Chapter 4 - The House on the Hill
Daniel's home wasn't a home.
It was a fortress pretending to be one.
Stone walls.
Iron gates.
Cameras.
Men stationed everywhere.
Lily pressed her face against the SUV window.
"Do you have a moat?"
"No."
"You should."
"I'll mention it to the architect."
"With alligators."
"That seems excessive."
"That's the point."
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Inside, Daniel gave us rooms on the second floor.
"You'll be safe here."
"For how long?"
"Until Victor is handled."
"I hate when you say things like that."
"Like what?"
"Handled."
Daniel sighed.
"I'll deal with him legally if possible."
"And if not?"
He didn't answer.
The next morning, I found Lily in the kitchen making pancakes with Daniel.
Or attempting to.
Smoke filled the room.
"What happened?"
Daniel pointed at Lily.
"Sabotage."
"He put salt in them."
"The containers look identical."
"They say SALT and SUGAR."
"In small letters."
I stared at the powerful man who apparently couldn't read kitchen labels.
"You really weren't exaggerating about your wife doing Thanksgiving."
"No."
For a moment, silence.
Then one of Daniel's men entered.
"Boss."
Daniel's expression changed.
"What?"
"We found something."
He handed Daniel a tablet.
Daniel read.
"Where?"
"Company distribution center."
I moved closer.
"What is it?"
He hesitated.
"Tell me."
"Victor has been moving illegal shipments through Mercer trucks."
"Can that prove what he did to your wife?"
"No."
"But it can destroy him."
"Yes."
A voice came from the doorway.
"Then perhaps we should discuss that."
Victor Mercer stood there.
Two security men immediately reached beneath their jackets.
Daniel stepped in front of me.
"How did you get in?"
Victor smiled.
"This was my brother's house before it was yours."
Daniel's voice hardened.
"Leave."
Victor looked at me.
"You've caused considerable trouble, Ms. Bennett."
"I didn't do anything."
"Exactly. That's what makes this irritating."
Daniel moved closer.
"Look at her again and you'll regret it."
Victor smiled.
"There he is."
"What?"
"The Daniel I remember."
Victor's gaze drifted toward the staircase.
"Where's the girl?"
Daniel grabbed his uncle by the collar.
Every guard froze.
"You do not say her name."
Victor smiled even with Daniel's fist at his throat.
"Your wife made you weak."
Daniel's face went white.
"And now this woman and her daughter are doing it again."
I stepped forward.
"No."
Both men looked at me.
"Your wife didn't make him weak."
Victor laughed.
"You knew her?"
"No."
"Then be quiet."
"I know she discovered what you were doing."
Victor's smile vanished.
Daniel stared at me.
I continued.
"That's why you're scared of Daniel now. Not because he's weak. Because someone finally gave him something worth protecting instead of something worth controlling."
Victor looked at Daniel.
"Get your little girlfriend under control."
"I'm not his girlfriend."
Lily's voice came from the stairs.
"And she's never under control."
Everyone turned.
"Lily!" I snapped.
She held something.
A black phone.
"I found this in the guest room."
Daniel's security chief went rigid.
"Don't touch anything."
Too late.
Lily walked down.
"It was under the dresser."
Victor's face changed.
Daniel noticed.
"So did I," I whispered.
Daniel took the phone.
Victor stepped backward.
"Give me that."
Daniel smiled without humor.
"Interesting."
"It's mine."
"Even more interesting."
Daniel handed it to his security chief.
"Open it."
Victor lunged.
Two guards stopped him.
Daniel watched his uncle struggle.
"What is on that phone, Victor?"
Victor said nothing.
Ten minutes later, Daniel had his answer.
Audio recordings.
Payment records.
Messages.
And a voice memo made by Daniel's wife three days before her death.
Daniel listened without moving.
His wife's recorded voice filled the room.
"If something happens to me, Victor did it."
Daniel closed his eyes.
Victor whispered:
"Daniel."
Daniel looked at him.
Three years of grief disappeared from his face.
What remained was colder.
May you like
"You killed her."
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