Chapter 12 - THE FATHER IN THE SHADOWS
Daniel Sterling lived forty minutes outside Boston.
Julian had known for six years.
Another lie.
Another hidden room inside the man I thought I had married.
Daniel had disappeared from Julian’s childhood after being accused of stealing university grant money.
Julian believed him guilty until Arthur Hale contacted him during graduate school.
Arthur knew the truth.
Daniel had discovered Victor’s fraud years before anyone else.
Victor framed him.
Daniel vanished because he believed staying away would protect Julian.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Julian looked through the windshield.
“Because I was ashamed.”
“Of him?”
“Of believing Victor.”
Daniel opened the door before we knocked.
He was seventy, lean, gray-haired, and instantly recognizable.
Julian had his eyes.
Daniel looked at me.
“You’re Jessica.”
“You know me?”
“I know Victor tried to kill you.”
Julian stepped forward.
“How?”
Daniel disappeared inside and returned carrying a laptop.
Security footage appeared.
A parking garage.
My car.
A man wearing a baseball cap crouched beside it.
The image wasn’t clear enough to identify his face.
But Daniel had another camera angle.
The man returned to a black sedan.
Someone waited behind the steering wheel.
Victor Hale.
My heart hammered.
“Give this to the police.”
“I already gave copies to federal investigators.”
I turned sharply.
“What?”
Daniel nodded.
“They’ve been building a case for months.”
“Then why hasn’t Victor been arrested?”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“Because Victor knows someone inside the investigation.”
My phone rang.
Clara.
I answered.
She was crying.
“Jessi, someone just came into my room.”
May you like
A crash sounded.
Then the call disconnected.
