Chapter 7 - THE CONFESSION
Daniel was found two days later.
He was hiding in an abandoned office building downtown.
But he wasn't arrested immediately.
He asked for me.
Detective Hayes refused.
Then Daniel offered information.
He claimed Melissa wasn't the mastermind.
She was recruited.
Paid.
Manipulated.
But she wasn't the person who planned the balcony incident.
“Then who did?” I asked.
Detective Hayes looked at me.
“Daniel says your husband knows.”
I stared at Ryan.
“No.”
Ryan shook his head.
“I don't.”
Daniel's statement said otherwise.
He claimed Ryan had met him secretly six months earlier.
He claimed Ryan knew about the trust.
He claimed Ryan wanted his wife removed from the inheritance.
I refused to believe it.
Until Detective Hayes showed me a photograph.
Ryan.
Getting into Daniel's car.
Three weeks before the balcony incident.
Ryan sat beside me.
He looked devastated.
“I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
He swallowed.
“I met Daniel.”
“Why?”
“Because I was investigating Melissa.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was scared.”
“Of what?”
He looked at me.
“That my father was lying about the trust.”
I stared at him.
“What did you discover?”
Ryan hesitated.
“The trust had been changed.”
“When?”
“Before we got married.”
My heart stopped.
“Who changed it?”
“My father.”
“Why?”
Ryan looked away.
“Because the original beneficiary wasn't me.”
“Who was it?”
He whispered:
“Daniel.”
Everything went silent.
Daniel had once been promised control of the company.
Ryan's father had taken it away.
Daniel wanted revenge.
Melissa wanted money.
But where did Ryan fit?
Then Ryan finally confessed.
“I knew Melissa was planning something.”
My eyes filled with tears.
“You knew?”
“I didn't know she'd lock you outside.”
“But you knew she was dangerous.”
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing.”
“I thought I could stop her.”
I stared at the man I'd married.
Then Detective Hayes received a call.
Her face changed.
“What's wrong?”
She looked at Ryan.
“Your mother has disappeared.”
Ryan stood.
“What?”
“She left the house two hours ago.”
Then her phone was found.
May you like
On the balcony.
Beside a second pink baby blanket.
