Chapter 4 - THE MESSAGE

Claire kept knocking.

“Daniel, I know you’re in there.”

Emily held up her phone.

Her hands were shaking.

“Read this.”

Daniel looked down.

A text thread.

Claire’s name at the top.

The first message had been sent three weeks earlier.

CLAIRE: If Rosa talks to Daniel, she’s done.

EMILY: What happened?

CLAIRE: She’s getting too comfortable.

EMILY: What does that mean?

CLAIRE: She thinks because Daniel is nice to her, she can complain about me.

EMILY: Claire, she works for you.

CLAIRE: Exactly.

Daniel read the next line twice.

CLAIRE: People like that need to remember where they stand.

Daniel’s jaw tightened.

“When was this?”

“After Rosa quit.”

“She didn’t quit.”

Emily stared at him.

Daniel’s voice went quiet.

“Claire told me Rosa moved to Arizona because her sister was sick.”

Emily shook her head.

“No.”

Daniel felt suddenly dizzy.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know everything.”

“Tell me what you know.”

Emily took a breath.

“Rosa accused Claire of not paying her for three weeks.”

Daniel stared at her.

“That’s impossible. I paid Claire every month for Rosa’s salary.”

“I know.”

“What did Claire do with the money?”

“I don’t know.”

Another knock.

“Daniel!”

Claire’s voice was louder now.

Daniel ignored it.

“Did Rosa say anything else?”

Emily nodded.

“She said Claire threatened to report her to immigration.”

Daniel’s head snapped up.

“What?”

Emily looked ashamed.

“I don’t know Rosa’s status. I don’t know if Claire even knew. She might’ve just been trying to scare her.”

Daniel backed away from the table.

He had known Rosa for four years.

She had worked for him before he ever met Claire.

She had helped his mother when she was sick.

She had brought food to the hospital.

She had cried at his mother’s funeral.

And Claire had told him Rosa left voluntarily.

A lie.

A complete lie.

Daniel opened the door.

Claire almost fell forward.

Behind her stood her mother, Patricia, and her father, Richard.

Claire looked from Daniel to Emily.

“What did you show him?”

Emily said nothing.

“What did you show him?”

“Back off,” Daniel said.

Claire stared at him.

Then at the phone.

Her face changed.

“You went through my messages?”

Emily stepped backward.

“They were messages you sent me.”

“You little bitch.”

Daniel stepped between them.

“Don’t.”

Claire looked at him in disbelief.

“Are you kidding me?”

“Where is Rosa?”

Claire blinked.

“What?”

“Where is Rosa?”

Patricia sighed.

“Daniel, this is not the time.”

He turned toward her.

“No. Actually, I think this is exactly the time.”

Richard looked uncomfortable.

“Son, everyone’s emotional.”

“Don’t call me son.”

Richard’s mouth closed.

Daniel turned back to Claire.

“You told me Rosa moved.”

“She did.”

“Emily says you fired her.”

Claire glared at her sister.

Emily looked down.

Daniel continued.

“She says you withheld her pay.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“And threatened her.”

Claire folded her arms.

“Oh my God.”

“Did you?”

“No.”

“Did you threaten to call immigration?”

Claire’s face flickered.

There.

A second.

Barely noticeable.

But Daniel saw it.

“Claire.”

“She was stealing.”

Daniel went still.

“What?”

“She was stealing from us.”

“What did she steal?”

Claire hesitated.

“Cash.”

“How much?”

“I don’t remember.”

“You don’t remember?”

“It was months ago!”

“You just said she moved.”

Claire froze.

Emily closed her eyes.

Patricia whispered, “Claire.”

Daniel stared at the woman he had planned to marry.

Every answer opened another door.

Every door led somewhere darker.

Then his phone buzzed.

He looked down.

Unknown number.

One new message.

Mr. Carter, this is Rosa Alvarez. Emily gave me your number. I’m sorry to contact you today, but you need to know the truth before you marry her.

Daniel read it twice.

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Then another message appeared.

I kept the recordings.