Chapter 6 - The Grandfather With the Gold Bell
Charles Hart arrived for Christmas lunch carrying gifts.
Daniel had not invited him.
The children adored their grandfather. Charles was seventy-two, silver-haired, charming, and famous in town for donating winter coats every December.
He wore the gold bell pin.
Sophie saw it and went silent.
Charles noticed.
“What’s wrong, pumpkin?”
She stepped behind Daniel.
“Take it off.”
Charles touched the pin.
“This?”
“Take it off.”
Daniel said, “Dad.”
Charles removed it.
“Of course.”
Sophie ran upstairs.
Charles watched her go.
“What happened?”
Daniel closed the study door behind them.
“You tell me.”
Charles sighed. “I don’t enjoy riddles.”
“Evergreen Road.”
The old man’s expression barely changed.
Barely.
But Daniel saw it.
“You know it.”
“I know dozens of foundation properties.”
“Sophie remembers you there.”
Charles looked toward the ceiling.
“She was two.”
“That answer is getting popular.”
“Daniel—”
“Were you there?”
Charles sat down.
“Yes.”
Daniel’s chest tightened.
“Why?”
“Rachel called me.”
“Why?”
“She was frightened.”
“Of Warren?”
“Yes.”
“Only Warren?”
Charles did not answer.
Daniel felt rage rise.
“Dad.”
Charles looked older suddenly.
“I helped build the Hart Foundation. I brought Warren into it. I thought he was useful. By the time I understood what he had built beneath it, he had records that could destroy dozens of innocent people along with the guilty.”
“You covered for him.”
“I tried to contain him.”
“Rachel tried to expose him.”
“Yes.”
“And you stopped her?”
“No.”
“Then why were you at Evergreen?”
“To get Sophie out.”
Daniel froze.
Charles continued. “Rachel brought her there because she had no sitter and believed the property was empty. She found the hidden records. Then Warren arrived. I got Sophie out through the back.”
“Why doesn’t she remember leaving with you?”
“She was terrified.”
“Where was Meredith?”
“Trying to keep Warren away from Rachel.”
Daniel stared.
Every answer rearranged the villain.
“Did you cause Rachel’s crash?”
Charles stood abruptly. “No.”
“Did Warren?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I followed Rachel for part of the drive. Then she told me to go home to you.”
“You obeyed?”
“I made the worst decision of my life.”
Daniel’s voice broke. “You let my wife drive into a snowstorm alone while someone was threatening her?”
Charles looked down.
“Yes.”
Silence filled the room.
From upstairs came Ben’s laughter.
Ordinary.
Safe.
Daniel hated how life could continue around a truth.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because after she died, Warren showed me photographs of Sophie and newborn Ben. He said if I reopened anything, your children would spend their lives looking over their shoulders.”
“They did anyway.”
Charles nodded.
“I know.”
Daniel’s phone rang.
Marcus.
“We found Warren.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Hospital in Vermont. Different name. He was admitted this morning after collapsing.”
Daniel looked at Charles.
“I’m going.”
Charles grabbed his arm.
“Do not go alone.”
Daniel pulled away.
“You lost the right to tell me what to do six Christmases ago.”
At the Vermont hospital, Warren Cole looked nothing like the powerful man Daniel remembered. Thin. Oxygen tube. Gray skin.
But his eyes remained sharp.
“You look like Rachel,” Warren said.
Daniel nearly laughed. “That doesn’t even make sense.”
“The expression does.”
“Did you kill her?”
Warren closed his eyes.
“No.”
“Did you chase her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She had something.”
“What?”
“A list.”
“Of families?”
“Of names.”
“Whose names?”
Warren looked toward the doorway.
“People who used the foundation.”
“For theft?”
“For influence.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“Who was above you?”
Warren smiled weakly.
“You still think families have one villain.”
“Answer me.”
Warren whispered, “Rachel trusted the wrong Hart.”
Daniel’s blood chilled.
“My father?”
Warren laughed, then coughed.
“Charles was weak. Weak men are useful, but they are rarely architects.”
“Who?”
Warren looked at Daniel.
“Ask your sister why Rachel called her at 10:36 that night.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
Rebecca.
May you like
The person caring for his children.
He turned and ran.
