Chapter 11 - Nora’s Real Mission
Daniel read the entry three times.
Rachel explained that Nora had approached her privately four years earlier.
Nora had discovered suspicious payments while doing event consulting for several Whitmore executives.
She had traced some of the money to Margaret.
Instead of reporting it immediately, Nora began collecting evidence.
Rachel eventually recruited her.
They became secret allies.
Daniel sat on Lily’s bedroom floor, stunned.
Rebecca read over his shoulder.
“I didn’t know.”
Neither did Daniel.
The next page explained more.
Rachel believed Ethan was being manipulated.
She believed Charles Benton was helping Margaret hide financial crimes.
But the final paragraph changed everything again.
Nora thinks Margaret answers to someone else.
She refuses to name him until she has proof.
She says if she is wrong, the accusation would destroy Daniel.
Daniel whispered.
“Who could destroy me just by being accused?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Someone close enough that no one would believe you.”
Daniel immediately thought of his father.
But Henry Whitmore was dead.
Then Lily touched the page.
“Daddy.”
“What?”
“That lady wrote on Mommy’s book.”
Daniel frowned.
“What lady?”
“The old lady.”
“What old lady?”
“The one from the garden.”
Daniel’s pulse quickened.
“When did you see her?”
“Yesterday.”
“Where?”
“Outside my window.”
Marcus immediately checked the exterior security feeds.
At 3:14 p.m. the previous afternoon, an elderly woman had walked along the rear boundary of the property.
The camera caught her face for two seconds.
Rebecca gasped.
“Margaret.”
Daniel stared at the image.
The woman who supposedly disappeared years earlier had been watching Lily the day before the tea incident.
Police expanded their search.
Meanwhile, Daniel went to see Nora.
She was still being held for questioning.
When she entered the interview room, her cheek was faintly bruised from his slap.
Daniel felt no pride in what he had done.
But neither could he forget the marks on Lily’s wrist.
He placed Rachel’s blue journal on the table.
Nora’s eyes filled immediately.
“You found it.”
“You knew it existed.”
“Yes.”
“You worked with my wife.”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me.”
“I promised her.”
“She is dead.”
“And for a long time, I thought telling you would make Lily next.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“You became engaged to me because of an investigation?”
Nora flinched.
“At first, I stayed close because I needed access.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“No.”
“Did you ever love me?”
Nora’s eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
“That is not enough anymore.”
“I know.”
“Tell me about the tea.”
Nora looked down.
“Ethan contacted me two months ago.”
She explained that Margaret had resurfaced and threatened Ethan.
Ethan wanted to expose her.
They devised a dangerous plan to trigger Daniel’s attention because they believed his phones and office were compromised.
The bottle was supposed to contain an unpleasant but non-lethal substance.
Something that would make the tea obviously suspicious if spilled.
Lily was never supposed to be involved.
“Then why did you grab her?”
“Because Ethan called me ten minutes before dinner.”
Nora’s hands began shaking.
“He told me the bottle had been switched.”
Daniel stared at her.
“He said what was inside could actually hurt you.”
“Why didn’t you just knock the cup away?”
“I tried to get to you.”
“You grabbed Lily instead.”
“She ran between us.”
Nora closed her eyes.
“I panicked.”
Daniel said nothing.
Then Nora looked at him.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Ethan wasn’t the person who told me the bottle was switched.”
“Who was?”
“Someone called from his phone.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“And?”
May you like
Nora’s voice dropped.
“It was your father’s voice.”
