Chapter 10 - The Man Who Knew the Schedule.
Ethan did not defend Daniel.
That unsettled Mara more than denial would have.
He simply stared through the windshield and reconstructed nine years of trust in silence.
Daniel knew his travel.
Daniel knew his security routines.
Daniel knew which board members Ethan trusted and which ones he tolerated.
Daniel knew the old hospitality codes.
Daniel knew the acquisition schedule.
Daniel knew Ethan was dining at Aurelia.
Most important, Daniel knew enough about Ethan’s dietary restrictions to exploit them without guessing.
Mara watched Ethan process each fact.
“You thought he was family.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“No.”
“You called him before you called security.”
“That was habit.”
“That’s not what I said.”
Ethan looked at her.
“I trusted him.”
“Same thing in business clothes.”
Despite himself, Ethan almost smiled.
Then his phone rang.
Daniel.
Mara looked at the screen.
“Answer it.”
Ethan did.
“Where are you?” Daniel asked.
Ethan kept his tone neutral.
“Driving.”
“With the waitress?”
Mara’s eyes narrowed.
Ethan looked at her.
“How do you know she’s with me?”
A pause.
“I assumed.”
“You’ve made several interesting assumptions tonight.”
Daniel laughed softly.
“Ethan, I don’t know what she told you, but you need to be careful.”
“Why?”
“Her sister tried to extort Aurelia two years ago.”
Mara’s face went hot.
“That’s a lie.”
Daniel heard her.
“So she is with you.”
Ethan put the phone on speaker.
“Tell me about Claire Bennett.”
Daniel sighed.
“She found irregular invoices and decided she could make money from them.”
Mara leaned toward the phone.
“You helped her leave.”
Silence.
Ethan watched the call timer.
Daniel answered carefully.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Victor remembers your cuff links.”
Another pause.
Then Daniel’s voice changed.
“Victor Hale is terrified and compromised.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
“Because the question is based on nonsense.”
Ethan looked at Mara.
She shook her head.
Daniel continued.
“Listen to me.”
“Go ahead.”
“Do not go back to Aurelia tonight.”
Mara frowned.
“Why?”
“Because Serena is destroying records.”
Ethan’s expression changed.
“How do you know?”
“I have a source.”
“Who?”
“I can’t tell you over the phone.”
“Then where are you?”
Daniel paused.
“Come to the office.”
“You said you were home.”
“I left.”
“When?”
“Ten minutes ago.”
Mara mouthed the word liar.
Ethan already knew.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Did you authorize a $250,000 payment to Northstar tonight?”
The silence lasted exactly three seconds.
“No.”
“Did you enter Aurelia at 7:33?”
Another pause.
“No.”
Ethan closed his eyes briefly.
“Did you help Claire Bennett leave Aurelia two years ago?”
Daniel’s voice became flat.
“No.”
Ethan ended the call.
Mara stared at him.
“He lied three times.”
“At least.”
“You’re still hoping there’s an explanation.”
Ethan did not answer.
His phone buzzed again.
This time it was a text from an unknown number.
DO NOT TRUST DANIEL.
A second message arrived immediately.
DO NOT TRUST VICTOR EITHER.
Mara looked at Ethan.
“Helpful.”
A third message appeared.
SERENA IS NOT IN CHARGE.
Then a photograph loaded.
It showed Daniel sitting in a booth at Aurelia with a woman across from him.
The timestamp was from six months earlier.
The woman’s face was turned slightly away.
Mara leaned closer.
Her breath stopped.
The woman was Claire.
Ethan enlarged the photograph.
Daniel and Claire were not arguing.
They were talking calmly.
Between them sat a thick file folder.
Mara stared at her sister’s face.
“If Claire thought Daniel was part of Northstar, why would she meet him?”
“Maybe she didn’t know.”
“Or maybe he helped her.”
Ethan looked at the latest anonymous message.
“Someone wants us suspicious of everyone.”
Mara’s phone vibrated.
Unknown caller.
She answered.
“Hello?”
For several seconds, there was only breathing.
Then a woman spoke.
“Mara.”
Mara froze.
She knew that voice even after two years.
“Claire?”
Ethan sat forward.
The voice on the phone became urgent.
“Do not go to the office with Ethan.”
Mara could barely speak.
“Where are you?”
Claire ignored the question.
May you like
“And whatever you do, don’t let him open the acquisition files.”
The line went dead.
