Chapter 5 - When Every Phone Started Ringing
Daniel reached the ICU door.
Lorraine grabbed his sleeve.
“Daniel.”
He stopped.
She immediately released him.
“What are you going to do to us?”
“Nothing.”
“You already destroyed our businesses.”
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I stopped protecting systems that were keeping them alive.”
Lorraine stared.
“You can't take everything.”
“I don't want everything.”
“What do you want?”
“My wife alive.”
His voice cracked for the first time.
“And I wanted my daughter alive.”
Lorraine looked away.
Daniel opened the door.
Detective Hannah Cole appeared from the elevator.
“Mrs. Voss?”
Lorraine froze.
“We need to talk.”
Caleb interrupted.
“She needs an attorney.”
“That's her right.”
Cole looked at Wade.
“And I'd especially like to talk with you.”
“I didn't do anything.”
“Good. Then this should be easy.”
Daniel entered Evelyn's room.
Machines hummed softly.
Her face was bruised.
Her breathing was assisted with oxygen.
But her eyes were open.
“Daniel?”
He moved beside her.
“I'm here.”
She tried to sit up.
“No. Don't.”
“The baby.”
Daniel couldn't hide the answer.
Evelyn stared at him.
“Rose?”
He shook his head.
Her eyes closed.
“No.”
Daniel took her hand.
“I’m sorry.”
“Daniel…”
“I should've gone with you.”
“No.”
“I knew they were pressuring you.”
“Stop.”
He looked at her.
Evelyn squeezed his fingers weakly.
“This was their choice.”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“Not yours.”
Daniel lowered his head.
After a moment she whispered:
“My mother?”
“Outside.”
Evelyn's eyes sharpened.
“You called Gabriel.”
Daniel looked at her.
“How did you know?”
“I know your face.”
Despite everything, he almost smiled.
“You're angry?”
“What did you do?”
“No violence.”
“Daniel.”
“Nobody was touched.”
“What did you do?”
“I made some phone calls.”
She stared at him.
“How many?”
“One.”
“That's worse.”
Daniel actually laughed.
It was brief and painful, but real.
Evelyn looked toward the door.
“Are they safe?”
“Yes.”
“Are they going to jail?”
“That's not my decision.”
“Good.”
Daniel studied her.
“Good?”
“I don't want revenge.”
“Neither do I.”
“I want the truth.”
“You'll get it.”
She closed her eyes.
“The land.”
“Still yours.”
“They tried to force me to sign.”
Daniel became still.
“Tell me.”
Evelyn swallowed.
“They said Grandma made a mistake.”
“Who?”
“Mom. Caleb. Wade.”
“What happened?”
“I refused.”
“And?”
“Caleb took my phone.”
Daniel's hand tightened around hers.
“Then Wade locked the kitchen door.”
“From outside?”
She nodded.
“And the fire?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“I heard Mom arguing with Caleb outside.”
“About what?”
“She said the barn fire was supposed to scare me.”
Daniel stared.
“She said it wasn't supposed to reach the house.”
That changed everything.
Not an accident.
Not speculation.
A plan that had gone catastrophically wrong.
Daniel pressed the nurse-call button.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting Detective Cole.”
Evelyn caught his wrist.
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“Promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“Don't become the man you were.”
He remained silent.
“You left that life for yourself too.”
Daniel looked through the glass.
Gabriel stood outside.
So did Lorraine.
Two worlds separated by one hospital door.
May you like
Finally Daniel looked back at his wife.
“I promise.”
