Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT SARAH DISAPPEAREDSarah told me the truth that night.
She had discovered that someone was planning to kill me.
Not scare me.
Not frighten me.
Kill me.
She found evidence in my office.
Bank transfers.
Property documents.
A list of people who stood to gain if I died.
She confronted Claire.
Claire panicked.
She told Sarah that if she exposed the truth, everyone would die.
Sarah didn't believe her.
So Claire arranged the accident.
But something went wrong.
Sarah survived.
And instead of taking her to a hospital…
Claire took her to the cellar.
Because she needed time.
Time to erase the evidence.
Time to convince me Sarah was dead.
Time to move the money.
Time to control the company.
“But why didn't you escape?” I asked.
Sarah looked at me.
“I tried.”
“How?”
“Three times.”
“What happened?”
“Claire threatened Ethan.”
I looked toward my son.
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“She told me that if I escaped, she'd make sure he disappeared.”
I closed my eyes.
I understood.
Sarah hadn't stayed because she was weak.
She had stayed because she was protecting our son.
The sheriff reviewed the evidence.
“We can charge Claire with kidnapping, fraud, conspiracy and attempted murder.”
“But?”
“We still need the person who ordered it.”
I looked at the photograph of Robert.
“Robert knows.”
“Yes.”
“We need him.”
Two days later, Robert agreed to meet.
He chose the old train station.
I went with the sheriff.
Robert stood alone beneath a broken light.
He looked exhausted.
“You're Daniel.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I worked for your father.”
“I know.”
“I knew about the trust.”
“Then tell me everything.”
Robert looked around.
“Your father discovered Teresa had been stealing.”
“And?”
“He planned to expose her.”
“What stopped him?”
“Claire.”
I frowned.
“Claire?”
“She was in love with your father.”
I stared.
“What?”
Robert nodded.
“Claire believed Teresa had destroyed your family.”
“She helped Teresa.”
“At first.”
He handed me a folder.
“Then Claire realized Teresa was planning to kill you.”
“So why did she imprison Sarah?”
“Because Claire made a deal.”
“With whom?”
Robert looked at me.
“Your father's brother.”
Nathan.
I felt my jaw tighten.
“He promised Claire money.”
“And protection.”
“In exchange for what?”
“Your death.”
I froze.
“Why?”
“Because Nathan believed the trust would pass to him if you died without children.”
“But I had Ethan.”
“He didn't know Ethan was protected by the original trust.”
“So Claire kept Sarah alive to force her to sign?”
“Yes.”
“And the accident?”
“Was supposed to kill you.”
I stared at him.
“Who was driving?”
Robert hesitated.
“Teresa.”
I felt sick.
My own mother had been behind the wheel.
Robert opened another folder.
Inside was a handwritten confession.
Teresa's handwriting.
She had admitted everything.
The money.
The forged documents.
The accident.
The kidnapping.
But there was one sentence that changed the entire case.
I never intended to hurt Ethan. Nathan told me he would protect him.
I looked at Robert.
“Where is Nathan?”
Robert shook his head.
“Gone.”
“When?”
“Last night.”
My phone rang.
A message appeared.
Bring Ethan to the old ranch. Come alone.
Then another.
Or Sarah dies.
I looked at the sheriff.
He read the message.
“We're coming with you.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“He'll see you.”
The sheriff stared.
“Daniel…”
“I'll go.”
I looked at Sarah.
May you like
She knew what I was thinking.
I wasn't going to let anyone use my family as bait again.
