Chapter 7: The Truth Sarah Buried
Sarah stared at the sentence on the envelope until the letters blurred.
“The person who caused his death must never know Daniel is alive.””
Her knees weakened.
Daniel caught her before she fell.
“Mom.””
She gripped his arm.
“I didn't write that.””
Captain Reed stepped forward.
“The signature has been authenticated.””
Sarah looked at him.
“Then someone forged it.””
The senior officer shook his head.
“No.””
“Then why don't I remember?””
Nobody answered.
Daniel turned toward Robert.
“You knew about this.””
Robert's eyes were wet.
“I knew there was a document.””
“You knew my mother signed something saying I was alive?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told her?””
“I was protecting you.””
Daniel's laugh was hollow.
“From my own family?””
Robert looked at Michael.
“From him.””
Michael stiffened.
“Don't put this on me.””
“You disappeared.””
“Because you threatened me.””
Sarah looked between them.
“You threatened my brother?””
Robert shook his head.
“I told him to stay away.””
Michael stepped forward.
“You told me if I came back, Sarah would lose Daniel.””
Sarah's face tightened.
“Why?””
Robert looked at her.
“Because someone was watching.””
“Who?””
“I never knew.””
Michael laughed bitterly.
“You knew enough to be afraid.””
Daniel looked at the senior officer.
“Sir, you were there the night my father died.””
The officer nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then tell me what happened.””
The officer's shoulders dropped.
“Marcus Cole came to the hospital around midnight.””
Sarah closed her eyes.
A faint memory returned.
A man's voice.
A hand against a glass window.
Someone saying her name.
The officer continued.
“He had documents proving someone had been diverting money from a military family assistance fund.””
Daniel frowned.
“What does that have to do with me?””
“Everything.””
The officer opened the sealed envelope.
“Marcus had discovered that your education account had been created using money taken from that fund.””
Robert looked away.
Sarah stared at him.
“You stole money?””
Robert immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Michael answered instead.
“Not him.””
Everyone turned.
Michael pointed at Robert.
“He was being used.””
Robert swallowed.
“Marcus figured out the money was being routed through an account under Sarah's name.””
Sarah whispered, “Mine?””
“Yes,” Michael said.
“But you didn't know.””
Daniel stared at his mother.
“Why would anyone use your name?””
“Because you were the perfect cover,” Michael said.
“A young mother. A newborn child. A husband with military connections. Nobody would question small deposits made for a child's future.””
Captain Reed nodded.
“The account eventually funded Daniel's education.””
Daniel looked at the medal in his hand.
“So my career was built with stolen money?””
“No,” the officer said firmly.
“Then what?””
“The money was recovered.””
Daniel looked confused.
“Then why was everything sealed?””
The officer hesitated.
“Because Marcus discovered the person behind it had access to military records.””
Sarah's heart pounded.
“Who?””
The officer looked toward Vanessa.
Vanessa's face changed.
“No.””
Daniel noticed.
“Why are you looking at her?””
Vanessa stepped backward.
“Don't.””
Robert stood.
“Vanessa, stay where you are.””
She looked at him.
“You said this was buried.””
Robert's voice hardened.
“It was.””
Michael shook his head.
“No. You buried it.””
Vanessa suddenly grabbed her purse.
Daniel moved toward her.
“Where are you going?””
“I need air.””
“You're not leaving.””
She stopped.
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“What did you know?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“I knew Robert had a secret.””
“What secret?””
“That he wasn't your biological father.””
Daniel stared at her.
“I already know that.””
“No,” Vanessa whispered.
“You don't.””
The room fell silent.
Vanessa reached into her purse.
She pulled out a folded envelope.
Robert's face went pale.
“Vanessa, don't.””
She held it toward Daniel.
“I found this in Robert's desk.””
Daniel took it.
On the front was written:
*FOR SARAH — IF MICHAEL EVER RETURNS.*
Sarah stepped closer.
“Open it.””
Daniel unfolded the paper.
His eyes moved across the first paragraph.
Then he stopped.
“What?””
Sarah asked.
Daniel looked up.
“It says Marcus didn't die that night.””
Michael's face went rigid.
“What?””
Daniel handed him the letter.
Michael read it.
His hands began shaking.
“No…”
Sarah whispered, “What does it say?””
Michael couldn't speak.
Daniel took the letter back.
“It says Marcus survived the shooting.””
Sarah's breath caught.
“Shooting?””
The senior officer lowered his eyes.
Michael looked at him.
“You knew?””
The officer said nothing.
Daniel continued reading.
“‘Marcus survived the first attack. He was transferred under a false identity before anyone could find him.’”
Sarah covered her mouth.
“Then where is he?””
Robert suddenly whispered:
“We never found him.””
Michael stared at him.
“You said he died.””
“I thought he did.””
“You let me believe it.””
“I was told he was dead!””
“By whom?””
Robert looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head.
“No.””
Daniel stepped toward her.
“Who told you?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know his name.””
“Who?””
“A colonel.””
The senior officer suddenly went pale.
Daniel turned toward him.
“You?””
The officer shook his head.
“No.””
“Then who?””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
A sharp metallic sound came from outside the ballroom.
Everyone froze.
Captain Reed drew the curtain aside.
A black SUV was parked directly outside.
Its rear door opened.
A man stepped out.
Vanessa stared through the glass.
Her face drained of color.
“Oh God.””
Sarah whispered, “Who is that?””
May you like
Vanessa looked at her.
“The man who told Robert Marcus was dead.””
