Chapter 9 - Daniel's Second Lie
I called Daniel before Mara could stop me.
He answered on the first ring. "Evie?"
"Why were you at the blue house three weeks ago?"
Silence.
That was all I needed.
"You lied."
"Yes."
Mara's voice sounded behind him. "What is she talking about?"
I forwarded the photograph.
Five seconds later, Mara swore.
Daniel said, "I can explain."
"Then start."
"Sofia had the coordinates."
"You told me you didn't know the house."
"I didn't know what it was."
"You knew where it was."
"Yes."
"You stood beside my hospital bed and acted surprised when Mara entered the coordinates."
"Yes."
My incision ached as my muscles tightened. "Why?"
"Because I didn't know if Thomas was dangerous."
"Did you meet him?"
"No."
"Did you enter the house?"
"Yes."
"What did you take?"
"Nothing."
"Stop answering like a witness and talk to me."
Daniel exhaled. "Three weeks ago, I found the coordinates in Sofia's cloud files. I drove down. The house was locked. I used a window."
Mara interrupted, "You committed burglary?"
"I was looking for evidence."
"That is burglary with a mission statement."
He ignored her.
"Inside, I found photographs of your family. Newspaper clippings about Mercer Development. A copy of your birth announcement."
"Mine?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know you."
"You knew enough to infiltrate my sister's baby shower."
"I took the catering job months earlier."
"Why that shower?"
Another pause.
"Because Sofia's files had a calendar entry."
"What entry?"
"V shower - trust trigger."
My blood chilled.
He had known something would happen.
Not the punch.
But something.
"You knew they planned to target me."
"I suspected they were going to pressure you financially."
"And you didn't warn me."
"I tried."
"When?"
"I asked one of the staff to tell you there was a private phone call inside. You refused to leave the patio."
I remembered.
A young server had approached me ten minutes before Mom cornered me.
"Ms. Mercer, there's a call for you inside."
I had assumed it was a mistake.
I told her anyone who needed me could call my cell.
I closed my eyes.
Daniel continued, "I thought I could watch. Record. Get evidence."
"You used me as bait."
His silence was unbearable.
"Yes."
Mara said sharply, "Daniel."
"I didn't know anyone would hurt her."
"You didn't need to know," I said. "You only needed to know they were dangerous."
"I was wrong."
"Your sister died because of these people, and you thought they would politely ask me to sign a form?"
"I was angry."
"So you made me useful."
"No."
"That's exactly what you did."
Lily's monitor beeped steadily beyond the glass.
I lowered my voice. "You jumped into the pool."
"Yes."
"You saved us."
"I almost helped put you there."
That honesty hurt more.
I ended the call.
For the first time since the shower, I truly felt alone.
My family had used me.
Daniel had used me.
Even Grandma had hidden the truth until secrecy became another form of danger.
Trust was beginning to feel like a scam people sold when they needed access.
Grant sat across the room. "I'm sorry."
"Please don't."
"For what?"
"For being the next man who says he had no idea."
He flinched.
Good.
That afternoon, Vanessa's attorney contacted Camille.
Vanessa wanted immunity.
"Absolutely not," I said.
Camille stood at the foot of my bed. "You don't decide."
"She helped steal millions."
"Correct."
"She stole my identity."
"Potentially."
"She took the locket."
"Probably."
"She laughed while I was drowning."
Camille's expression softened by one degree. "I know."
"Then why immunity?"
"Because she says she can deliver Richard, Diane, Victor Sloan, and thirty-eight million dollars."
I stared. "Where is the money?"
"She won't say without a deal."
"Of course."
"Prosecutors do not buy morality. We buy evidence."
I hated that because it was true.
"What would she get?"
"Reduced charges. Cooperation agreement. No guarantee on sentencing."
"And the assault?"
"She claims she did not know Diane would hit you."
"She still left me there."
"That matters."
I looked away. "Do what you have to."
Vanessa's interview happened that evening at the state attorney's office.
I watched remotely with Mara's permission.
Vanessa entered wearing a navy maternity dress and no makeup.
For the first time in years, she looked like my twin.
Or what I had always believed was my twin.
Camille sat across from her.
"Who controls Mariner Holdings?"
Vanessa looked at the table. "I do."
Grant covered his face.
"Who created it?"
"Victor."
"Victor Sloan?"
"Yes."
"Is he your biological father?"
Vanessa's mouth trembled. "I believe so."
"Did Richard know?"
"Yes."
"Did Diane know?"
"Yes."
"Did Evelyn?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Vanessa looked directly at the camera.
At me.
"Because Evie was the only one Grandma trusted."
Camille said, "Explain."
"Grandma told me about Laura when I was twenty-five. She told me Victor was probably my father. She also told me Richard stole Thomas's company."
"What did you do with that information?"
"I blackmailed Richard."
Grant whispered, "Jesus."
Vanessa continued. "I told him I wanted money, shares, the house. Whatever I asked."
"Why?"
"Because he spent my whole life telling me I owed him for raising me."
Her eyes filled.
"So I sent him the bill."
For one dangerous second, I understood her.
Then Camille asked, "Did you steal from investors?"
Vanessa's face hardened. "Yes."
Understanding disappeared.
"Why?"
"Victor said it was temporary."
"Was it?"
"No."
"Where is the money now?"
"I don't know all of it."
"How much do you know?"
"About twelve million."
"Where?"
Vanessa placed one hand on her stomach.
"In accounts under Evelyn's identity."
I stopped breathing.
Camille leaned forward. "Did Evelyn authorize them?"
"No."
"Who created the documents?"
"Diane."
"Who approved the bank accounts?"
"Victor."
"And Richard?"
"He knew."
"Why use Evelyn?"
Vanessa looked toward the camera again.
"Because if everything collapsed, Victor wanted one person to blame."
I felt ice move through my veins.
Camille asked the next question slowly.
"Was the pool incident supposed to kill Evelyn?"
Vanessa began crying. "No."
"Then what was supposed to happen?"
"She was supposed to sign the transfer."
"And if she refused?"
Vanessa closed her eyes. "Dad said there was another plan."
"What plan?"
"I didn't ask."
May you like
Camille's voice sharpened. "What plan, Vanessa?"
My sister whispered, "Make it look like Evie took the money and ran."
