Chapter 2 - THE FIRST LIE
Daniel grabbed the edge of the kitchen counter.
"Emma, please."
She kept her phone in her hand.
Margaret stood behind her, trembling.
"Tell me exactly what happened," Emma said.
Daniel swallowed.
"Your mother came over unexpectedly."
Margaret shook her head.
"I called you."
"You didn't tell me she was coming."
"I texted you."
"I didn't see it."
Emma looked at her mother.
"Why did you come?"
Margaret hesitated.
"I needed to talk to you."
"About what?"
Her mother looked at Daniel.
That glance lasted only a second.
But Emma noticed.
Daniel noticed too.
"She was upset," he said quickly.
Margaret's voice became firmer.
"I was upset because I found something."
Daniel stepped forward.
"What did you find?"
Emma turned toward him.
"You know?"
Daniel stopped.
Margaret reached into her cardigan pocket.
She pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
"I found this in Daniel's desk."
Emma took it.
Her eyes moved across the numbers.
Bank transfers.
Names.
Dates.
Amounts.
Thousands of dollars.
Emma looked up.
"What is this?"
Daniel's expression changed again.
"It's nothing."
"Then why did you hit my mother?"
"I didn't hit her."
Margaret whispered, "He pushed me."
Daniel shook his head.
"She slipped."
"You just said she attacked you."
"I was angry."
Emma stared at him.
"So which story is true?"
Daniel had no answer.
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
Emma opened it.
There was a photograph.
Daniel standing outside a hotel.
Beside him was another woman.
A blonde woman in a black coat.
Emma's blood ran cold.
She looked at Daniel.
"Who is she?"
Daniel's face went completely still.
"Emma..."
"Who is she?"
"Someone from work."
"At a hotel?"
"Business meeting."
"At midnight?"
He said nothing.
Margaret closed her eyes.
Emma felt the room spinning.
The broken vase no longer seemed like the biggest problem.
There were secrets everywhere.
And apparently, her mother had known enough to become dangerous.
Emma turned toward Margaret.
"Mom, what else did you find?"
Margaret looked frightened.
"Everything."
Daniel suddenly moved toward the door.
Emma stepped in front of him.
"Where are you going?"
"To get some air."
"No."
His eyes narrowed.
Emma held up her phone.
"You aren't leaving until we understand what happened."
Daniel stared at her.
Then he smiled.
May you like
It was a cold smile Emma had never seen before.
"You really should have stayed out of this."
