Chapter 2: The Man He Knew
Nobody moved.
The restaurant suddenly seemed too quiet.
Michael rested one arm on the back of his chair and looked at Daniel.
“Go ahead,” he said.
“Introduce yourself.””
Daniel swallowed.
“You know me.””
“I do.””
Michael's voice was almost gentle.
Daniel's eyes flicked toward me.
That was when I realized something.
This wasn't a surprise to Michael.
He hadn't walked in and discovered me sitting across from a stranger.
He had walked in knowing exactly who he would find.
My phone was still in my hand.
The lie I'd sent him was still glowing on the screen.
*Doctor says I need to stay overnight.*
Michael glanced at it.
Then at me.
“You weren't at the hospital.””
I couldn't speak.
He nodded once.
“I figured.””
“Michael…”
“Don't.””
His voice wasn't loud.
But it stopped me.
He looked at Daniel again.
“You have five minutes.””
Daniel stared at him.
“For what?””
“To decide whether you're going to tell my wife the truth.””
Daniel's face tightened.
“And if I don't?””
Michael smiled faintly.
“Then I'll tell her.””
A shiver ran through me.
“Tell me what?””
Michael looked at me.
“You should have asked me that months ago.””
I pushed my chair back.
“Stop talking in riddles.””
“I agree.””
“Then explain.””
Michael leaned forward.
“Daniel Ward.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
My stomach twisted.
Ward.
The name was familiar.
I had seen it somewhere.
Not recently.
Years ago.
On old documents from my father's company.
I looked at Daniel.
“Your last name is Ward?””
He nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
Michael watched my face.
“You finally remember.””
I stared at Daniel.
“My father's attorney had an assistant named Ward.””
Daniel said nothing.
Michael corrected me.
“Not an assistant.””
He looked at Daniel.
“His son.””
Daniel's lips tightened.
“My father worked for your father.””
My breathing became shallow.
“Then why did you tell me you'd never met Michael?””
Daniel looked down.
“I was scared.””
“Of him?””
“Yes.””
Michael gave a quiet laugh.
“You should be.””
“Michael!””
He looked at me.
“I didn't mean—”
“No,” he said.
“You meant exactly what you said.””
The waiter approached our table.
“Everything all right here?””
Michael turned toward him with a polite smile.
“Perfectly fine.””
The waiter hesitated.
“Can I get you something?””
“No, thank you.””
He walked away.
Michael waited until the man was out of earshot.
Then he looked at me.
“You lied to me tonight.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I knew you wouldn't tell me the truth.””
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“That isn't an answer.””
“It is when you've spent fourteen years lying to me.””
Daniel flinched.
Michael didn't.
“Fourteen years,” he repeated quietly.
I leaned closer.
“What happened at my father's factory?””
Michael's expression hardened.
Daniel whispered, “Emily, don't.””
I snapped toward him.
“Don't what?””
Daniel shook his head.
“Please.””
“Please what?””
Michael reached into his coat.
Daniel recoiled.
My heart stopped.
But Michael only pulled out a small envelope.
He placed it on the table.
“This is why I came.””
I stared at it.
“What is it?””
“Something I should have shown you a long time ago.””
“Then open it.””
“I want you to.””
My fingers trembled as I picked it up.
The envelope was old.
Yellowed.
The edges were frayed.
My father's handwriting was on the front.
Just four words.
*For Emily. When ready.*
I stopped breathing.
“My father wrote this?””
Michael nodded.
“When?””
“The week before the fire.””
Daniel looked away.
I tore open the envelope.
Inside was a single handwritten page.
The first line made my knees weaken.
*Emily, if you are reading this, it means I failed to protect you.*
I looked at Michael.
“What is this?””
His face had lost all color.
“Keep reading.””
My eyes moved down the page.
*The fire was not an accident.*
I covered my mouth.
Daniel whispered, “Oh God.””
The next sentence was smeared by age.
But I could make out enough.
*The man responsible is not the man you were told.*
I looked at Daniel.
Then Michael.
“Who was I told?””
Michael didn't answer.
I looked back at the letter.
There was one final line.
Only seven words.
*Ask Michael what happened after midnight.*
The restaurant disappeared around me.
“Michael?””
He said nothing.
“After midnight?””
Daniel pushed his chair back.
“I need to leave.””
Michael immediately stood.
“No.””
Daniel stopped.
Michael's voice remained calm.
“You've been running for fourteen years.””
Daniel stared at him.
“I can't do this.””
“You already did.””
Michael stepped closer.
“Tell her.””
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“Michael, she doesn't know what you're capable of.””
Michael's jaw tightened.
“You're right.””
He looked at me.
“She doesn't.””
Then Daniel said the one sentence that made the blood drain from my face.
“Because I wasn't the one who betrayed your father.””
He pointed at Michael.
“He was.””
And at that exact moment, my phone rang.
May you like
The caller ID displayed a name I had never expected to see again.
*Dad.*
