Chapter 7: The Man Outside
Daniel stared at the door.
Nobody moved.
The voice came again.
“Daniel, open the door.””
His hand tightened around the phone.
“Uncle Richard?””
A quiet laugh came from the hallway.
“You always were the curious one.””
Evelyn stepped in front of Daniel.
“Don't open it.””
Richard's voice softened.
“Evelyn, after all these years, you're still protecting them.””
Marcus looked at his mother.
“Mom, move.””
“No.””
“Move.””
“He wants you angry.””
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“Then tell me what he did.””
Before she could answer, Richard spoke through the door.
“She never told you about the second car, did she?””
Daniel froze.
“What second car?””
Richard laughed.
“Exactly.””
Marcus grabbed the door handle.
Evelyn caught his wrist.
“Don't.””
Marcus pulled free.
“You've lied to us enough.””
He opened the door.
The hallway was empty.
At the far end, an elevator door was closing.
A man stood inside.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
A cane in one hand.
Richard.
“Richard!”” Daniel shouted.
The elevator doors closed.
Daniel ran.
Marcus followed.
They reached the elevator just as the numbers began descending.
“Basement,” Marcus said.
They rushed toward the stairs.
Behind them, Evelyn shouted:
“Wait!””
But Daniel was already moving.
They reached the basement parking garage.
Cold fluorescent lights flickered overhead.
A black SUV sat near the loading entrance.
Its engine was running.
Richard stood beside it.
Daniel stopped several feet away.
“You're alive.””
Richard smiled sadly.
“Disappointed?””
Daniel shook his head.
“You let me believe you were dead.””
“I needed everyone to believe it.””
“Why?””
Richard looked at Evelyn.
“Because your mother made a deal with me.””
Evelyn arrived moments later.
“That isn't true.””
Richard raised an eyebrow.
“Still denying it?””
Marcus stepped forward.
“What deal?””
Richard opened the SUV door.
“Get in.””
“No,” Marcus said.
Richard sighed.
“Then your father dies again.””
Daniel froze.
“What did you say?””
Richard looked directly at him.
“Your father is alive.””
Daniel's breath caught.
“Where?””
“Inside.””
He pointed toward the warehouse.
Daniel turned.
The huge metal doors were only a few yards away.
“You said he was outside.””
“He was.””
Richard's expression darkened.
“Then I moved him.””
Marcus stared.
“Why?””
“Because someone was coming.””
“Who?””
Richard looked at Evelyn.
“Her.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I didn't know.””
Richard laughed.
“You knew enough.””
Daniel stepped between them.
“Stop.””
He looked at Richard.
“I want the truth.””
Richard nodded.
“Then listen carefully.””
He leaned against the SUV.
“Your father discovered the thefts. But he didn't know Vivian's husband was acting alone.””
“Who else?””
Richard pointed toward Evelyn.
“She did.””
Evelyn's face hardened.
“That is a lie.””
Richard pulled a photograph from his coat.
He handed it to Daniel.
It showed Evelyn sitting at a restaurant table with a man Daniel didn't recognize.
On the table was a folder.
Daniel turned the photograph over.
A date was written on the back.
The day before his father's death.
“Who is this?””
Evelyn whispered:
“His name was Thomas Hale.””
Marcus frowned.
“Who?””
“Your father's attorney.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Why were you meeting him?””
“Because I was trying to change the trust.””
Richard smiled.
“You see?””
Evelyn snapped:
“Because your father was planning to leave the company vulnerable!””
Daniel looked between them.
“Vulnerable to what?””
Richard answered.
“To me.””
Silence.
Richard continued.
“I had already bought enough shares to take control.””
Daniel's voice was low.
“And Dad found out.””
“Yes.””
“So you killed him.””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
He looked toward the warehouse.
“Someone else did.””
Daniel stared.
“Who?””
Richard's expression changed.
“The same person who arranged Aaliyah's attack.””
Marcus suddenly understood.
“Vivian.””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at Daniel.
“Your father trusted the wrong person.””
Daniel whispered:
“Who?””
Richard reached into his pocket and removed an old key.
“Your father's office.””
He placed it in Daniel's hand.
“Everything you need is inside.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Richard, don't.””
He looked at her.
“It's too late.””
A loud crash came from inside the warehouse.
Everyone turned.
Daniel ran toward the doors.
Marcus followed.
Evelyn shouted after them.
“Daniel!””
The warehouse was dark.
Their footsteps echoed across the concrete.
Then they saw a chair.
A man was tied to it.
Daniel stopped.
“Dad?””
The man slowly lifted his head.
Older.
Thinner.
But unmistakably him.
Daniel stumbled forward.
“Dad…”
His father looked at him.
His eyes filled with tears.
“You grew up.””
Daniel dropped to his knees.
Marcus stood frozen.
Then he whispered:
“Oh my God.””
Their father looked past them.
Toward Evelyn.
“Why did you bring Richard?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I didn't.””
His father's expression changed.
“Then we're already too late.””
The warehouse lights suddenly came on.
And standing above the metal staircase was Aaliyah.
She was holding a gun.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered.
Daniel stood.
“Aaliyah?””
She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“I didn't have a choice.””
Then another figure stepped from the shadows behind her.
Vivian.
She smiled.
“Actually, sweetheart…”
May you like
She took the gun from Aaliyah.
“…you always had a choice.””
