Chapter 6 - Michael Wakes Up
Michael looked twenty years older beneath the hospital lights.
Bandages covered part of his head.
Machines surrounded him.
Daniel stood beside the bed.
“You scared the hell out of me.”
Michael tried to smile.
“Ruined your wedding.”
“Claire says we already got married, so apparently you’re not getting out of buying us a gift.”
Michael’s weak laugh became a wince.
Then his eyes changed.
“Noah?”
“Safe.”
“With Vanessa?”
“No.”
Michael relaxed.
“Claire?”
“With him.”
“Good.”
Daniel pulled a chair closer.
“What happened?”
Michael closed his eyes.
“Vanessa knew I found the accounts.”
“Dad’s involved.”
Michael opened his eyes again.
“Yes.”
Daniel felt as though someone had removed the floor.
“How long?”
“Years.”
“What does that mean?”
“Our company’s been bleeding money through consulting contracts, fake vendors, property deals.”
“And Vanessa?”
“Dad recruited her.”
Daniel stared.
“Before she married you?”
Michael nodded.
The betrayal landed slowly.
“She married you because Dad wanted someone close to you?”
“At first.”
“At first?”
Michael looked toward the window.
“I think she loved me eventually.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“She nearly killed you.”
“I didn’t say it was healthy love.”
“What happened tonight?”
Michael swallowed.
“I confronted her.”
“With the folder?”
“Yes.”
“She hit you with the horse charm?”
Michael’s eyes shifted.
“No.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
“She raised it.”
“But?”
“Someone hit me from behind.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“Who?”
“I didn’t see.”
“What about Rachel?”
“She came in afterward.”
“Then who attacked you?”
Michael’s breathing became shallow.
The monitor quickened.
Daniel called for the nurse.
Michael grabbed his wrist.
“Dad was supposed to meet Vanessa.”
“At the hotel?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To take Noah.”
Daniel went still.
“What?”
Michael struggled for breath.
“Vanessa knew everything was collapsing. Dad promised to get her out of the country.”
“With Noah?”
“Yes.”
Daniel felt sick.
“Why Noah?”
Michael’s eyes filled.
“Leverage.”
Against Michael.
Against the Bennett family.
Against anyone who might testify.
The nurse entered.
“You need to let him rest.”
Daniel stood.
Michael grabbed his sleeve again.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“The bronze horse.”
Daniel waited.
“It opens something.”
“What?”
Michael closed his eyes.
“Dad’s private safe.”
Back at the hotel, Claire stared at the bronze charm through an evidence bag.
Detective Hale had just returned.
Daniel called.
Claire listened.
Then looked toward Noah.
He was asleep on a couch.
“The horse is a key?”
“That’s what Michael says.”
Claire remembered Noah’s reaction.
“He knew.”
“What?”
“Noah knew the horse mattered.”
She walked toward him.
Then stopped.
Something was protruding beneath the blanket.
A small wooden horse.
Claire picked it up.
There was writing underneath.
A child’s handwriting.
May you like
Grandpa says horses keep secrets.
Claire’s blood ran cold.
