Because after your father died, Calvin disappeared.””
The man outside laughed.
“I didn't disappear.””
The doorknob moved again.
“I was asked to leave.””
Daniel stepped toward the door.
“By whom?””
Silence.
Then Calvin answered.
“Your father.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Daniel looked over.
“Why?””
“Because Calvin never tells the whole truth.””
The voice outside became colder.
“Neither does Marcus.””
A sudden crash came from downstairs.
Lily jumped.
Vanessa grabbed her.
“What was that?””
Marcus went to the window.
“Someone's inside.””
Daniel stared at him.
“You said there was only one man.””
“There was.””
Marcus looked through the curtains.
Now there were two black vehicles parked outside.
One was the SUV from the old photograph.
The other was a sedan Daniel had never seen.
“They brought someone else,” Marcus said.
Daniel felt his pulse pound.
“Who?””
Marcus turned.
“People who don't negotiate.””
Eleanor reached into the metal box.
Her hand came out holding a small silver key.
Daniel noticed.
“What is that?””
She looked at it for several seconds.
“The key to your father's office.””
“You said his office was gone.””
“It is.””
“Then what does the key open?””
“A room beneath it.””
Daniel stared.
“There's a room under the old office?””
Eleanor nodded.
“He called it the archive.””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“You never told me you kept the key.””
“I was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
“That someone would find it.””
Daniel held out his hand.
“Give it to me.””
Eleanor did.
The key was cold.
Old.
Engraved with a single letter.
*D.*
Daniel looked at it.
“D for Dad?””
“No.””
Eleanor swallowed.
“D for Daniel.””
His eyes lifted.
“Why would he put my name on it?””
“Because he said the room belonged to you.””
The doorknob stopped moving.
Then Calvin spoke again.
“Eleanor.””
She flinched.
“You have thirty seconds.””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“What happens in thirty seconds?””
“He stops asking.””
Daniel’s voice hardened.
“And then?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Calvin began counting.
“Thirty.””
“Twenty-nine.””
“Twenty-eight.””
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“Where is the nearest exit?””
“There’s a service staircase behind the kitchen.””
“Good.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That staircase is watched.””
“Then we make another way.””
Daniel opened the window.
The balcony below was only one floor down.
“Daniel,” Eleanor whispered.
“You’re not staying here.””
He looked at Lily.
“Take Grandma.””
Lily nodded.
Vanessa moved toward the window.
“What about you?””
“I'll follow.””
She grabbed his arm.
“No.””
Daniel looked at her hand.
“Let go.””
“If you go after Calvin alone—”
“I’m not alone.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“I’ll stay with him.””
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“Daniel, your father trusted Marcus.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You were partners.””
“Once.””
“And now?””
Marcus said nothing.
Daniel pulled his arm free.
A gunshot exploded downstairs.
Lily screamed.
Eleanor covered her ears.
Vanessa dropped to her knees.
Marcus grabbed Daniel’s shoulder.
“Now.””
They moved.
Lily helped Eleanor through the window first.
Vanessa followed.
Daniel climbed last.
Marcus stayed in the bedroom.
“Go,” he ordered.
Daniel reached the balcony.
Another gunshot cracked through the mansion.
A window downstairs shattered.
Marcus jumped after them.
They hurried along the balcony toward the side stairs.
“Who’s shooting?”” Daniel whispered.
Marcus shook his head.
“Calvin doesn't usually shoot first.””
“Usually?””
“It means he came prepared.””
They reached the service staircase.
Vanessa stopped.
There were footsteps below.
Coming up.
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Back.””
They turned.
A figure emerged from the lower landing.
Black coat.
Gloves.
Gun in hand.
Daniel pulled Lily and Eleanor behind him.
The figure stopped.
He raised the gun.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Calvin.””
The man lowered the weapon slightly.
“Marcus.””
Daniel looked at him.
This was Calvin Price.
Older than the photograph.
Silver hair.
Expensive black coat.
Calm eyes.
He didn't look like a killer.
He looked like a man who had spent decades making sure other people did the dangerous work.
Calvin looked at Eleanor.
“Happy birthday.””
Eleanor's face hardened.
“You shouldn't have come.””
“I had no choice.””
“You always have a choice.””
Calvin glanced at Daniel.
“You've grown.””
