Chapter 12: The Truth Daniel Was Never Ready to Hear
Daniel couldn't speak.
The accusation was impossible.
His father had been gone for ten years.
A man he remembered as strict.
Demanding.
Difficult.
But not a murderer.
"No.""
Thomas looked at him.
"I knew you would say that.""
"Because it's not true.""
"I wish it wasn't.""
Daniel shook his head.
"My father had nothing to do with Elena.""
Thomas's expression softened.
"That's what Elena thought too.""
The sentence stopped him.
"What does that mean?""
Thomas looked toward the road.
"Your father wasn't involved because of Elena.""
"Then why?""
"Because of Renata.""
Daniel waited.
Thomas continued.
"Your father knew about the foundation.""
The missing children.
The hidden records.
The disappearances.
"He found out what Renata had been doing.""
Daniel stared.
"And he covered it up?""
Thomas nodded.
"At first.""
The word was important.
At first.
"What changed?""
"Elena.""
Thomas looked at him.
"She found the evidence.""
Daniel felt the pieces connect.
"She was going to expose them.""
"Yes.""
"And my father stopped her?""
Thomas didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Daniel stepped back.
The world he knew was collapsing.
His father.
His best friend.
His wife.
All connected to a secret he never saw.
"Why didn't Elena tell me?""
Thomas looked heartbroken.
"Because she was afraid you would do exactly what you are doing now.""
"What?""
"Try to fight everyone.""
Daniel said nothing.
Because maybe Elena knew him too well.
Thomas reached into his jacket.
He pulled out another envelope.
"This was the last thing Elena gave me.""
Daniel didn't take it immediately.
"What is it?""
"A recording.""
Daniel stared.
"Of what?""
"Her final conversation.""
The words made his heart stop.
"With who?""
Thomas looked at him.
"Your father.""
Daniel took the envelope.
Inside was a small recorder.
His hands shook as he pressed play.
Static.
Then Elena's voice.
A voice he hadn't heard in years.
"Please understand, I don't want to hurt your family.""
A man's voice answered.
Older.
Familiar.
Daniel went pale.
His father's voice.
"You don't know what you're dealing with.""
Elena sounded scared.
"I know exactly what I'm dealing with.""
"You should stop.""
"I can't.""
A pause.
Then his father said:
"You have a daughter.""
Daniel felt tears fill his eyes.
Because that was not a warning.
It was a threat.
The recording continued.
Elena's voice became quieter.
"If anything happens to me, Daniel will know.""
His father's voice answered:
"No. He won't.""
The recording ended.
Daniel stood completely still.
Thomas looked away.
"I spent years trying to understand what happened.""
Daniel looked at him.
"And?""
Thomas swallowed.
"I found out your father didn't act alone.""
The air changed.
"Who else?""
Thomas hesitated.
Then said:
"Someone inside your company.""
Daniel already knew.
But he needed to hear it.
"Who?""
Thomas looked at him.
"The person who replaced the accident report.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
The answer was clear.
The final piece.
"Me?""
Thomas shook his head.
"No.""
A pause.
"Your brother.""
Daniel opened his eyes.
His brother.
A man he hadn't spoken to in years.
A man who had left the family after a bitter argument.
A man everyone believed was simply angry and distant.
But maybe he had been hiding something.
The phone rang.
Detective Hill.
Daniel answered.
"Where are you?"" Hill asked urgently.
"With Thomas.""
"Get away from him.""
Daniel froze.
"Why?""
A pause.
Then Hill said:
"Because we just found evidence that Thomas Vale was the person who arranged Renata's escape.""
Daniel slowly lowered the phone.
He looked at Thomas.
Thomas looked back.
And suddenly Daniel had no idea who was telling the truth.
Because everyone in this story had been hiding something.
May you like
And the person who looked like the victim...
Might have been the one who started it all.
