Chapter 7 - THE MAN IN THE PARKING GARAGE
The next morning, Daniel left the hospital briefly.
He needed documents from his office.
The parking garage was nearly empty.
As he walked toward his car, he heard footsteps.
Daniel turned.
Nobody.
He continued.
Then a voice came from behind a concrete pillar.
“You should stop digging.”
Daniel stopped.
The unknown man stepped into view.
Marcus Vale.
Daniel recognized him immediately.
“You're Victoria's brother.”
Marcus smiled.
“You're smarter than I expected.”
Daniel approached him.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to keep my sister from going to prison.”
“She assaulted my pregnant wife.”
“She made a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
Marcus shrugged.
“People make mistakes when they're desperate.”
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“Desperate for what?”
Marcus said nothing.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Who is stealing from my company?”
Marcus smiled again.
“You still think this is about money.”
“Then what is it about?”
Marcus leaned toward him.
“Your family.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“My family?”
Marcus walked away.
Daniel followed.
“Wait.”
Marcus turned.
“You'll get your answers.”
“When?”
“When the truth becomes more valuable than the lie.”
Then he disappeared.
Daniel stood alone.
His phone rang.
It was Amelia.
“Daniel?”
“I'm here.”
“You need to come back.”
“What's wrong?”
“I found something.”
Daniel rushed upstairs.
Amelia was holding an envelope.
“It was hidden inside my hospital bag.”
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Amelia and Victoria standing together years earlier.
Daniel looked confused.
“Where was this taken?”
Amelia stared at the photograph.
“I don't remember.”
Then she noticed something.
A small handwritten date on the back.
Her face went pale.
“What?”
“That date.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Why?”
Amelia whispered.
“That was the day my mother died.”
Daniel looked again.
Victoria was standing beside Amelia.
But there was another person in the background.
Daniel recognized him.
May you like
Marcus.
And suddenly Amelia remembered something she had spent years trying to forget.
