Chapter 4: The Man in the Black SUV
The headlights flooded through the kitchen window, turning the glass into two blinding white squares.
Lily screamed.
I didn't think.
I grabbed her and pulled her against my chest just as Eric lunged toward the hallway.
"Get away from the windows!"" he shouted.
My mother pulled Noah and Emma toward the dining room.
Melissa stood frozen in the middle of the kitchen.
For one terrible second, nobody moved.
Then the SUV's engine roared.
Tires scraped against the pavement outside.
Eric sprinted toward the front door.
I followed.
"Daniel, no!""
It was my mother screaming now.
But I was already moving.
I reached the front window and looked through the gap in the curtains.
The black SUV accelerated away from the curb.
Its rear lights disappeared around the corner.
Eric yanked the front door open.
"Stay inside.""
I stepped onto the porch.
"You're not telling me to stay anywhere.""
He turned.
"That man just watched your house.""
"And you know who he is.""
"I know what he does.""
"Then tell me.""
Eric looked down the street.
"Not here.""
I followed him onto the driveway.
My heart was pounding.
"Where?""
"Somewhere private.""
I grabbed his arm.
"You're not walking away from this.""
He turned sharply.
"I've spent eight years trying to keep you alive.""
I stared at him.
"What did you just say?""
His jaw tightened.
"I didn't mean—"
"You knew somebody was watching me?""
"No.""
"You said you've been trying to keep me alive.""
"I meant Lily.""
"You don't get to change your words now.""
Melissa appeared in the doorway.
"Eric, stop.""
He looked at her.
"You stop.""
Something passed between them.
Something old.
Something ugly.
I turned toward Melissa.
"What did he mean?""
She said nothing.
Eric laughed bitterly.
"She never told you.""
"Told me what?""
"That the man in that SUV isn't the only person who knows about Lily.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who else?""
Eric looked toward the street.
"People who shouldn't know.""
"How many?""
"I don't know.""
I stared at him.
"That isn't good enough.""
He stepped closer.
"You think tonight is about your marriage?""
He glanced toward the house.
"You think this is about Melissa slapping you?""
He shook his head.
"That was the smallest part of what happened today.""
I felt a chill.
"What happened eight years ago?""
Eric looked at Melissa.
"Ask her about the envelope.""
Melissa went pale.
"What envelope?""
I said.
She didn't answer.
Eric nodded toward her.
"The envelope Rachel gave her the night she died.""
My mother appeared behind me.
"Eric...""
He looked at her.
"You lied too.""
My mother lowered her head.
I turned.
"Mom?""
She couldn't meet my eyes.
"What's in the envelope?""
Melissa whispered,
"Nothing.""
Eric laughed.
"Still lying.""
I stepped toward Melissa.
"What's in it?""
"Daniel, please.""
"Where is it?""
She shook her head.
"Where?""
"In the storage unit.""
"With the DNA results?""
"Yes.""
"What else?""
She didn't answer.
Eric did.
"Photographs.""
My skin prickled.
"What photographs?""
"Of Lily.""
I frowned.
"Why would Rachel have photographs of Lily?""
"Not family photographs.""
Eric's voice was low.
"Photographs taken before Lily was born.""
I looked at him.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"It will.""
He paused.
"Once you understand who Rachel was afraid of.""
Melissa wiped her face.
"Eric, enough.""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"You're going to know everything tonight.""
I stared at him.
"Then start.""
He took a breath.
"Rachel wasn't just hiding Lily from me.""
"She was hiding her from somebody else.""
"Who?""
"A man named Victor.""
The name meant nothing.
"Who is Victor?""
Eric shook his head.
"I don't know his last name.""
"Then how do you know him?""
"Rachel knew him.""
"How?""
Eric hesitated.
"Before she met you.""
I frowned.
"Through work?""
"No.""
"Through Eric?""
"No.""
"Then what?""
He looked away.
"Through her father.""
That made no sense.
"Rachel's father was dead before she met me.""
"I know.""
"So?""
Eric looked at me.
"Her father owed money.""
I felt a cold knot form in my stomach.
"What kind of money?""
"Serious money.""
"To Victor?""
"We think so.""
I stared at him.
"We?""
"Me and Rachel.""
"When did you find out?""
"After she got pregnant.""
"With Lily.""
"Yes.""
I shook my head.
"Why would someone be interested in a baby because of a debt?""
"He wasn't interested in the baby.""
Eric's expression hardened.
"He was interested in what Rachel had.""
"What did she have?""
Eric looked toward Melissa.
"An account.""
Melissa whispered,
"No.""
Eric continued.
"Rachel inherited money after her father died.""
I shook my head.
"She never mentioned that.""
"Because it wasn't cash.""
"What was it?""
"A trust.""
"How much?""
Eric stared at me.
"Enough that people would kill for it.""
The porch seemed suddenly colder.
"What does that have to do with Lily?""
"Everything.""
