Chapter 5: Her Father
Sabrina’s father had been dead for nine years.
I knew that much.
She had told me herself.
A heart attack.
A quiet funeral.
A difficult childhood.
She had used the story many times to explain why she hated hospitals, why she avoided certain neighborhoods, why she never talked about him.
But Detective Morgan had just said his name.
Michael stared at him.
“My wife's father?””
“Yes.””
“What does he have to do with this?””
Detective Morgan opened his notebook.
“We don't know yet.””
Sabrina suddenly stepped between them.
“My father is dead.””
“I’m aware.””
“He has nothing to do with this.””
Detective Morgan studied her.
“Then you should have no problem explaining why his name appears in several encrypted messages.””
Sabrina looked at me.
I saw something flash across her face.
Recognition.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
“You knew,” she whispered.
I shook my head.
“I didn't.””
“You're lying.””
“I've spent the last three years trying to understand why you hated me.””
“I never hated you.””
I almost laughed.
“You shaved my head.””
Her eyes dropped.
“I didn't mean for—”
Michael froze.
“What did you just say?””
Sabrina looked up.
“I said I didn't—”
“No.””
Michael's voice hardened.
“You said you didn't mean for…”
He stepped closer.
“What?””
Sabrina started crying.
“Michael, please.””
“Please what?””
“Not here.””
He looked around at the guests.
Several people were already holding their phones.
The wedding photographer stood frozen near the cake.
The band had stopped.
Someone had turned off the music completely.
Michael lowered his voice.
“Tell me the truth.””
Sabrina wiped her cheek.
“I was angry.””
“At Mom?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because she never accepted me.””
I stared at her.
“I invited you into my family.””
“You judged me.””
“I paid for your wedding.””
“You never trusted me.””
“I gave you a $22 million gift.””
She looked at me.
“And that’s exactly the problem.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“You think money means you can control everyone.””
I stepped closer.
“No, Sabrina. I think money means I can protect my son.””
She laughed through her tears.
“You still don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
She looked toward Michael.
“I didn't marry you for your mother's money.””
Michael's face softened for a second.
Then James spoke.
“That's not what the records suggest.””
He held up another document.
Sabrina's expression changed.
James continued.
“Bellwether Consulting was incorporated four months before your engagement.””
Michael looked confused.
“So?””
“The listed director is Daniel Cole.””
Michael stopped breathing.
“Sabrina's father.””
“That's impossible,” Michael whispered.
James nodded.
“That's what we thought.””
Detective Morgan stepped closer.
“Daniel Cole is legally deceased. But the company has been receiving payments for eighteen months.””
Michael looked at Sabrina.
“You knew?””
She said nothing.
“You knew my father-in-law was supposedly dead?””
Sabrina's eyes closed.
“Michael…”
“Answer me.””
“Yes.””
His face twisted.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“Is he alive?””
Sabrina started shaking.
“I don't know.””
Detective Morgan looked at James.
“We found something else.””
He handed him a photograph.
James studied it.
Then passed it to me.
I stared at the image.
A man stood outside a bank.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
One hand holding a newspaper.
His face was older.
Thinner.
But unmistakable.
Daniel Cole.
Alive.
My skin prickled.
“When was this taken?””
“Three weeks ago.””
Michael grabbed the photograph.
He stared at it for several seconds.
Then whispered, “Why?””
Sabrina covered her face.
Michael turned toward her.
“Why did you tell me your father was dead?””
“I was protecting you.””
“From what?””
She lowered her hands.
“From him.””
The words hung in the air.
Detective Morgan crossed his arms.
“That's a serious claim.””
“He's dangerous.””
“Then why did he appear in your financial records?””
Sabrina looked at him.
“I don't know.””
James shook his head.
“That isn't true.””
Everyone looked at him.
He opened the black folder again.
“There are emails.””
Sabrina whispered, “James…”
“You exchanged messages with him.””
Michael stared at her.
“You've been talking to your father?””
“Yes.””
“For how long?””
She didn't answer.
“How long?””
“Two years.””
Michael stepped backward.
“Two years?””
She nodded.
“And you never told me?””
“I couldn't.””
“Why?””
“Because if I told you, he would come after you.””
Michael's voice broke.
“You let me believe your father was dead.””
“I was trying to keep you safe.””
“Then why did you create a trust using my name?””
Sabrina looked at me.
“I didn't create it.””
James placed another document on the table.
“The trust's secondary contact is Daniel Cole.””
Silence.
Sabrina's face collapsed.
“No.””
Michael looked at her.
“You said you were protecting me.””
“I was.””
“Then why is your father listed as the person who controls the trust?””
She stared at the document.
“I didn't know.””
James looked at me.
“Linda, there’s something else you need to know.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What?””
He lowered his voice.
“The $22 million wasn't the only money at risk.””
I waited.
“The penthouse was already under contract.””
My heart stopped.
“By whom?””
James looked toward Michael.
“Your son.””
Michael's face went white.
“I didn't sign anything.””
James shook his head.
“Someone did.””
Then the ballroom lights suddenly went out.
A scream came from the back of the room.
And in the darkness, my phone rang.
May you like
The caller ID displayed a name I hadn't seen in nine years.
*Daniel Cole.*
