Chapter 13 - BEFORE THEY MET
Daniel had known Evelyn for two years before Evelyn knew Daniel existed.
Thomas ordered him to watch her.
At first, Daniel refused.
Thomas showed him photographs of Vanessa after Robert's attack.
Then he reminded Daniel what would happen if the truth about Robert's death reached police.
Daniel obeyed.
He watched Evelyn.
Her apartment.
Her job.
Her friends.
Her relationships.
“What happened October seventeenth?”
Evelyn asked.
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Someone entered your apartment.”
“You?”
“No.”
“Then why did Mom say you broke in?”
“Because I did.”
Evelyn frowned.
Daniel continued.
“I saw another man enter first.”
“Who?”
“Charles Benton.”
Evelyn's stomach turned.
“What was he doing?”
“Searching your files.”
“So you followed him.”
“Yes.”
“Did he see you?”
“No.”
“What did you find?”
“A photograph.”
“Of?”
“You and Thomas.”
“That isn't unusual.”
“It was taken after Thomas's supposed death.”
Evelyn stared.
“What?”
“You were sleeping.”
Daniel swallowed.
“Thomas was standing beside your bed.”
Cold spread through Evelyn.
“My father came into my apartment?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“You didn't wake me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he was gone by the time I entered.”
Daniel's voice shook.
“I realized then Thomas wasn't simply watching you.”
“He was controlling you.”
Evelyn stepped back.
“You still married me.”
“Yes.”
“You knew everything.”
“Not everything.”
“Enough.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I tried to leave.”
“When?”
“Three months before we met.”
“And?”
“Thomas threatened Vanessa.”
“So you stayed.”
“Yes.”
“And then you conveniently met me.”
“Thomas arranged the first meeting.”
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
“Our coffee-shop accident?”
“Arranged.”
“The spilled coffee?”
“Arranged.”
“You ruined my white coat.”
“That part really was an accident.”
Despite everything, Evelyn almost laughed.
That made her angrier.
“Our first date?”
“Real.”
“First kiss?”
“Real.”
“Proposal?”
“Real.”
“Marriage?”
Daniel's eyes filled.
“Real to me.”
Evelyn turned away.
She didn't know what reality meant anymore.
Then Marcus entered.
“We found Margaret.”
“Where?”
“Airport.”
Evelyn stood.
“She tried to leave?”
“No.”
Marcus looked confused.
“She walked into a federal security office and surrendered.”
Daniel's face changed.
“That makes no sense.”
“I know.”
Margaret surrendered with one demand.
She would speak only to Evelyn.
Against Marcus's advice, Evelyn agreed.
The interrogation room contained one table.
Two chairs.
Margaret sat without handcuffs.
Evelyn entered.
“You look like your grandmother.”
“Why did you surrender?”
“Because Willow is over.”
“Then why run?”
“To finish something.”
“What?”
Margaret smiled.
“You.”
Evelyn sat.
“What is in my Black List file?”
“Nothing.”
Evelyn frowned.
Margaret continued.
“There is no file on you.”
“You lied?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To make Daniel confess.”
Evelyn stared.
“You wanted me to know he'd watched me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you'll forgive him otherwise.”
“That's none of your business.”
“He manipulated your entire relationship.”
“So did you.”
Margaret's face tightened.
“I never pretended to be your husband.”
“No.”
Evelyn leaned forward.
“You only pretended to be my mother.”
That landed.
Margaret looked away.
“What did you finish before surrendering?”
No answer.
“Mom.”
Margaret smiled.
“Check your phone.”
Evelyn did.
Breaking-news alerts filled the screen.
Documents from Project Willow had been released online.
Thousands of pages.
Names.
Bank transfers.
Photographs.
Secret recordings.
Everything.
Evelyn looked up.
“You leaked it.”
“Yes.”
“You compromised the investigation.”
“I ended the blackmail.”
“You exposed innocent people.”
“Collateral damage.”
Evelyn stared at her mother with disgust.
“You really believe you're different from Dad.”
“I am.”
“No.”
Evelyn stood.
“You're exactly like him.”
Margaret's smile disappeared.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“You don't have a home anymore.”
“I have Hope.”
“And Daniel?”
Evelyn stopped.
Margaret leaned back.
“That's what I thought.”
Evelyn left.
Outside, Marcus was staring at his phone.
“What?”
He looked pale.
“My file was released.”
“What was in it?”
Marcus handed her the phone.
Years earlier, Marcus had covered up evidence in a shooting involving his younger brother.
Not murder.
But obstruction.
His career was finished.
“I'll resign tomorrow.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Did Margaret know?”
“Yes.”
“She owned you too.”
“No.”
Marcus looked toward the interrogation room.
“She tried.”
His phone rang.
He answered.
Then his expression changed.
“When?”
He listened.
“We're coming.”
“What happened?”
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“Daniel disappeared from the hospital.”
Her heart sank.
“Kidnapped?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“Security footage shows him leaving voluntarily.”
“With whom?”
Marcus turned the screen.
A photograph showed Daniel entering a car.
The driver was Thomas Carter.
Evelyn stared.
“My father is in federal custody.”
“He was.”
“What do you mean was?”
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“He escaped twenty minutes ago.”
Evelyn looked at the photograph again.
Daniel and Thomas.
Together.
Then a message appeared on her phone.
From Daniel.
I'M SORRY.
A second message arrived.
DON'T FOLLOW ME.
Then a third.
IF I'M NOT BACK BY MIDNIGHT, TAKE HOPE AND LEAVE THE COUNTRY.
May you like
Evelyn stared at the words.
Whatever Daniel and Thomas were about to do, they didn't expect both of them to survive.
