Chapter 4 - THE BROTHER WHO DIDN'T TRUST ME
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Marcus immediately stepped away from the phone.
“What did he mean?”
“I don't know.”
“You believe him?”
“I don't know.”
He looked hurt.
“After everything?”
“I can't afford to believe anyone blindly.”
He nodded.
“Fair.”
We left the clinic separately.
I returned to the safe house.
For the first time, I wondered whether Marcus had been compromised.
Then I received a text.
Don't go home.
No number.
Another:
The person you trust most is feeding Nathaniel information.
I stared at the screen.
Marcus.
Or someone else.
I opened the old federal contact directory.
Elliot's name wasn't there.
But one former DOJ operative knew him.
Agent Rebecca Cole.
I called her.
She answered immediately.
“Valerie.”
“Tell me about Elliot Hale.”
Silence.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“I'm investigating.”
“You need to stop.”
“Why?”
“Because Elliot is dangerous.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“He was a witness.”
“To what?”
“The death of your father.”
I stopped breathing.
“What?”
Rebecca continued.
“Elliot witnessed the night your father was poisoned.”
My heart hammered.
“Who did it?”
“We don't know.”
“But Elliot does.”
“Yes.”
“Then why was he hidden?”
“Because the people responsible wanted him silent.”
“Who?”
She hesitated.
“Someone inside your marriage.”
I closed my eyes.
Nathaniel.
“Does he know?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He paid to access the sealed evidence.”
I stared at the wall.
Everything was collapsing around me.
Elliot hadn't disappeared because of his illness.
He disappeared because he knew who killed my father.
Rebecca gave me an address.
“Go alone.”
“Where?”
“A marina on Lake Washington.”
I arrived at sunset.
An old man stood beside a boat.
Gray beard.
Dark coat.
Same eyes as my father.
He looked at me.
“You're Valerie.”
“Yes.”
“I've seen you before.”
“When?”
“When you were a child.”
I stopped.
“You knew me.”
“Yes.”
“Why did nobody tell me?”
“Because your father wanted you safe.”
“He failed.”
Elliot looked away.
“Maybe.”
I stepped closer.
“Did Nathaniel kill my father?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
He looked directly at me.
“Your mother.”
I froze.
My mother had been dead for nine years.
Elliot continued.
“She didn't poison him.”
“Then what?”
“She helped conceal the evidence.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
I shook my head.
“Everyone uses that excuse.”
“Because it's true.”
He handed me a photograph.
My mother.
Nathaniel's father.
My father.
Together.
Years before my wedding.
My stomach tightened.
“What is this?”
“An agreement.”
“What agreement?”
“The marriage.”
I stared.
“They planned it.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Your father.”
“And Nathaniel's father.”
“They wanted to merge the companies.”
“But I loved him.”
“I know.”
Elliot sighed.
“That's what made you valuable.”
I felt sick.
“My father used me.”
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“He needed someone he trusted to inherit everything.”
“You.”
He nodded.
“But you were protected by the marriage.”
“No.”
Elliot shook his head.
“By the betrayal.”
I frowned.
He explained.
My father knew Nathaniel would eventually steal.
He built Glass House so the betrayal would expose him.
The marriage had never been meant to last.
It had been a controlled experiment.
My father expected me to discover the truth eventually.
But he died before he could tell me.
Then Nathaniel took over.
And he changed the plan.
He turned the contingency into a weapon.
I looked at Elliot.
“So you called me because you want something.”
He smiled.
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Your help.”
“With what?”
He looked toward the horizon.
“Finding the person who actually killed your father.”
“Who?”
Elliot answered:
“Someone you see every day.”
My blood went cold.
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
Then his eyes moved toward the marina entrance.
A black SUV had arrived.
Nathaniel stepped out.
He smiled.
May you like
Elliot whispered:
“Now run.”
