Chapter 3 - THE MAN WHO NEVER CAME BACK
Daniel arranged for formula to be delivered anonymously.
Then diapers.
Then groceries.
Then a heater.
He refused to let Rachel know the full amount.
But Lily knew.
Children noticed everything.
One evening, she found Daniel's name on a receipt.
She stared at it.
Then she folded it carefully and placed it inside a shoebox beneath her mattress.
Daniel didn't know.
Months passed.
The twins grew.
Owen became loud.
Noah became quiet.
Lily became Daniel's unexpected shadow.
Whenever he visited the neighborhood, she appeared at the window.
Whenever he brought supplies, she insisted on helping.
She also asked questions.
“How many stores do you own?”
“I'm not sure.”
“More than ten?”
“Yes.”
“More than fifty?”
“Yes.”
“More than a hundred?”
Daniel smiled.
“Yes.”
“Then you're rich.”
Grant laughed.
Daniel shook his head.
“Money doesn't make someone rich.”
Lily considered that.
“What does?”
“People.”
She frowned.
“That's confusing.”
“Good.”
“Why good?”
“Because if it were simple, everyone would understand it.”
She thought about that for a long time.
Then she asked, “Do you have children?”
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Some things don't happen the way you expect.”
She nodded.
“Like parents dying.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Like people leaving.”
“Yes.”
“Like being poor.”
Daniel's expression softened.
“Yes.”
She stared at the floor.
“Then maybe some things happen so something else can happen.”
Daniel didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Because those words reminded him of his own past.
His father had died when Daniel was nineteen.
His mother had spent years blaming herself.
Daniel had built Mercer Market from one small grocery store his father left behind.
He had promised himself never to depend on anyone.
Never to owe anyone.
Never to need anyone.
Then a ten-year-old girl had walked into his store with eleven dollars and forty cents.
And somehow, she had made him realize how empty his success felt.
One year later, Rachel disappeared.
Daniel received the call at 2:13 a.m.
“Mr. Mercer?”
It was Lily.
Daniel sat up.
“Lily?”
“I can't find Aunt Rachel.”
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“Lock the door.”
“I did.”
“Where are the twins?”
“With me.”
“Stay there.”
Twenty minutes later, Daniel arrived.
The police were already there.
Rachel's purse was missing.
Her phone was gone.
Her bank account had been emptied.
And on the kitchen table was a handwritten note.
I'm sorry. I couldn't do this anymore.
Lily stared at it.
“She left us.”
Daniel crouched.
“She may come back.”
“No.”
Lily shook her head.
“She wouldn't leave the babies.”
Daniel didn't know what to say.
Then Lily whispered:
“Someone made her.”
Daniel looked up.
“What?”
“She was scared.”
“Of who?”
Lily shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Daniel looked around the apartment.
Something felt wrong.
Rachel hadn't simply disappeared.
Someone had frightened her.
And Daniel intended to find out who.
Three days later, Rachel's abandoned car was found near the river.
Inside was her purse.
Her phone.
And a photograph.
Daniel recognized the woman immediately.
Lily's mother.
But there was something written on the back.
HE KNOWS ABOUT THE MONEY.
Daniel stared at the words.
“What money?”
Grant stood beside him.
“We're looking into it.”
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
“Find out everything.”
“About Rachel?”
“No.”
May you like
Daniel's eyes hardened.
“About Lily's mother.”
