Chapter 9 - THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Daniel Cross survived surgery.
Barely.
The hospital placed two police officers outside his room.
Luca placed two of his own men across the hall.
Mara noticed the difference.
The police officers drank vending-machine coffee.
Luca’s men never stopped watching the elevators.
“He worked for Thorne for twenty-two years,” Mara said.
Luca nodded.
“He knows everything.”
“Then why would Charles hurt him?”
“Because people become dangerous when they start remembering they have consciences.”
Daniel regained consciousness just before dawn.
He asked for Mara.
The request stunned her.
She entered the room alone after Luca checked with the doctor.
Daniel looked twenty years older than he had at the mansion.
His skin was gray.
A bandage covered his shoulder and chest.
“Mara.”
She stood beside the bed.
“Did my mother know you?”
His eyes filled with shame.
“Yes.”
“Did you know what happened to her?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Mara waited.
Finally, he whispered, “I drove her.”
“Where?”
“To Keller’s clinic.”
Her throat tightened.
“Did you know he was hurting her?”
“Not at first.”
“And later?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Yes.”
Mara wanted to scream.
Instead, she asked, “Why didn’t you help?”
“Because Charles owned everything about my life.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“No.”
Daniel’s eyes filled.
“It’s an excuse.”
Mara said nothing.
He continued.
“Your mother discovered Charles was moving campaign money through his foundation.”
“We found records.”
“They’re only part of it.”
“Where’s the rest?”
Daniel swallowed painfully.
“Preston.”
Mara froze.
“Preston has it?”
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“Eleanor gave him something before she died.”
Mara remembered the letter.
Do not trust Preston simply because he loves you.
“Did Preston know she was being poisoned?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Not until the end.”
“What did he do?”
“He confronted Charles.”
Mara’s heartbeat increased.
“And?”
“Charles showed him photographs.”
“What photographs?”
“Of you.”
Mara frowned.
“What kind of photographs?”
“Nothing real.”
Daniel struggled for breath.
“Staged pictures.”
“Staged how?”
“Charles wanted Preston to believe you were having an affair with a contractor.”
Mara stared.
“That’s why Preston accused me.”
Daniel nodded.
“He knew later that they were fake.”
Her face hardened.
“And he still divorced me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Because Charles threatened to destroy you if Preston stayed.”
Mara laughed bitterly.
“So he protected me by letting them turn me into a servant?”
Daniel winced.
“He failed you.”
“Yes.”
“He knows that.”
“I don’t care.”
Daniel’s breathing became shallow.
Mara leaned closer.
“Who shot you?”
Fear moved across his face.
He looked toward the door.
Mara followed his gaze.
Nobody was there.
“Daniel.”
He whispered a name.
“Bianca.”
Mara stopped.
“Bianca shot you?”
“She found me copying files.”
Mara’s skin went cold.
“She knows about the ledger?”
“She knows enough.”
“Where is it?”
Daniel reached weakly toward the bedside table.
“There.”
Mara opened the drawer.
Empty.
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“No.”
“What?”
“It was here.”
“What was?”
“A key card.”
The hospital door opened.
Luca entered.
His expression was dangerous.
“What happened?”
“Something is missing.”
Before Daniel could answer, the fire alarm began ringing.
Red lights flashed.
A nurse shouted in the corridor.
Luca moved toward Mara.
“Stay close.”
Smoke began pouring from the far end of the hallway.
Patients were being wheeled toward emergency exits.
Daniel grabbed Mara’s wrist.
“Listen.”
His voice was desperate.
“The final ledger is not paper.”
Mara leaned closer.
“What is it?”
Daniel struggled.
“Video.”
Mara stared.
“Video of what?”
His eyes locked onto hers.
“Your mother.”
The alarm screamed.
“She recorded Charles.”
Luca looked toward the doorway.
Security men were shouting.
Daniel’s voice faded.
May you like
“Preston has the only copy.”
Then the lights went out.