Daniel stared.
“You knew me?””
“I held you when you were six.””
Daniel’s face changed.
“What?””
“Your father trusted me.””
Calvin slowly lowered the gun.
“He shouldn't have.””
Marcus stepped between them.
“You don't get to rewrite history.””
Calvin smiled.
“You've been rewriting it for twenty years.””
Daniel looked between them.
“My father hired you to kill him?””
Calvin’s smile vanished.
“No.””
Daniel took one step forward.
“Then explain that note.””
Calvin nodded toward the ledger.
“You have it.””
“Yes.””
“Then you know your father was desperate.””
“Desperate enough to ask you to murder him?””
Calvin looked at Eleanor.
“He asked me to make sure your mother survived.””
Eleanor began crying.
Daniel turned to her.
“Mom?””
Calvin continued.
“Your father knew the people behind the ledger would kill her after he was gone.””
“So he staged his death?””
“No.””
Calvin's voice softened.
“He gave me instructions.””
“What instructions?””
“To protect his family at any cost.””
Daniel frowned.
“That doesn't explain the accident.””
Calvin looked at the floor.
“Your father was already dying.””
The words stunned everyone.
“What?””
“Your father had been poisoned.””
Eleanor covered her mouth.
Daniel stared.
“That’s impossible.””
“It happened slowly,” Calvin said.
“Enough that doctors thought his health was collapsing naturally.””
Marcus looked at Calvin sharply.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing.””
“Because your father made me swear.””
Daniel's voice shook.
“Who poisoned him?””
Calvin looked at the ledger.
“That's what he was trying to prove.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“And did he?””
Calvin looked at her.
“He got close.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“How close?””
Calvin reached into his coat.
Vanessa immediately stepped back.
He pulled out a folded document.
“This was found in your father's car.””
Daniel took it.
The paper contained three names.
The first was Marcus.
The second was Calvin.
The third made Daniel stop.
*Vanessa Carter.*
Daniel looked at his wife.
“No.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I never—”
“You're on the list.””
“I know.””
Daniel’s anger returned.
“Why?””
Vanessa began crying.
“Because your father asked me to help him.””
Daniel stared.
“Help him do what?””
“Watch your mother.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew someone close to the family was feeding information to the people after him.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“Who?””
Vanessa looked at Eleanor.
Eleanor looked away.
Calvin said quietly, “Your mother knows.””
Daniel turned.
“Mom.””
No answer.
“Mom!””
Eleanor finally raised her eyes.
“I knew someone had betrayed us.””
“Who?””
“I didn't know who.””
Calvin stepped closer.
“Until tonight.””
Daniel looked at him.
“What changed?””
Calvin pointed toward the ledger.
“The payments.””
Daniel looked down.
The pages were marked with dates.
But there was one date he hadn't noticed.
His father's accident.
Beside it was a single transfer.
*$1,000,000.*
Recipient:
*E.C.*
Daniel's mouth went dry.
“Eleanor Carter.””
His mother stepped backward.
“I can explain.””
Daniel stared at the page.
“Mom…”
She shook her head.
“It wasn't for me.””
“Then who was it for?””
“I couldn't tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because if I did, Lily would have died.””
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
“Daniel, listen to her.””
He looked at Vanessa.
“You knew?””
She nodded through tears.
“Yes.””
“Everyone knew except me.””
“No,” Eleanor said.
She stepped toward her son.
“Not everyone.””
Her voice broke.
“Your father knew.””
Daniel stared.
“And he left you one last message.””
Calvin looked toward the stairwell.
“We don't have time.””
Eleanor reached into the metal box and pulled out another piece of paper.
“This wasn't in the house.””
She handed it to Daniel.
“It arrived three days before your father died.””
Daniel unfolded it.
There was only one sentence.
*The person who betrayed us is not outside the family.*
Daniel looked up.
His eyes moved slowly across the people standing before him.
Marcus.
Calvin.
Vanessa.
Eleanor.
Then Lily.
His daughter was staring at something over his shoulder.
“Daddy?””
Daniel turned.
At the top of the staircase stood a woman none of them had seen before.
She was holding a gun.
And she was smiling at Eleanor.
May you like
“It's been twenty years,” the woman said.
“I think it's time you gave me what your husband stole.””
