Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT OF FEAR
Emma called Margaret immediately.
No answer.
She called again.
Still nothing.
Panic surged through her.
Sarah grabbed her coat.
"Where does your mother live?"
"Twenty minutes away."
They drove through heavy rain.
Emma kept calling.
Nothing.
When they reached Margaret's house, the front door was open.
Emma ran inside.
"Mom!"
No answer.
The living room was dark.
A chair had been knocked over.
A lamp lay broken.
Emma's heart pounded.
Then she heard a sound upstairs.
She ran.
Margaret stood inside her bedroom.
A man was holding her wrist.
Emma screamed.
"Let her go!"
The man turned.
He ran toward the window.
Sarah shouted for the police.
Emma reached Margaret.
"Are you hurt?"
Margaret shook her head.
"I'm okay."
"Who was he?"
"I don't know."
Then a familiar voice came from downstairs.
"Emma."
Daniel.
She froze.
He stood at the bottom of the stairs, soaked from the rain.
Emma's anger returned.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to protect her."
"You can't just show up."
"I followed the man."
Sarah stepped between them.
"Don't move."
Daniel raised his hands.
"I'm not here to hurt anyone."
Emma stared at him.
"Then prove it."
Daniel pulled a flash drive from his pocket.
"This contains everything."
Sarah took it.
"What's on it?"
"Payments."
"To whom?"
"Everyone."
Daniel looked at Emma.
"My father."
"Victoria."
"Police officers."
"Politicians."
Emma felt dizzy.
"How long?"
"Years."
"Why didn't you stop him?"
Daniel looked down.
"Because I was afraid."
Margaret spoke softly.
"Your father was afraid too."
Daniel looked at her.
"What?"
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"Your father threatened him."
Daniel stared.
"He told me your father was weak."
Margaret shook her head.
"He wasn't weak."
She stepped closer.
"He was trying to protect us."
Daniel's face broke.
For the first time, Emma saw him not as the angry man in the apartment.
She saw a frightened son.
But she still couldn't trust him.
"Give us everything."
"I will."
"Then turn yourself in."
Daniel nodded.
"I know."
Sirens sounded outside.
The police entered.
Daniel slowly raised his hands.
Emma watched him being taken away.
Before he disappeared through the doorway, he looked back.
"I'm sorry."
May you like
Emma didn't answer.
Some apologies came too late.
