Chapter 12 - THE NIGHT OF WILLOW
Daniel survived surgery.
Barely.
The bullet missed his heart by less than an inch.
Evelyn sat outside the operating room with Hope against her chest.
She told herself she was waiting because Daniel was Hope's father.
Nothing more.
But when the surgeon said he would survive, Evelyn cried.
She hated herself for crying.
She hated Daniel.
She loved him.
Both things were true.
Marcus moved the investigation to a federal office outside Commissioner Walsh's control.
The original ledger changed everything.
Arrest warrants multiplied.
Bank accounts were frozen.
Politicians resigned before dawn.
Judges disappeared.
News networks began reporting the largest corruption investigation in the state's history.
Project Willow was no longer a family secret.
It was national news.
But Margaret remained missing.
So did Commissioner Walsh.
Thomas agreed to testify.
Not because he became noble.
Because prosecutors offered him a deal.
Evelyn confronted him.
“You're trading names for less prison time.”
“Yes.”
“At least you're honest now.”
“I learned late.”
“Very late.”
Thomas looked at Hope.
“May I hold her?”
“No.”
He accepted the answer.
Evelyn almost respected him for that.
Almost.
Vanessa also agreed to testify.
She faced charges for pushing Evelyn.
There would be no escape from that.
But she gave prosecutors everything she knew.
One afternoon, Evelyn visited her.
Vanessa sat behind glass.
“You look tired.”
Evelyn almost laughed.
“I have a premature newborn and half my family belongs in prison.”
“Fair.”
Silence.
Vanessa looked down.
“I'm sorry.”
“For which part?”
“All of it.”
Evelyn studied her.
“You knew we were sisters.”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever want to tell me?”
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“Every day.”
“Then why didn't you?”
“Because I hated you.”
Evelyn appreciated the honesty.
“Why?”
“You had Thomas before he became a monster.”
“He became one when I was young.”
“You had Margaret.”
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
“Apparently that wasn't the prize you thought it was.”
Vanessa smiled sadly.
“You had a normal childhood.”
“For a while.”
“I wanted that.”
“So you hated me.”
“Yes.”
“And Daniel loved me.”
Vanessa looked away.
“That hurt too.”
Evelyn understood.
Not romantically.
Daniel had spent his life protecting Vanessa.
Then Evelyn entered his life.
His loyalty divided.
Vanessa blamed her.
It didn't excuse the staircase.
But it explained the rage.
“Will you testify against Margaret?”
“Yes.”
“Against Daniel?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“If necessary.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Good.”
As she stood to leave, Vanessa stopped her.
“Evelyn.”
“What?”
“Margaret has one more account.”
“What account?”
“Not money.”
Vanessa leaned toward the glass.
“People.”
Evelyn frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“A list of people Willow owns.”
“That's the ledger.”
“No.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“The ledger lists people who were paid.”
“This list contains people who were blackmailed.”
Evelyn's stomach tightened.
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Who knows?”
Vanessa looked at her.
“Daniel.”
Evelyn returned to the hospital.
Daniel was awake.
She entered his room.
He smiled weakly.
“Hey.”
“Don't hey me.”
His smile disappeared.
“Okay.”
“What is the Black List?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Vanessa told you.”
“Yes.”
“Damn it.”
“Where is it?”
“I don't know.”
“Lie again and I walk out.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Thomas created it.”
“What is on it?”
“Secrets.”
“Whose?”
“Everyone powerful enough to threaten Willow.”
“Where is it?”
“Margaret took it years ago.”
“You said you didn't know.”
“I don't know where it is now.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“Does it include Marcus?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Yes.”
“What does she have on him?”
“I never saw the file.”
“Who else?”
Daniel looked toward the door.
“Your father.”
“No surprise.”
“Commissioner Walsh.”
“Obviously.”
“Vanessa.”
“Yes.”
“Me.”
Evelyn swallowed.
“And?”
Daniel's eyes met hers.
“You.”
Evelyn froze.
“What could she possibly have on me?”
“I don't know.”
“You just said my name.”
“I saw your file.”
“What was in it?”
“It was sealed.”
Evelyn's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Margaret's voice.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Evelyn's blood went cold.
“Where are you?”
“Safe.”
“For now.”
“Turn yourself in.”
Margaret laughed.
“You sound like your father.”
“You tried to kill me.”
“No.”
“You kidnapped Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“You had armed men attack the mansion.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
Margaret became quiet.
“Do you want to know what is inside your Black List file?”
Evelyn looked at Daniel.
“What?”
“Ask Daniel where he was on October seventeenth, six years ago.”
Evelyn frowned.
That date meant nothing.
Daniel's face changed.
Margaret laughed softly.
“He remembers.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“Daniel?”
He looked terrified.
“What happened October seventeenth?”
Margaret answered for him.
“That was the first night your future husband broke into your apartment.”
Evelyn stopped breathing.
“He didn't meet you two years later by accident.”
Margaret continued.
“He had been watching you for years.”
The call ended.
Evelyn looked at Daniel.
“Tell me she's lying.”
Daniel said nothing.
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Tell me.”
May you like
Daniel whispered.
“I can't.”
