Chapter 2 - The Man Who Knew Where Daniel Was Buried|
“Your brother is alive.”
Margaret Ellis said those four words while pointing directly at the man sitting six chairs away from Adrian Moretti.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Richard Cross, Vivienne's father, sat beneath the enormous crystal chandelier with his champagne glass halfway to his mouth.
He was sixty-three, silver-haired, and dressed in a tuxedo that probably cost more than my annual salary.
But the moment Margaret pointed at him, his expression changed.
Not much.
Just enough.
Adrian noticed.
“Richard.”
His voice was dangerously quiet.
Richard slowly lowered his glass.
“Adrian, I think this woman is confused.”
Margaret flinched.
I felt her hand tighten around mine.
She had spent twenty years carrying a secret.
And now the man who had helped keep it buried was calling her confused in front of twenty-eight people.
Adrian leaned forward.
“My brother died in 2004.”
Richard nodded sympathetically.
“A terrible tragedy.”
“Then explain why Margaret has a hospital record showing he was admitted after the accident.”
Richard's jaw tightened.
“I can't possibly explain every document someone brings to your dinner table.”
Vivienne immediately stood.
“Darling, please. You're allowing a former servant to turn our engagement dinner into a circus.”
Adrian didn't look at her.
“Sit down.”
Her mouth opened.
“Adrian—”
“Sit.”
She lowered herself into the chair.
I had worked for Adrian Moretti for two years.
I'd seen him negotiate with men who controlled entire shipping companies.
I'd watched him silence arguments with a glance.
But I'd never seen him look the way he looked now.
As though the world he'd believed in for twenty-two years had suddenly become unfamiliar.
He turned toward Margaret.
“Tell me everything.”
Her eyes filled.
“Your father brought Daniel back to the house that evening.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No. The coast guard searched for him for three days.”
“I know what they told everyone.”
Margaret swallowed.
“But I was there when they carried him upstairs.”
“Who carried him?”
“Your father and two security men.”
“What condition was he in?”
“He was unconscious. His clothes were wet. His breathing was shallow.”
Adrian gripped the edge of the table.
“And you didn't call an ambulance?”
“Your father said a doctor was already coming.”
Tears ran down Margaret's cheeks.
“He told me Daniel had been involved in something dangerous. He said people were looking for him.”
Adrian stared.
“What people?”
Margaret looked toward Richard again.
“I didn't understand at the time.”
Richard placed his glass down.
“Margaret, you're making a serious accusation.”
The elderly woman straightened.
“For twenty-two years, Mr. Cross, I've wondered whether telling the truth would have saved that boy.”
Richard's face hardened.
“You were paid to maintain confidentiality.”
Adrian went completely still.
“Paid?”
Richard realized his mistake.
I saw it happen.
The slightest widening of his eyes.
The sudden silence.
Then Adrian slowly stood.
“You knew about the payment.”
Richard forced a smile.
“Vivienne mentioned that your former employee had received assistance.”
Adrian turned toward his fiancée.
“Vivienne told me she didn't know who paid Margaret.”
Vivienne stared at her father.
Neither answered.
Adrian stepped away from the table.
“Margaret, who signed the transfer paperwork?”
She pointed toward the hospital record.
“The name was covered when I received the copy. But I remember the man.”
Adrian looked toward Richard.
“Who was he?”
Margaret's voice shook.
“Your father's business partner.”
Richard's face turned pale.
Adrian stared at him.
“You.”
Richard slowly stood.
“Adrian, this isn't the place.”
A humorless smile crossed Adrian's face.
“Twenty-two years ago, my brother disappeared.”
His voice grew colder.
“My father told me Daniel drowned. My mother died believing she'd never see her youngest son again.”
He moved closer.
“And now someone is telling me you arranged his transfer from a hospital.”
Richard adjusted his jacket.
“There were circumstances you didn't understand.”
“Then explain them.”
Richard looked around at the remaining guests.
“You have responsibilities, Adrian. Businesses. Employees. A reputation.”
Adrian's eyes hardened.
“My brother.”
The entire dining room fell silent.
“Where is my brother?”
Richard said nothing.
Adrian looked toward Marco, his head of security.
“Have the gates secured. Nobody destroys anything or removes records from this property tonight.”
Marco nodded.
Then Adrian turned toward the guests.
“Dinner is over. Thank you for coming.”
Nobody argued.
Within minutes, chairs scraped against marble and whispers filled the hallway.
Vivienne hurried toward Adrian.
“Darling, you can't possibly believe this woman.”
He turned.
“Did you know?”
She froze.
“Know what?”
“That Daniel was alive.”
Vivienne looked toward her father.
And that was answer enough.
Adrian took a slow breath.
“Get out of my sight.”
Her lips parted.
“Adrian—”
“Now.”
Vivienne stumbled backward.
For the first time since I'd worked in the mansion, she looked frightened.
Margaret began trembling beside me.
I gently helped her sit.
“It's all right,” I whispered.
But she shook her head.
“No, sweetheart.”
Her eyes filled with fresh tears.
“There's something worse.”
Adrian immediately turned.
“What?”
Margaret reached into her handbag.
She removed a second envelope.
This one was addressed in shaky handwriting.
TO ADRIAN. IF THEY EVER LET ME COME HOME.
Adrian stared at the words.
Then whispered, “Daniel?”
May you like
Margaret nodded.
And the powerful man who controlled half of Chicago's waterfront suddenly looked like a seventeen-year-old boy waiting for his little brother to walk through the door.
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