Chapter 10 - Daniel Brings The Wrong Bargain
Daniel raised both hands.
“I came to make a deal.”
Gabriel stood between him and Sarah.
“Put the case down.”
Daniel obeyed.
He looked exhausted.
His expensive suit was wrinkled, his silver hair damp from rain.
Victoria stared at him.
“You were here yesterday.”
Daniel looked at his daughter.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You threatened Sarah.”
“I was trying to scare her.”
“You said you’d handle her like Eleanor.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Victoria’s voice broke.
“What did that mean?”
He looked older when he answered.
“That I was a coward.”
Gabriel took one step forward.
“You helped kill my mother.”
Daniel nodded once.
“I helped cover it.”
“That recording says more.”
“I know.”
He looked at the red case.
“Which is why I brought this.”
Maya called police while Gabriel kept Daniel in sight.
Daniel did not run.
Perhaps he had finally realized there was nowhere left to go.
Inside the case were financial ledgers, original shell-company agreements, burner phones, and a stack of mini-recorders.
Ethan had kept records of everything.
Not because he was careless.
Because he trusted no one.
Daniel had stolen the case from the storage unit before police arrived.
“For leverage,” Gabriel said.
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You were going to bargain your way out.”
“I was going to bargain you out.”
She stared at him.
“By blaming everyone else?”
“By giving them Ethan.”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
“And Sarah?”
Daniel said nothing.
That silence answered the question.
Sarah felt Gabriel tense beside her.
Daniel quickly added, “Ethan wanted her eliminated.”
The room froze.
Victoria whispered, “Eliminated?”
Daniel looked at Sarah.
“He knew she saw the folder. He wanted me to create a reason for her to disappear.”
Sarah’s mouth went dry.
“What kind of reason?”
“A theft accusation. Immigration issue. Anything.”
“I’m an American citizen.”
“I know.”
Daniel looked down.
“He didn’t care if it was true.”
Gabriel’s voice became dangerously quiet.
“And if that failed?”
Daniel did not answer.
Gabriel stepped closer.
“If that failed?”
Daniel finally looked at him.
“He said accidents happen in tall buildings.”
Sarah stopped breathing.
Gabriel’s face changed.
Every muscle locked.
Victoria began sobbing.
Police arrived moments later.
Daniel was taken into custody.
The red case became federal evidence.
For the first time since dinner, Sarah felt something like relief.
Then Maya found the hidden compartment.
Inside was a sealed envelope.
On the front, in Eleanor Sterling’s handwriting, were the words:
FOR GABRIEL — IF ETHAN EVER BETRAYS ME.
Gabriel stared at it.
Daniel, already in handcuffs, looked back from the doorway.
“I never opened that.”
Gabriel picked up the envelope.
His hands were shaking.
Inside was not a letter.
It was a photograph.
Eleanor standing beside Ethan.
Between them was a little girl, perhaps eight years old.
On the back, Eleanor had written one sentence.
May you like
Ethan believes she is his daughter.
He is wrong.
