Chapter 4: The Threat Behind the Smile
Daniel ended the call without saying goodbye.
Vanessa stood at the end of the hallway, one hand resting against the wall, her expression almost peaceful. That was what frightened him most. She had just threatened his daughter—or allowed him to believe she had—and she looked as though she were discussing the weather.
“Come into the study,” Daniel said.
“Why?””
“Because I want you to explain what you just mouthed to me.””
Vanessa glanced toward Lily's bedroom.
“I think you're exhausted. You've spent the entire night reading the ravings of a dead woman, and now you're seeing threats everywhere.””
“You said two words.””
“I said nothing.””
“You mouthed, 'Your daughter.''”
Vanessa sighed and walked into the study.
“Fine. I meant Lily. She's your daughter, and she's being hurt by all this nonsense. You should stop dragging her into your obsession with Emma.””
Daniel closed the door behind them.
“You know Michael's daughter has been threatened.””
For the first time, Vanessa's composure faltered.
“Michael has a daughter?””
“Don't play games with me.””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“You knew about Emma's documents. You knew about the notebook. You knew exactly what was on that recording before I played it.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“Perhaps because Emma told me what she was doing.””
“Then why did you deny visiting her?””
“Because I knew you wouldn't listen to reason.””
Daniel stared at her, struggling to recognize the woman standing before him.
Three years earlier, Vanessa had sat beside him in a hospital waiting room when Lily developed a severe fever. She had held a cold cloth against the little girl's forehead and stayed awake all night. Daniel had thanked her afterward, believing that kind of devotion couldn't be faked.
Now every memory seemed to have acquired a second meaning.
“Did you have anything to do with the accident?”” he asked.
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“No.””
“Did you follow Emma that night?””
“Yes, but I didn't cause the crash.””
“Did you call an ambulance?””
“I was terrified.””
“That's not an answer.””
She pressed her palms against her face.
“You don't understand what happened!””
“Then tell me.””
Vanessa lowered her hands.
“Emma was going to destroy both of us. She had documents that could have sent people to prison. She was threatening to expose everything, and she didn't care who got hurt.””
“What had she discovered?””
“I can't tell you.””
Daniel let out a bitter laugh.
“You can't tell me? After four years of lying to me, you still think you get to decide what I deserve to know?””
“I was protecting you.””
“From what?””
“From the truth!””
Her voice cracked through the room.
For a moment, Daniel said nothing. Then he pulled Emma's notebook from the desk and opened it to the page marked April 16.
“The signature is wrong,” he read aloud.
“What did Emma find?””
Vanessa looked at the page and went pale.
“She should never have kept that.””
“Why?””
“Because it was supposed to be destroyed.””
Daniel felt the air leave his lungs.
“What was supposed to be destroyed?””
Before she could answer, a small cry came from upstairs.
“Daddy!””
Daniel rushed into the hallway.
Lily stood at the top of the stairs in her pajamas. Anna was beside her, holding a telephone.
“What's wrong?”” Daniel asked, climbing toward them.
Anna handed him the phone.
“Someone called the house. They asked for Lily.””
Daniel pressed the receiver to his ear.
“Who is this?””
A man's voice answered.
“You've been asking questions about things that should have stayed buried.””
“Who are you?””
“Forget your wife's notebook. Forget the documents. And tell Michael Grant to keep his mouth shut.””
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“Is this about his daughter?””
The man laughed quietly.
“Children get hurt when their parents make bad decisions.””
Daniel gripped the phone so tightly his knuckles whitened.
“If you go anywhere near my daughter, I'll find you.””
“You should worry less about finding me and more about the people already inside your house.””
The call ended.
Daniel slowly lowered the phone.
Behind him, Vanessa stood at the bottom of the stairs.
She had heard every word.
“Who was that?”” she asked.
Daniel looked down at her.
“You tell me.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Then why aren't you surprised?””
“I am surprised!””
“No. You're frightened. There's a difference.””
Lily began to cry.
Daniel immediately turned toward her, and she threw herself into his arms.
“Don't let him take me away,” she whispered.
“No one is taking you anywhere.””
“But Mommy said someone might.””
Daniel held her closer.
“What exactly did Mommy tell you?””
Lily buried her face against his shoulder.
“She said if a man ever called asking for me, I should tell Anna about the red bird.””
Daniel looked at Anna.
The housekeeper's face had gone completely white.
“Anna?””
She swallowed hard.
“Mrs. Emma told me something similar. She said if Lily ever mentioned a red bird, I should take her somewhere safe.””
“Where?””
Anna glanced at Vanessa.
“The old lake house.””
Daniel remembered the property. Emma's parents had owned a small cottage near Lake George, and after their deaths, Emma had inherited it. It had been closed for years.
“Why didn't you tell me about this before?””
“Mrs. Emma made me promise not to tell anyone unless Lily said those exact words.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“That's ridiculous. You're not taking my stepdaughter anywhere.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“She's going with Anna.””
“You cannot be serious!””
“I am.””
Vanessa grabbed the banister.
“If you take Lily out of this house, you'll regret it.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Is that another threat?””
“It's a warning. You're tearing this family apart because of a notebook.””
“No, Vanessa. I'm discovering what this family really was.””
He carried Lily into her bedroom while Anna packed a small bag. He instructed his security team to arrange a car and contact the police about the threatening call. He also called Michael back, telling him not to come to the house until they had secured the original documents.
Michael insisted on meeting him somewhere public.
Daniel agreed.
Before leaving, he returned to the study to retrieve Emma's notebook and recorder.
Vanessa was gone.
But the desk drawer stood open.
The hospital document had disappeared.
Daniel searched the room, his pulse quickening. He checked beneath the papers, inside the filing cabinet, and behind the desk.
Nothing.
Then he noticed a small piece of paper lying beside the lamp.
He unfolded it.
The handwriting wasn't Emma's.
It was Vanessa's.
You should have let the dead stay dead.
Daniel slipped the note into his pocket.
When he reached the front door, Anna was waiting with Lily. Two security guards stood beside the car.
“Is everything ready?”” he asked.
“Yes,” Anna replied.
Lily held Daniel's hand.
“Are you coming with us?””
He knelt to meet her eyes.
“I have to meet someone who can help us. But I'll be right behind you.””
“Promise?””
He kissed her forehead.
“I promise.””
Anna led Lily toward the car. Daniel watched them climb inside, then turned back toward the house.
Vanessa stood behind the upstairs window, watching.
She lifted her phone to her ear.
Daniel's own phone vibrated a second later.
A message from an unknown number appeared on the screen.
If you want your daughter to survive, bring Emma's notebook to the old lake house tonight. Come alone.
Below the message was a photograph.
It showed Lily asleep in the back seat of Anna's car.
Taken less than a minute earlier.
Daniel looked up sharply.
The security guards were already closing the doors.
Someone was watching them.
May you like
Someone close enough to photograph his daughter.
And whoever it was knew exactly where they were going.
