Chapter 6 - THE SECOND PERSON
By the time Evelyn reached the south gate, the black SUV was gone.
Police lights washed the road in blue and red.
An officer approached.
“Ms. Cross?”
“Yes.”
“We have units following the vehicle.”
“License plate?”
“Covered.”
Marcus cursed.
The officer continued.
“We found this near the gate.”
He held up a black evening glove.
Evelyn stared at it.
Not Daniel’s.
Too small.
A woman’s glove.
Marcus looked at her.
“He had help.”
Evelyn nodded.
A cold feeling moved through her.
Daniel was manipulative.
Reckless.
Arrogant.
But he was also careful.
He rarely acted alone when someone else could take the blame.
The officer asked, “Do you recognize it?”
“No.”
A voice behind them said, “I do.”
They turned.
Chloe stood barefoot on the lawn.
Mascara streaked her cheeks.
Her white engagement dress was stained with spilled wine.
She pointed at the glove.
“That belongs to my mother.”
Evelyn stared at her.
“Your mother?”
Chloe nodded slowly.
“Victoria.”
Marcus frowned.
“Victoria Whitmore helped Daniel escape?”
Chloe shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
But her face said she did.
Evelyn stepped closer.
“Chloe.”
The young woman looked at her.
“What aren’t you telling us?”
Chloe crossed her arms tightly.
“My mother liked Daniel.”
“That’s not unusual.”
“No.”
Chloe swallowed.
“I mean she really liked him.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“How much?”
Chloe looked sick.
“She introduced us.”
Evelyn’s stomach tightened.
“When?”
“Fourteen months ago.”
Before Evelyn and Daniel separated.
Chloe stared toward the road.
“She said Daniel was from an old-money family.”
Evelyn laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“Daniel’s father sold used cars in Ohio.”
Chloe shut her eyes.
“Oh my God.”
“She knew that?”
“I don’t know.”
Evelyn studied her.
“Did your mother ever meet Daniel before introducing you?”
Chloe hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Several times.”
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“This wasn’t random.”
“No.”
Chloe’s voice broke.
“My mother wanted the marriage.”
“Why?”
“She said Daniel would protect the company after my father retired.”
Evelyn’s mind began connecting pieces.
Whitmore Capital.
Cross Holdings.
Daniel’s debts.
Michael’s foundation.
Shell companies.
Too much money.
Too many moving parts.
A police officer approached quickly.
“Ms. Cross.”
Evelyn turned.
“We located the SUV.”
“Where?”
“Three miles west.”
“And Daniel?”
“Gone.”
“Victoria?”
“Gone too.”
The officer paused.
“There’s something else.”
He handed Evelyn a clear evidence bag.
Inside was a phone.
Daniel’s phone.
Evelyn frowned.
“He left it?”
“Looks that way.”
Marcus said, “Can you access it?”
“We’ll need authorization.”
Evelyn almost laughed.
“Good luck.”
Daniel changed passwords constantly.
Chloe stepped forward.
“I know the code.”
Everyone looked at her.
She wiped her face.
“He uses my birthday.”
The officer raised an eyebrow.
“That confident?”
Chloe gave a bitter smile.
“He told me it was romantic.”
The officer entered the code.
The phone unlocked.
Evelyn looked at Chloe.
For the first time that night, the two women shared the same expression.
Disgust.
The officer scrolled.
Then stopped.
“What?”
Evelyn asked.
He turned the screen.
A message had been sent twenty minutes before the gala began.
To a contact saved only as V.
It read:
SHE’S HERE. IF EVELYN TALKS, WE LOSE EVERYTHING.
May you like
Below it was the reply.
Then make sure she doesn’t leave the house alive.
