Chapter 6 - THE TRUTH ABOUT DANIEL HAYES
Mirabelle refused to speak to Ronan.
Not until he told her everything.
They sat in his study at three in the morning.
Rain struck the windows.
Ronan poured himself a drink but didn't touch it.
"Your father wasn't innocent."
Mirabelle flinched.
"He ran money for criminal organizations."
"I don't believe you."
"He wasn't violent."
"That's not what I said."
Ronan looked at her.
"Daniel believed he could control dangerous people by moving their money."
"And you?"
"I was one of those people."
Mirabelle's eyes filled.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you were twenty-one, grieving, raising your brother, and working yourself to exhaustion."
"So you watched me suffer?"
"I watched."
She slapped him.
The sound echoed.
Ronan didn't move.
"You had money."
"Yes."
"You could have helped."
"I did."
"What?"
"The diner."
Mirabelle froze.
"What?"
"Six years ago, Starlight Diner was about to close."
She stared.
"Someone anonymously paid the owner's debts."
Ronan nodded.
"That was me."
"You—"
"I couldn't give you money directly. You would have asked why."
Mirabelle's anger mixed with confusion.
"You've been watching me for six years?"
"Protecting you."
"That's not the same thing."
"No."
His honesty hurt more.
Ronan continued.
"Your father knew he was going to die. He hid the money and evidence against Victor Hale."
"Why?"
"Because Victor planned to take control of the city's criminal network."
"And my father stopped him."
"Your father tried."
Mirabelle sat down.
"What happened?"
Ronan looked away.
"I arrived too late."
"Did Victor kill him?"
"I don't know."
Her head snapped up.
"What?"
Ronan opened a file.
Inside was a death certificate.
Daniel Hayes.
Cause of death: vehicle explosion.
But beneath it was another document.
A surveillance report.
A photograph.
Daniel Hayes walking away from the explosion.
Alive.
Mirabelle covered her mouth.
"That's impossible."
"I know."
"Then where did he go?"
Ronan stared at the photograph.
"I believe he went into hiding."
"Why?"
"Because someone made him believe his children would die if he stayed."
Mirabelle's eyes filled with tears.
"My father abandoned us to protect us."
"Yes."
She looked at Ronan.
"And you knew?"
"I suspected."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't know where he was."
A phone rang.
Ronan answered.
A man's voice whispered:
"Stop searching."
Ronan's eyes narrowed.
"Daniel?"
The caller breathed heavily.
Then said:
"Tell my daughter I am sorry."
Mirabelle froze.
Ronan looked at her.
The call ended.
May you like
For the first time in sixteen years—
Mirabelle heard her father's voice.
