Chapter 11 - THE NIGHT DANIEL DISAPPEARED
Daniel disappeared the next morning.
No phone.
No security detail.
No warning.
Clare panicked.
She called him repeatedly.
Nothing.
Then she received a text.
Don't trust Daniel.
Clare stared at it.
Five minutes later, another message arrived.
He knew about your father.
Clare's heart broke.
Could Daniel have been lying?
Had he known Thomas was in danger?
Had he known about the payroll fraud?
She didn't know.
Then Lily walked into the room.
"Mom?"
Clare quickly put away the phone.
"What's wrong?"
"Where's Daniel?"
Clare looked at her daughter.
"I don't know."
Lily frowned.
"He wouldn't leave without saying goodbye."
Clare swallowed.
"No. He wouldn't."
That was when she noticed something beneath the door.
A folded piece of paper.
She opened it.
Daniel's handwriting.
Clare,
If you receive this, I've been taken.
Her blood ran cold.
Do not call the police.
Do not trust Mercer security.
Most importantly, do not open the final folder on the drive unless you're ready to know why your father died.
Clare stared at the page.
Lily whispered:
"Mom?"
Clare folded the letter.
"I'm going to find him."
She opened the laptop.
The final folder waited.
THOMAS BENNETT — DEATH
Clare clicked.
A video appeared.
Her father sat in the same chair from the first recording.
But this time, he wasn't alone.
A shadow stood behind him.
Clare recognized the voice immediately.
Victor Hale.
Thomas looked terrified.
Victor said:
"You were warned."
The screen went black.
Then a second video loaded automatically.
It showed Daniel.
Bound to a chair.
His face bruised.
Victor stood behind him.
And Victor looked directly into the camera.
"Clare."
May you like
He smiled.
"If you want Daniel alive, bring me the drive."
