Chapter 3 - THE PERSON EVERYONE TRUSTED
The next morning, the news changed.
For weeks, Margaret Collins had been called a suspect.
Now people were asking a different question.
"Who wanted Daniel Carter dead?"
But Margaret knew the truth.
A new question was even more dangerous.
"Who was close enough to betray him?"
The answer was hidden inside that photograph.
The woman standing behind Daniel and Robert was Olivia Carter.
Daniel's older sister.
Emily's aunt.
The person who had hugged Emily at the funeral.
The person who cried beside Margaret.
The person who told everyone:
"We need to find out what happened to my brother."
Margaret couldn't understand.
"Why would Olivia be there?"
Emily looked confused.
"She loved Daddy."
Margaret sighed.
"Sometimes people can love someone and still hide things from them."
That afternoon, Olivia arrived at Margaret's apartment.
Her face looked worried.
"I heard about the recording."
Margaret didn't invite her inside.
"You knew Robert."
Olivia stopped.
"What?"
"The photo."
A small change crossed Olivia's face.
Almost invisible.
But Margaret saw it.
"You know what that picture means."
Olivia looked away.
"Margaret, you don't understand."
"Then explain."
Silence.
Rain tapped against the window.
Finally Olivia whispered:
"Your father found something."
Margaret froze.
"Daniel found what?"
Olivia looked toward Emily.
Then lowered her voice.
"Something that could destroy powerful people."
Emily stepped closer.
"What kind of thing?"
Olivia didn't answer.
And that scared Margaret more than anything.
Because people who had nothing to hide usually answered quickly.
The ones who were afraid...
They chose their words carefully.
Suddenly, Margaret's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"You should stop looking for answers."
Margaret's face went cold.
"Who is this?"
"You already know."
The call ended.
Emily grabbed her arm.
"Was that him?"
Margaret looked at the dark screen.
"I don't know."
But deep down...
She did.
Because there was only one person who had the power, the money, and the reason to silence Daniel Carter.
And before the night ended...
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Margaret would discover the secret Daniel died trying to protect.
A secret that would change everything.
