Chapter 7: The Photograph That Changed Everything
“Don't open that door.””
Eleanor's voice was barely above a whisper.
Outside, Daniel knocked again.
“Nia, please. I know you're frightened, but you need to hear me.””
I stared at the photograph in Eleanor's hand.
Marcus was lying in a hospital bed. His face was bruised, one arm wrapped in bandages. My father stood beside him, looking directly at the camera.
The date on the back was three years before Marcus and I met.
I took the photograph and examined it again.
“Why was Marcus in a hospital with my father?””
Eleanor glanced toward the hallway.
“Because your father saved his life.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“Marcus was involved in a serious accident. Richard found him unconscious near one of the company's construction sites. He paid for his treatment and arranged for him to receive medical care.””
“Why didn't Marcus tell me?””
“Because he didn't want you to know who he was before you met him.””
Outside, Daniel knocked harder.
“Nia! This is important!””
Olivia moved toward the window and carefully pulled back the curtain.
“He's alone,” she whispered.
Eleanor shook her head.
“Check the driveway.””
Olivia looked again.
A dark sedan was parked behind Daniel's car.
Someone was sitting inside.
I turned toward Eleanor.
“Who is that?””
“I don't know.””
Daniel's voice rose.
“Nia, whatever Eleanor has told you about me, she's leaving out something important. Your father trusted me until the day he died.””
Eleanor gave a bitter laugh.
“That's precisely the problem.””
I stepped toward the door.
“I want to hear what he has to say.””
“Nia,” Olivia warned.
“I can't spend the rest of my life hiding from people who supposedly want to protect me.””
Eleanor studied my face.
Then she nodded reluctantly.
“Keep the chain on.””
I opened the door just enough to see Daniel.
His suit was wrinkled, and his hair was disheveled. He looked exhausted.
The expression on his face changed when he saw me.
“Thank God.””
“What do you want?””
“To get you away from this house.””
“Why?””
“Because someone has been monitoring your movements.””
I held up the photograph.
“Did you know Marcus before I met him?””
Daniel's eyes dropped to it.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he sighed.
“Yes.””
My stomach tightened.
“How long?””
“Your father introduced him to me three years ago.””
“Why?””
“Because Marcus had information about Thomas.””
I stared at him.
“What kind of information?””
Daniel glanced toward Eleanor.
“May I come inside?””
“No.””
His jaw tightened.
“All right. Then listen carefully. Marcus was working as a junior financial consultant for one of your father's competitors. He discovered that Thomas was moving money through several shell companies.””
“Was he helping Thomas?””
“Initially, yes.””
Eleanor stepped into view behind me.
“That's not what Richard's records say.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“Richard didn't know everything.””
“And neither do you,” she replied.
I raised my hand.
“Both of you, stop.””
Daniel took a breath.
“Your father gave Marcus a choice. Cooperate with the investigation or face charges for his involvement in the financial transfers.””
I looked at the photograph.
“So Dad saved him.””
“Yes. Richard paid for his medical treatment after the accident and helped him avoid being blamed for something he didn't initiate.””
“Then why would Marcus betray him?””
Daniel's expression darkened.
“Because your father refused to give him what he wanted.””
“What?””
“Money. A position in the company. Eventually, a share of the business.””
I remembered Marcus's questions about the estate.
The sudden interest in my father's company.
The way he had insisted that I introduce him to every board member.
“Did Dad know he was pursuing me?””
Daniel looked directly at me.
“Yes.””
The answer hit harder than I expected.
“Then why didn't he warn me?””
“He tried.””
I shook my head.
“No. He never mentioned Marcus.””
Daniel reached into his jacket and removed a folded document.
“Three months before he died, Richard asked me to investigate a woman Marcus had become involved with. He was concerned that Marcus was approaching you.””
I stared at him.
“Was that woman me?””
“Yes.””
I stepped backward.
For years, I had remembered meeting Marcus at a charity auction.
He had spilled champagne on my dress, apologized repeatedly, and offered to pay for the cleaning. We ended up talking for almost an hour.
I had thought it was coincidence.
“You're telling me he approached me deliberately?””
Daniel nodded.
“Your father believed it was possible.””
Eleanor shook her head.
“Daniel, stop pretending you know the whole story.””
He turned sharply.
“Not now.””
I looked between them.
“What aren't you telling me?””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Your father discovered that Marcus had been contacting Thomas. He believed they were planning to gain control of the company through you.””
“Then why did you allow the wedding to happen?””
“I didn't know how far they'd gone until the power of attorney was submitted.””
Eleanor laughed coldly.
“Convenient.””
Daniel ignored her.
“I have something that may answer your questions.””
He handed me a small envelope through the opening in the door.
Inside was a printed email.
The sender was Richard Carter.
The recipient was Daniel Brooks.
The date was two days before my father's death.
Daniel,
If anything happens to me, do not let Nia sign anything involving Marcus Reed or his family. I believe Thomas has found a way to get close to her. I also believe Diane is involved.
There is something I haven't told you about Marcus. He is not simply Thomas's associate.
He is connected to the night my first wife disappeared.
I read the final sentence twice.
My first wife.
My mother.
I looked at Daniel.
“What does this mean?””
He closed his eyes briefly.
“Your father suspected that your mother's death wasn't natural.””
The world seemed to tilt.
“My mother died of an illness.””
“That was the official conclusion.””
“Are you saying she was murdered?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Eleanor spoke instead.
“Richard spent the last year of his life investigating her death. He believed she had discovered something about Diane and Thomas.””
My hands began trembling.
“What did she discover?””
Eleanor glanced toward the driveway.
Before she could answer, the dark sedan behind Daniel suddenly started its engine.
Daniel turned.
His face went white.
“Get away from the door!””
A gunshot shattered the silence.
The front window exploded.
Olivia screamed.
Daniel dropped to the ground as another shot struck the wooden doorframe.
Eleanor grabbed my arm.
“Downstairs! There's a reinforced storage room beneath the study!””
We ran through the hallway as glass scattered across the floor.
Behind us, Daniel shouted something I couldn't understand.
Then the front door crashed open.
A man's voice called from the entrance.
“Find the girl! Get the photograph!””
I clutched the picture of Marcus in the hospital.
Someone had just tried to kill us over a photograph.
May you like
And as Eleanor pulled open the hidden basement door, I realized something far worse.
The person outside knew exactly what my father had left behind.