He took another step toward me.
"Rachel discovered there was a clause in the trust.""
"What clause?""
"Her child would inherit it.""
My throat tightened.
"Lily.""
"Yes.""
"So Victor wants Lily because of the money.""
Eric shook his head.
"Not exactly.""
"What does that mean?""
"The trust only activates if Rachel is dead and the child reaches eighteen.""
I stared at him.
"Lily turns eighteen in ten years.""
"Right.""
"And Victor wants control of the trust.""
"Right.""
"But he's been looking for her for eight years.""
Eric's face became grim.
"Because the trust isn't the only thing.""
I was beginning to feel like every answer opened another door.
"What else?""
"The trust contains records.""
"What records?""
"Business records.""
My mother suddenly spoke.
"Rachel wasn't supposed to have them.""
I turned.
"Mom?""
She looked terrified.
Eric nodded.
"Rachel's father had been laundering money.""
My stomach dropped.
"My God.""
"He kept copies of everything in the trust.""
"Why?""
"Insurance.""
Eric looked toward the street again.
"Those records could destroy some powerful people.""
I glanced at Melissa.
"And Rachel was carrying those records?""
"No.""
"Then why was she killed?""
"She knew where they were.""
I felt my pulse rise.
"Where?""
Eric stared at me.
"With Lily.""
I frowned.
"How?""
"Rachel hid the access key in something she gave you.""
"What did she give me?""
"You don't remember?""
"No.""
"Think.""
I searched my memory.
Rachel had left me many things.
A letter.
A photograph.
A bracelet.
A red notebook.
I suddenly stopped.
"The notebook.""
Eric nodded.
"What notebook?""
My mother looked shocked.
"You still have it?""
I turned toward her.
"You know about it?""
She looked away.
Melissa whispered,
"It was never a notebook.""
I felt my heartbeat in my throat.
"What was it?""
"A ledger.""
The word hung in the air.
"Where is it?""
"In your house.""
I stared at Melissa.
"Where?""
She looked toward the hallway.
"In the attic.""
I couldn't move.
All these years, I had kept an old red notebook because it reminded me of Rachel.
I had occasionally taken it out.
Looked through the blank pages.
Wondered why she had given it to me.
I had never found anything important in it.
Nothing.
Or so I thought.
Eric spoke quietly.
"That ledger is why Rachel was afraid.""
I looked at him.
"How did you know about it?""
"Because she told me.""
"Before she died?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you take it?""
"Because I thought it would be safer with you.""
I stared at him.
"You let me keep evidence in my attic for eight years?""
"I didn't know where you'd put it.""
"You're unbelievable.""
He nodded.
"I know.""
I turned toward the house.
"We're getting it.""
Melissa grabbed my wrist.
"No.""
I pulled free.
"Why?""
"Because you don't understand what you're opening.""
"Then explain.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Because the ledger isn't the dangerous part.""
I stopped.
"What is?""
Melissa looked at Eric.
"The key.""
Eric's expression changed.
"What key?""
Melissa shook her head.
"I thought you knew.""
"I don't.""
"What key?""
Melissa looked at me.
Rachel's sister? Friend? No—Melissa had been roomate.
Hmm. She said "the key" maybe physical key to account.
"Rachel gave me something else.""
My voice dropped.
"What?""
"A key.""
"To what?""
"I don't know.""
Eric stared at her.
"You have it?""
Melissa nodded.
"Where?""
She looked toward the kitchen.
"Here.""
I followed her eyes.
She walked toward a cabinet near the refrigerator.
Opened the bottom drawer.
Reached beneath a stack of napkins.
Then she pulled out a small velvet pouch.
My heart began pounding.
She placed it on the counter.
I opened it.
Inside was a tiny brass key.
No label.
No number.
Just a worn piece of metal.
I looked at Melissa.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Rachel told me never to show it to you unless...""
"Unless what?""
"Unless someone came looking for Lily.""
I glanced toward the street.
"He came.""
Melissa nodded.
"Yes.""
Eric picked up the key.
He turned it over.
His face changed.
"What?""
He showed me the bottom.
There was a tiny engraving.
Three letters.
*B-17.*
I stared.
"Do you know what that is?""
Eric nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
"What?""
"A storage locker.""
My eyes narrowed.
"Where?""
"At the old Greyhound station downtown.""
"Why there?""
"Because Rachel had a locker there.""
Melissa suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Don't.""
He looked at her.
"You knew.""
"I knew the location.""
"And you kept it from me.""
"I was trying to protect Lily.""
"From what?""
Melissa's voice trembled.
"From what she inherited.""
I turned toward her.
"What does Lily inherit?""
She stared at me.
"The money.""
"How much?""
Melissa hesitated.
"Around twelve million dollars.""
The words barely registered.
"Twelve million?""
She nodded.
"The trust is bigger now.""
"How big?""
"Rachel's investments grew.""
My mind reeled.
