The knocking stopped.
For several seconds, the apartment was completely silent.
Daniel motioned for Mara to move away from the door.
He crossed the room without making a sound.
Mara watched him.
The man she knew as a quiet security guard was suddenly moving with an efficiency she had never seen before.
He checked the peephole.
Then stepped back.
“Who is it?”
A woman's voice answered.
“Mara Bennett?”
Mara frowned.
Daniel shook his head.
The woman continued.
“My name is Evelyn Vale.”
Mara's skin prickled.
Daniel's eyes hardened.
“Stay here,” he whispered.
He opened the door only a few inches.
A woman in her early sixties stood outside.
Her coat was wet from the rain. She held a leather satchel against her chest.
She looked past Daniel.
Her eyes found Mara.
“You need to come with me.”
Daniel blocked the doorway.
“No.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“You still think you can protect her alone?”
“Who are you?”
“You know exactly who I am.”
Mara stepped closer.
“Evelyn Vale?”
The woman nodded.
“Arthur's sister.”
Daniel opened the door slightly wider.
“How did you find us?”
“Your father told me.”
Mara stiffened.
“My father knows you?”
Evelyn gave her a tired look.
“Your father knows more than he has ever admitted.”
She held up the satchel.
“I have proof.”
Daniel looked at the hallway.
“Come inside.”
Evelyn entered.
She placed the satchel on the table and removed several documents.
Mara recognized her father's handwriting on one of them.
The date was twelve years old.
The document described a financial investigation involving a private security company.
Daniel read it silently.
“What is this?”
Evelyn looked at Mara.
“It is the reason Arthur disappeared.”
Mara sat.
“My father was involved?”
“Your father was trying to expose something.”
Daniel looked up.
“And Arthur?”
“He was the person who found it.”
Evelyn spread another document across the table.
Several company names appeared.
Mara did not recognize any of them.
But one name was familiar.
Bennett Holdings.
Her father's company.
Her stomach turned.
“Why is my family's company here?”
Evelyn answered carefully.
“Because someone inside it was moving money.”
“Who?”
“We never proved it.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You suspected Arthur.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“Your father.”
Mara stood.
“You think my father stole money?”
“I think he was framed.”
That stopped her.
Evelyn continued.
“Arthur discovered the transfers. Before he could reveal them, evidence appeared showing your father was responsible.”
Mara stared at the documents.
“My father said Arthur died.”
“He believed Arthur was dead.”
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“You're saying Arthur survived?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Mara looked between them.
“Then why come here?”
Evelyn reached into the satchel.
She pulled out a small envelope.
“This arrived at my house yesterday.”
Mara opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
Arthur stood beside a young man.
Mara looked at the face.
Daniel.
But there was something else.
The photograph had been taken recently.
Daniel looked older, but unmistakably himself.
The date printed at the bottom was from six months earlier.
Mara looked at her husband.
“You told me you hadn't seen him in twelve years.”
“I haven't.”
“Then why is this photograph recent?”
Daniel took it.
He studied the background.
A brick wall.
A blue sign.
A street number.
His expression changed.
“I know this place.”
“Where?”
“A storage facility outside the city.”
Evelyn nodded.
“That's where the photograph was taken.”
Daniel stood.
“We need to go.”
Mara grabbed his arm.
“No.”
He turned.
“I need to know why Arthur photographed me.”
“And I need to know why everyone keeps making decisions without me.”
Daniel softened.
“You're right.”
Evelyn looked at Mara.
“There is something else.”
Mara waited.
“The person who sent me the photograph knew your father's schedule.”
Mara felt the room grow colder.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning someone close to your family is still working with whoever caused Arthur's disappearance.”
Daniel looked toward the window.
A vehicle passed slowly below.
He watched it until it disappeared.
Then his phone rang.
The number was hidden.
He answered.
“Who is this?”
No voice came through.
Instead, a recording played.
Mara could hear her father's voice.
Not from today.
From twelve years ago.
Her father's recorded words were unmistakable.
“If Daniel ever comes back, don't let him reach Mara.”
The recording ended.
Daniel slowly lowered the phone.
Mara stared at him.
“What did my father mean?”
Daniel did not answer.
Evelyn looked frightened for the first time.
“He never told you.”
“Told me what?”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Why Arthur trusted Daniel.”
Mara looked at her.
“Why?”
Evelyn's voice dropped.
“Because Daniel was there the night Arthur disappeared.”
Mara turned toward her husband.
Daniel did not deny it.
Click here to continue reading: PART 4: The Truth About That Missing Night Finally Emerged, but It Revealed a Secret Mara Had Never Considered Her Father Could Keep
She Married the Man Everyone Dismissed, Then One Phone Call Made Her Family Question Everything They Knew
Part 3 of 20
