Chapter 13 - The Fall
Arthur fired.
Grant fired back.
Arthur spun.
The gun flew from his hand.
He stumbled toward the roof edge.
Vanessa reached for him.
“Dad!”
Arthur grabbed her wrist.
For half a second, Daniel thought Vanessa was trying to save him.
Then Arthur pulled.
Vanessa screamed.
Both slid toward the edge.
Grant caught Vanessa by the jacket.
Arthur lost his grip.
He disappeared over the side.
A second later, there was a crash far below.
Daniel didn’t look.
Sophie was still hanging from his hand.
“Help me!”
Grant dragged Vanessa away from the edge and rushed toward Daniel.
Together, they pulled Sophie up.
She hit the roof and wrapped both arms around her father.
Daniel held her so tightly she squeaked.
“Dad…”
“I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything.”
He pressed his face into her wet hair.
“I should’ve seen it.”
Sophie pulled back.
“Mom says grown-ups miss things too.”
Daniel almost laughed.
Of course Claire had already said something like that.
Sirens filled the night.
Vanessa sat against the wall.
She stared toward the place where her father had fallen.
Daniel expected her to cry.
She didn’t.
She just looked empty.
“He killed Rachel,” she whispered.
Daniel said nothing.
“He made me believe she drowned.”
“You still hurt my children.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“I know.”
“You kept Claire prisoner.”
“I know.”
“You married me while knowing my wife was alive.”
“I know.”
Daniel stood.
There was no forgiveness in him.
Not tonight.
Maybe never.
Police took Vanessa downstairs.
Daniel carried Sophie.
She refused to be put down.
Inside the mill, paramedics worked on Michael.
Daniel walked closer.
“Is he—”
“Alive,” the medic said.
Daniel exhaled.
Michael opened one eye.
“You burned the files?”
Daniel almost punched him again.
Instead, he laughed.
“No.”
“Good.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“Runs in the family.”
Daniel looked at Richard.
His father sat handcuffed against a wall.
Still proud.
Still angry.
Still looking at everyone like he was the victim.
“You think those papers matter?” Richard said.
Daniel turned.
“They matter.”
“There are people in those files you can’t touch.”
“We’ll see.”
Richard smiled.
“This city is built on men like me.”
Claire walked into the room.
“No.”
Everyone looked at her.
She stood taller now.
Still weak.
Still bruised.
But no longer hidden.
“It’s built on people who were too scared to speak.”
She looked at Daniel.
“Not anymore.”
Richard’s smile faded.
Grant handed evidence bags to federal agents who had just arrived.
Daniel frowned.
“Federal?”
Grant nodded.
“Those files go beyond local corruption.”
Michael groaned.
“Told you.”
Daniel looked at him.
“You contacted them?”
“Three years ago.”
“And?”
“They had a leak.”
Claire added quietly, “That’s how Vanessa found me.”
Daniel looked toward Richard.
His father smiled again.
“You still don’t understand.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“What?”
Richard leaned forward.
“There’s one more person.”
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
“What person?”
“The one who told us Claire was going to the FBI.”
Claire froze.
Michael looked confused.
Richard’s eyes settled on Daniel.
“The person who started all of this was inside your house before Vanessa ever was.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Who?”
May you like
Richard smiled.
Then said a name that made Claire drop the folder in her hands.