"So Lily is the beneficiary of a twelve-million-dollar trust.""
"Yes.""
"And somebody has been trying to find her.""
"Yes.""
"And you knew all of this.""
Melissa nodded.
I stared at her.
"Why did you marry me?""
Her face crumpled.
"Because I loved you.""
I almost laughed.
"Did you?""
"Yes.""
"Then why lie?""
"Because Rachel made me promise.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
I looked at Eric.
"You too.""
He looked down.
"You both used Rachel's promise to make decisions for me.""
Neither answered.
I reached for the key.
Before I could take it, Melissa grabbed my hand.
"Don't go to that locker.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because that's what he wants.""
"Who?""
She swallowed.
"Victor.""
A car door slammed somewhere down the street.
Eric spun toward the sound.
"What was that?""
We all went silent.
Then another sound.
Footsteps.
Fast.
Coming from the side of the house.
Eric shoved me backward.
"Inside!""
The next second, a figure came around the corner.
A man in dark clothes.
He moved quickly toward us.
Eric stepped between him and the house.
"Run!""
The man stopped.
For one brief second, the porch light hit his face.
I didn't recognize him.
But Melissa did.
She gasped.
"Victor.""
The man smiled.
Not a friendly smile.
A smile from someone who had been waiting a very long time.
He looked directly at me.
Then at Lily through the front window.
"Eight years," he said.
His voice was strangely calm.
"I've been looking for that child for eight years.""
Eric stepped forward.
"You won't get near her.""
Victor laughed softly.
"That isn't your decision.""
I moved closer.
"Why do you want my daughter?""
Victor's eyes settled on me.
"Because her mother stole something from me.""
"What?""
"The truth.""
He reached into his coat.
Eric immediately shouted,
"Get down!""
I grabbed Lily through the doorway and dropped behind the hallway wall.
A loud crack split the night.
The front window exploded.
Glass rained across the living room.
The children screamed.
My mother pulled Noah and Emma to the floor.
Melissa ducked behind the kitchen island.
Eric pushed the front door shut.
"Call 911!"" I shouted.
My mother grabbed her phone.
I held Lily against me.
She was shaking violently.
"Daddy.""
"I'm here.""
"What's happening?""
I kissed the top of her head.
"I've got you.""
Another gunshot shattered the side window.
Eric grabbed a heavy chair and pushed it against the door.
"He's not leaving.""
I stared at him.
"Then what do we do?""
He looked at the brass key still in my hand.
"We use it.""
"What?""
"That's why Victor came tonight.""
Eric stared toward the broken window.
"He knows about the locker.""
Melissa shook her head.
"No.""
Eric turned toward her.
"How?""
Her face went white.
"Because I told him.""
I stared at her.
"You told Victor?""
She began crying.
"Years ago.""
"Why?""
"Because he threatened Lily.""
I felt something inside me go numb.
"How did he threaten her?""
Melissa couldn't answer.
I looked at Eric.
He did.
"He didn't threaten to hurt her.""
"What then?""
"He threatened to prove Lily was never legally yours.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Eric's voice was bitter.
"There was another clause in Rachel's trust.""
"What clause?""
He looked at Lily.
"If Rachel's biological father wasn't documented before her death, the trust could be challenged.""
I stared at him.
"Her father.""
"Yes.""
"Lily's biological father.""
"Exactly.""
I looked at Melissa.
"The DNA test.""
She nodded.
"That's why the second test mattered.""
I remembered what she'd said earlier.
The second test didn't identify me.
It didn't identify Eric.
I turned toward her.
"Who did it identify?""
Melissa covered her face.
"I was afraid to tell you.""
"Tell me.""
She shook her head.
"Say it.""
Her voice broke.
"Victor.""
Everything inside me went still.
Lily wasn't just being hunted.
Someone claimed to be her biological father.
A man who had been searching for her since the night Rachel died.
A man who had fired a gun into my house.
A man connected to a fortune worth millions.
And the woman I had married had known the answer for years.
Outside, Victor's voice came through the broken window.
"Daniel.""
I looked up.
He called my name again.
"Daniel, you have something that belongs to me.""
I stared at the brass key.
Victor continued.
"Bring me the key.""
I tightened my grip.
"Or what?""
Silence.
Then he said,
"I'll take your daughter.""
The front door shook under another impact.
Lily buried her face against my chest.
I looked at Eric.
He nodded once.
No fear.
Just certainty.
"There's a second exit through the garage.""
I shook my head.
"What about Victor?""
Eric looked toward the broken window.
"He expects us to run.""
"Then what?""
Eric pointed at the attic.
"We don't run.""
He looked at the key.
"We go up.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because the ledger is in your attic.""
He took a breath.
"And if Rachel left something behind that can prove who Victor really is...""
Another violent crash hit the front door.
"...it's up there.""
The doorframe splintered.
My mother screamed.
May you like
I grabbed Lily's hand.
And together, we ran toward the stairs.
