Chapter 14: The Truth Emily Couldn't Tell Her Mother
Nancy opened the envelope with trembling fingers.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Mom,
If you found this, it means Dad finally came back.
I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. But I need you to know that I tried to stop them.
The original registry isn't the only evidence hidden in the diner.
There's a second file.
Look beneath the booth where Dad used to sit.
Table Seven.
Nancy read the letter twice.
“Emily knew about this?””
Walter took the paper.
His expression softened.
“She helped me hide the second file.””
Mack frowned.
“Wait. You said she gave Richard the original documents.””
“She did. But after she learned what they were doing, she started collecting evidence against them.””
Nancy looked toward the dining room.
“Why didn't she tell me?””
Walter sighed.
“Because she was afraid.””
Nancy folded the letter.
“I'm going to find her.””
Thomas shook his head.
“Not until we secure the building.””
Nancy pointed toward Table Seven.
“Then secure it. I know exactly where to look.””
Table Seven stood near the window.
It was the booth where Walter had always sat when he visited Nancy during her lunch break.
He used to order black coffee and a grilled cheese sandwich.
Sometimes he brought flowers.
Sometimes he brought absolutely nothing and simply sat there until she finished work.
Nancy ran her fingers across the wooden table.
“Remember this place?””
Walter smiled.
“You once spilled an entire pot of coffee on my trousers.””
“You startled me!””
“I was sitting quietly.””
“You said something about my cooking.””
Walter laughed.
“I said your cooking was wonderful.””
“You said it tasted like cardboard.””
“Cardboard can be wonderful.””
Mack shook his head.
“Forty-three years together, and you two still argue about sandwiches.””
Nancy smiled.
Then she crouched beside the booth.
A small wooden strip had been attached beneath the seat.
She pulled it gently.
A narrow compartment opened.
Inside was a black USB drive and another envelope.
This one contained a photograph of Richard Cole standing beside a man Nancy didn't recognize.
Walter took the photograph.
His face went rigid.
“Who is that?”” Thomas asked.
Walter didn't answer.
He turned the photograph over.
On the back were the words:
The judge who approved the transfers.
Thomas studied it.
“That can't be right.””
“Why?”” Mack asked.
Thomas looked up.
“Because that man is Judge Arthur Bennett.””
Nancy frowned.
“Should I know him?””
“He's a retired county judge. He signed several emergency property transfer orders during the period we're investigating.””
Walter nodded.
“He was receiving payments from Richard.””
Thomas's jaw tightened.
“That's a serious allegation.””
Walter handed him the USB drive.
“Everything is there.””
Thomas placed it in an evidence bag.
Then he noticed a second document.
It was a bank transfer statement.
Three payments had been made to a company registered under a different name.
The final payment was dated two weeks ago.
Nancy looked at the amount.
“Two hundred thousand dollars?””
Thomas nodded.
“Someone is still paying to keep this quiet.””
Mack looked toward the window.
“Who received it?””
Thomas read the company name.
Then he looked at Walter.
“Your daughter.””
Nancy felt the floor disappear beneath her.
“What?””
Thomas turned the paper toward her.
The company was registered to Emily Miller.
Walter closed his eyes.
“No.””
Nancy stepped backward.
“Emily?””
Thomas checked the date.
“Two weeks ago.””
Nancy's voice shook.
“She told me she was done with those people.””
Walter took the document.
“Emily wouldn't—”
A phone rang.
Everyone looked toward Nancy.
It was Emily.
Nancy answered immediately.
“Where are you?””
“Mom?””
“Where are you, Emily?””
“I'm safe.””
“Did you receive two hundred thousand dollars from Richard Cole?””
Silence.
Nancy closed her eyes.
“Answer me.””
Emily began crying.
“I can explain.””
“Then explain!””
“I didn't take the money for myself.””
“Whose money was it?””
“Dad's.””
Walter took the phone.
“Emily?””
There was a sharp gasp.
“Dad?””
Walter's eyes filled.
“Sweetheart.””
“Oh my God.””
Emily sobbed.
“Dad, I'm sorry.””
Walter leaned against the table.
“Why did you take that money?””
“Because I had to pay someone.””
“Who?””
Emily hesitated.
“Daniel.””
Everyone turned.
Walter frowned.
“Daniel Reeves?””
“Yes.””
Nancy looked at Thomas.
“Daniel is supposed to be with the investigators.””
Emily's voice became urgent.
“Mom, listen to me. Daniel isn't the man you think he is.””
Walter gripped the phone.
“What are you talking about?””
Emily whispered:
“The man who came back from the warehouse isn't Daniel.””
Silence.
Mack slowly turned toward the entrance.
Thomas's expression hardened.
Walter spoke carefully.
“Emily, where are you?””
“I'm at home. But you need to get away from the diner.””
“Why?””
“Because the man pretending to be Daniel has been working with Richard from the beginning.””
Nancy felt her blood run cold.
Walter looked toward the front window.
A familiar figure was standing across the street.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
A badge hanging from his neck.
Daniel Reeves.
Or the man who had claimed to be him.
He raised one hand and waved.
Then Emily whispered through the phone:
“Mom, he knows where Dad is.””
The call disconnected.
Walter slowly lowered the phone.
Mack reached for his weapon.
Thomas looked at the USB drive.
Then he said something that made Nancy's heart pound.
“There's only one way to know whether the man outside is really Daniel.””
He opened the photograph from the warehouse.
And pointed to a detail in the corner.
A small tattoo on Daniel's right wrist.
Nancy looked through the window.
The man outside was wearing long sleeves.
But as he raised his phone to his ear, his cuff slipped back.
There was no tattoo.
Walter whispered:
“That's not Daniel.””
The man smiled.
Then he lifted his phone and pressed it against the glass.
May you like
A message appeared on Nancy's screen.
*You have ten minutes to hand over the original registry.*
