Chapter 2: The Man in Black
The man's name was Daniel Vale.
I knew it because I'd heard it once before, late at night, when I'd been watering the garden beside the east wing.
At the time, I hadn't thought much of it.
Now, the way Vivian whispered his name made every hair on my arms rise.
Daniel stopped several feet from the crowd.
He looked remarkably calm for a man who had just walked into a room where the billionaire host had accused his wife of poisoning him.
Alexander stared at him.
“Who are you?””
Daniel's eyes moved briefly toward Vivian.
Then back to Alexander.
“You don't remember me?””
“No.””
A tiny smile touched Daniel's mouth.
“That's interesting.””
Vivian stepped forward.
“Daniel, you need to leave.””
Alexander's head snapped toward her.
“You know him.””
Vivian froze.
“We've met socially.””
Daniel gave a soft laugh.
“That's one way to describe it.””
The security chief stepped between them.
“Sir, should I remove him?””
Alexander raised a hand.
“No.””
His eyes never left Daniel.
“Let him speak.””
Daniel placed the briefcase on a nearby table.
The click of the locks opening seemed unnaturally loud.
Vivian moved forward.
“Alexander, don't.””
That was the second time she'd said those words.
And both times, she sounded terrified.
Daniel opened the briefcase.
Inside were papers.
Photographs.
A black folder.
And a small glass vial.
My stomach turned.
Alexander noticed it too.
“What is that?””
Daniel picked up the vial.
“Something you were never supposed to see.””
Vivian shouted, “Security!””
Nobody moved.
Alexander's security team was watching him now.
Waiting.
Daniel smiled faintly.
“You've spent years paying people to keep secrets,” he said.
“Tonight, you're finally going to learn what they were hiding.””
Alexander took one step toward him.
“Explain.””
Daniel turned to me.
“And perhaps the gardener should hear this too.””
My chest tightened.
“Why me?””
“Because you were watching the house this morning.””
Vivian said sharply, “He was not.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You're right.””
A pause.
“He was watching you.””
Vivian's face drained of color.
Alexander looked from her to me.
“Start talking,” he said.
I did.
“I was behind the greenhouse around eight this morning. I saw Mrs. Hawthorne leave through the side entrance.””
Vivian interrupted.
“I went for a walk.””
“At eight in the morning?””
“There is no rule against it.””
I continued.
“She wasn't alone.””
Vivian's voice rose.
“That's a lie.””
Daniel removed a photograph from the briefcase.
He placed it on the table.
It showed Vivian beside a black SUV.
Standing beside her was Daniel.
Alexander picked it up.
His fingers tightened around the photograph.
“When was this?””
Daniel answered.
“Three months ago.””
Alexander looked at Vivian.
She said nothing.
“Six months before that,” Daniel added.
Another photograph landed on the table.
Then another.
Different dates.
Different locations.
Always Vivian.
Always Daniel.
Alexander's voice became very quiet.
“How long?””
Vivian stared at the floor.
“How long have you known him?”” Alexander asked.
“I told you, we were acquainted.””
Daniel laughed.
“Acquainted?””
Vivian glared at him.
“Stop talking.””
Daniel leaned against the table.
“Tell him yourself.””
Alexander's eyes darkened.
“Tell me what?””
Vivian looked at him.
For the first time since I had entered the room, she looked less angry than broken.
Then she whispered,
“It's not what you think.””
Alexander gave a bitter smile.
“That's what people say when it is exactly what I think.””
Daniel reached into the briefcase again.
This time, he took out a thin envelope.
He slid it across the table.
Alexander opened it.
His expression changed almost immediately.
I couldn't see the papers from where I stood.
But I saw Alexander's hand begin to shake.
“What is this?”” he asked.
Daniel answered softly.
“Your revised will.””
The room went silent again.
Vivian closed her eyes.
Alexander slowly looked up.
“Why do you have my will?””
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“Because, Mr. Hawthorne, I didn't come here to expose your wife.””
He glanced at Vivian.
“I came here because someone planned to kill you before you could sign it.””
Vivian's face went white.
Alexander's voice dropped to a whisper.
“Who?””
Daniel looked straight at me.
May you like
And then he said the words that made my blood run cold.
“The person who hired me is standing in this room.””
