Chapter 10 - THE NIGHT MY FATHER DIED
Ryan sat on the edge of the bed.
“I didn't kill your father.”
I stared at him.
“I never said you did.”
He looked terrified.
That was enough.
“Tell me everything.”
He rubbed his face.
“Your father had discovered something.”
“What?”
“Fraud.”
“Whose?”
“My father's company.”
My stomach twisted.
“My father knew?”
“Yes.”
“And you knew?”
“I found out later.”
“What happened that night?”
Ryan looked toward the window.
“Your father met Daniel.”
“Why?”
“To exchange documents.”
“What documents?”
“Proof that your father's company had been stealing money from the trust.”
I couldn't breathe.
“My father was trying to expose them.”
Ryan nodded.
“Then he died.”
“You think it wasn't an accident.”
“No.”
I stared at him.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because your father left me a warning.”
“What warning?”
Ryan reached into a drawer.
He pulled out an old envelope.
My name was written on it.
My father's handwriting.
I started crying.
“He gave this to you?”
“After he died.”
“Why?”
“He told me not to open it unless you were in danger.”
My hands shook as I opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Only one paragraph.
Emma, if anything happens to me, don't trust the Carter family. Someone inside that family has been moving money through the trust for years.
I looked at Ryan.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“And you still married me.”
“I loved you.”
I shook my head.
“You should have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of my father?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Ryan looked directly at me.
“Your father was afraid of Victor.”
My blood ran cold.
Victor Hale.
The board chairman.
The man who had been standing beside me at my wedding.
The man who had been secretly financing Melissa.
The man who might have been responsible for Daniel's death.
Then Ryan said:
“There's something else.”
“What?”
“Your father didn't die immediately.”
I froze.
“What?”
“He survived the crash.”
My mouth went dry.
“For how long?”
“Three hours.”
“Then how did he die?”
Ryan looked down.
“He called me from the hospital.”
I couldn't speak.
“What did he say?”
Ryan's voice cracked.
“He said, 'They know.'”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Then he said one more thing.”
“What?”
“'Protect Emma.'”
The room became silent.
Then my phone rang.
Detective Hayes.
“Emma, you need to get somewhere safe.”
“Why?”
“We found the person who ordered Daniel's murder.”
“Who?”
She paused.
May you like
Then said:
“Victor Hale.”
