Chapter 8: The Man Who Claimed He Was Saving Them
Thomas Vale arrived at the house before Daniel could call him.
That alone bothered him.
The moment Daniel stepped into the living room and saw Thomas standing there, calmly drinking coffee, he knew.
Thomas knew.
The question was how much.
"I heard Renata left.""
Thomas said it casually.
Too casually.
Daniel stared.
"How did you know?""
Thomas looked at him.
"People talk.""
"People?""
"Neighbors. Employees.""
Daniel walked closer.
"You came here quickly.""
Thomas smiled slightly.
"I care about you.""
For twenty years, those words would have comforted Daniel.
Now they sounded empty.
"Did you know about Elena's letter?""
The smile disappeared.
Only for a second.
But enough.
Daniel saw it.
Thomas placed the cup down.
"What letter?""
"Don't do that.""
"Do what?""
"Pretend.""
Thomas sighed.
"Daniel, you are emotional.""
That sentence.
That exact sentence.
Renata had used it.
And suddenly Daniel understood something.
They both believed the same thing.
That if they made him doubt himself enough, they could control him.
"I found Elena's notebook.""
Thomas became still.
Daniel watched him carefully.
"You know what was inside.""
Thomas didn't answer.
"Your name was there.""
A long silence followed.
Then Thomas sat down.
"You don't understand.""
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
Thomas looked tired.
Not guilty.
Tired.
"I tried to protect you.""
Daniel stared.
"From what?""
"From the truth.""
"Which truth?""
Thomas looked toward Sofia.
The little girl was upstairs with Dolores.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Elena was in danger.""
Daniel's heart stopped.
"From who?""
Thomas didn't answer immediately.
And that hesitation told Daniel everything.
"Say it.""
Thomas looked away.
"Renata.""
Daniel felt anger rise.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because you loved her.""
"Renata?""
"No.""
Thomas looked at him.
"Elena.""
That hurt.
Because it was true.
Daniel had loved Elena.
He still did.
And maybe that was why he couldn't see what was happening.
Thomas continued.
"After Elena found out about Renata, she became afraid.""
"What did she find out?""
Thomas looked down.
"Renata had been stealing information from your company.""
Daniel froze.
"What?""
"Financial documents. Private files.""
"Why?""
"I don't know.""
"But you knew?""
Thomas didn't answer.
Daniel's anger exploded.
"You knew someone was hurting my family, and you said nothing?""
"I was trying to investigate.""
"No.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"You were controlling the situation.""
Thomas stood.
"You think I wanted Elena dead?""
The words hung there.
Dead.
Not gone.
Not accident.
Dead.
Daniel noticed.
"You just said dead.""
Thomas froze.
A mistake.
A single word.
But sometimes one word revealed everything.
"What happened the night Elena died?""
Thomas looked at him.
And for the first time, Daniel saw fear.
Not guilt.
Fear.
"Daniel...""
"What happened?""
Thomas lowered his voice.
"Elena was going to leave.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Leave where?""
"With Sofia.""
"Why?""
"Because she discovered something.""
"What?""
Thomas looked toward the window.
Then whispered:
"She discovered Sofia wasn't the only child Renata had manipulated.""
Daniel frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Thomas didn't answer.
Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope.
"I kept this because I thought one day you would need it.""
Daniel stared.
"What is it?""
"Something Elena gave me.""
"Why didn't you give it to me before?""
Thomas looked at him.
"Because she made me promise.""
Daniel grabbed the envelope.
"What did she say?""
Thomas's voice was quiet.
"She said if anything happened to her, I had to wait until you were ready to hear the truth.""
Daniel opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Another photograph.
But this one was different.
It showed Renata.
Standing beside Elena.
And between them was a young girl.
Not Sofia.
A child Daniel had never seen.
On the back, Elena had written:
"She knows what Renata did before.""
Daniel looked up.
"Who is this child?""
Thomas didn't answer.
Because he didn't need to.
The name was written beneath the photograph.
A name Daniel recognized from the old news reports.
A name connected to a case everyone thought was closed.
"Her name is Lily.""
Daniel's face went pale.
"Lily Hart?""
May you like
Thomas nodded.
"The girl who disappeared eight years ago.""
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