Chapter 11 - Daniel’s Final Message
The next morning, Margaret found the answer.
Not through the police.
Not through my father.
Through Daniel.
Again.
“He left another message.”
I looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
She placed a small envelope on the table.
“Daniel gave this to me two days before the accident.”
I stared at it.
“Why didn’t you give it to me?”
“Because he told me not to.”
I felt hurt.
“Why?”
Margaret looked at the envelope.
“Because he said you would open it only when you were ready to fight.”
My hands shook as I opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Daniel’s handwriting.
The sight almost destroyed me.
My love,
If you are reading this, then things have gone wrong.
I stopped reading for a moment.
Tears blurred the words.
Then I continued.
I know you will blame yourself. Please don’t. None of this is your fault. You have always believed you needed to make everyone happy. You don’t.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
That was Daniel.
Even when he was gone, he was still trying to heal me.
The letter continued.
Richard will try to make you believe you are alone. He will tell you that you need him.
Don’t listen.
You have never needed anyone who only loves you when you obey.
I closed my eyes.
Because Daniel knew.
He knew exactly who my father was.
Then I reached the final paragraph.
There is one person you need to be careful with.
Someone I trusted.
Someone I believed was my friend.
My heart stopped.
The name was covered.
A black mark had been drawn across it.
But underneath…
I could still see a few letters.
T...
H...
O...
I looked up.
“Thomas.”
Margaret froze.
“No.”
I stared at the paper.
“Daniel suspected Thomas.”
A knock interrupted us.
Everyone turned.
Police officers entered.
“Emily Mercer?”
“Yes?”
“We need you to come with us.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
The officer looked uncomfortable.
“There has been a complaint filed against you.”
“By who?”
He looked at the paper.
“Richard Hale.”
I almost laughed.
“What complaint?”
The officer hesitated.
“He claims you assaulted him.”
Silence.
Then I understood.
This was their move.
Make me look guilty.
Make me look unstable.
Make me the person everyone should fear.
Margaret stepped forward.
“That is impossible.”
The officer nodded.
“We understand. We’re just following procedure.”
I looked at the letter in my hand.
Daniel’s warning.
Someone I trusted.
Someone close.
Thomas.
Then I looked at the officers.
“I’ll come with you.”
Margaret whispered:
“Emily.”
I smiled sadly.
“It’s okay.”
Because suddenly I understood something.
My father had spent my entire life trying to make me afraid.
But fear was the weapon he used.
And I was done letting him hold it.
As I walked outside, I saw a black SUV parked across the street.
The window lowered.
Thomas was sitting inside.
Watching me.
My heart dropped.
May you like
Because he wasn’t surprised.
He knew this was happening.
