Chapter 14 - DANIEL’S LAST LIE
Daniel looked worse when Elena saw him again.
Unshaven.
Gray.
Empty.
She sat across from him in the jail interview room.
“Did my mother hire you?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Elena didn’t move.
Rachel had offered to come.
Elena told her no.
This part belonged to Elena.
“Why?”
“Your mother thought you were reckless.”
“I was twenty-six.”
“She was afraid you’d marry someone who wanted your money.”
Elena laughed without humor.
“So she hired someone who wanted my money?”
“It didn’t start that way.”
“Stop.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Don’t give me a love story.”
“It became one.”
“You poisoned me.”
His face collapsed.
“I know.”
“You put me in a running car.”
“I know.”
“You stood there and watched me die.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t tell me you loved me.”
Daniel wiped his eyes.
“Your mother paid me to watch you for six months. Make sure nobody was manipulating you.”
“And you decided to marry me?”
“I fell in love with you.”
“You found out about the trust.”
“Yes.”
“And suddenly love got expensive.”
Daniel looked down.
“I lost money.”
“So you sold me.”
“No.”
“You forged my name.”
“Yes.”
“You slept with Claire.”
“Yes.”
“You planned my death.”
Daniel couldn’t answer.
Elena slammed her palm against the table.
“Say it.”
His eyes met hers.
“Yes.”
There it was.
The truth.
Small.
Ugly.
Final.
Elena leaned back.
“You know what the worst part is?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I would’ve given you money.”
He stared at her.
“If you came to me and said you were in trouble, I would’ve helped you.”
Daniel began crying.
“I know.”
“You didn’t need to lie.”
“I know.”
“You didn’t need to kill me.”
“I know.”
Elena stood.
Daniel grabbed the edge of the table.
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“There’s one more thing.”
She almost laughed.
“There’s always one more thing.”
“Claire didn’t forge every signature.”
Elena turned.
“What?”
“Some were real.”
“I didn’t sign them.”
“You did.”
“When?”
Daniel stared at his hands.
“When you were sedated.”
Elena went cold.
“How many times did you drug me?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
She walked back to the table.
“How many?”
“Six.”
The number landed like a punch.
“Six times?”
“Yes.”
“What did you give me?”
“Something that made you sleepy. I’d tell you we were signing routine paperwork.”
“And I signed?”
“Yes.”
Tears finally filled Elena’s eyes.
Not because she was weak.
Because she remembered mornings when she woke with headaches.
Coffee tasting strange.
Daniel telling her she had worked too hard.
He had done it in their kitchen.
Their bedroom.
Their home.
She whispered, “Did you ever plan to stop?”
Daniel looked at her.
“I don’t know.”
That answer was worse than no.
Elena opened the door.
Behind her, Daniel called, “What happens now?”
She turned once.
“You live.”
His face twisted.
“What?”
“You live a long time.”
She wiped her eyes.
“You wake up every morning knowing I survived you.”
Then she walked out.
But as Nora met her in the hallway, an officer came running toward them.
“Detective.”
Nora turned.
“What?”
The officer looked pale.
“Raymond Cole was being transferred to county lockup.”
“And?”
“The transport vehicle never arrived.”
Elena froze.
Nora’s face hardened.
“What happened?”
The officer swallowed.
“They found the van.”
May you like
“Where’s Raymond?”
“Gone.”
