It was also the year Daniel’s first wife, Rebecca, had died in what police called a highway accident.
Evelyn had been Rebecca’s closest friend.
Daniel had met her at the funeral.
Suddenly, memories he had never questioned began rearranging themselves.
Evelyn shook her head.
“I wanted to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“Rebecca’s death wasn’t an accident.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
“What?”
“She knew someone was stealing money from Cross Industries.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Who?”
“I never knew his name.”
“Why didn’t you tell the police?”
“Because Rebecca did.”
Evelyn’s voice trembled.
“And twelve hours later, she was dead.”
Daniel’s face went blank.
Evelyn continued.
“She gave me a key before she died. She told me that if anything happened to her, I was supposed to protect Sophie.”
Daniel looked toward his daughter.
“And you kept this from me for seven years?”
“I was terrified.”
“You married me.”
“Yes.”
“Was that part of protecting her?”
Evelyn’s tears fell.
“At first?”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
That answer hurt more than Daniel expected.
“At first?”
“I fell in love with you.”
Daniel looked away.
He didn’t know what to believe anymore.
His brother’s cuff link.
The missing footage.
Rebecca’s death.
The attack on Lily.
Everything connected.
But he couldn’t see how.
“Where is the key?”
Evelyn reached beneath the neckline of her gown.
A thin chain appeared.
At the end hung a tiny brass key.
“I’ve worn it every day for seven years.”
Daniel stared at it.
“What does it open?”
“I don’t know.”
A voice came from the doorway.
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
Charles Cross stood there.
His tuxedo jacket was torn.
Blood ran from his forehead.
Marcus raised his weapon.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Charles raised both hands.
Daniel stepped toward his brother.
“Your cuff link was on the stairs.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“Because somebody stole it from my dressing room.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“You expect me to believe you?”
Charles gave a bitter laugh.
“Considering somebody just tried to shoot me upstairs, yes.”
Evelyn held up the key.
Charles’s expression changed.
“Rebecca gave you that?”
“You recognize it?”
Charles slowly nodded.
“That key opens our father’s private deposit box.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Our father has been dead for nine years.”
“Yes.”
“Then why would Rebecca have his key?”
Charles looked toward Sophie.
“Because Dad knew someone inside Cross Industries was laundering millions.”
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“Who?”
Charles looked directly at him.
“We never found out.”
Then Marcus’s radio crackled.
The hospital security team had been located.
Both officers were unconscious inside the parking garage.
Dr. Hart had been found in an elevator.
