Chapter 17 - THE BROTHER WHO DISAPPEARED|
I refused to believe Daniel had betrayed us.
He was the person I had spent my entire life protecting.
He had been injured in the accident that killed our father. He had endured years of rehabilitation and had never asked for anything beyond the chance to walk again.
But the security report was clear.
Someone had used his medical identification to access the mansion's internal system.
I called him immediately.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Luca entered my room.
"Dominic is looking for him."
"Daniel wouldn't do this."
"I didn't say he did."
"Then why are you looking at me like that?"
Luca took a breath.
"Because someone wants us to believe he did."
I sat on the bed.
"What if they have him?"
Luca crouched in front of me.
"We'll find him."
This time, I believed him.
Dominic eventually traced Daniel's phone to an abandoned apartment building.
Luca and I went there with a small team.
We found Daniel in the basement.
He was sitting beside a broken computer.
His face was bruised.
"Emma!"
I rushed toward him.
"What happened?"
He held up his hands.
"I didn't do anything."
Luca examined the computer.
The security access had been created remotely.
Someone had copied Daniel's medical information and used it to frame him.
Daniel explained that a man had approached him outside the rehabilitation center and offered information about our father's accident.
He had agreed to meet.
The man had attacked him and taken his phone.
"Did you see his face?"
Daniel nodded.
"It was a man who used to visit Dad at work."
I looked at Luca.
"Who?"
Daniel whispered:
"Dominic."
Everyone froze.
The security chief was standing near the entrance.
His face was unreadable.
"That's impossible," he said.
Daniel pointed at him.
"You're the man I saw."
Dominic slowly removed his jacket.
"Daniel, you're confused."
"No!"
Luca raised his weapon.
"Put your hands where I can see them."
Dominic sighed.
For several seconds, he looked at Luca.
Then he lowered his head.
"I knew Michael Shaw."
"You framed Daniel?"
"No."
"Did you help Anthony?"
Dominic looked at me.
"I helped your father."
I stared.
"What?"
Dominic explained that Michael had discovered the conspiracy and asked him to protect his children.
Dominic had agreed.
But he had also been working for Anthony at the time.
He had secretly copied the evidence and hidden it.
He admitted that he had lied about several things.
But he insisted he had never betrayed Michael.
"Then why did you let my father die?"
Dominic's expression crumbled.
"Because I was ordered to stand down."
Luca stepped closer.
"By whom?"
Dominic looked at him.
"Your father."
Before anyone could speak, the building's lights went out.
A gunshot echoed from the upper floor.
When the emergency lights came on, Dominic was gone.
So was the computer.
On the floor lay a small envelope.
Inside was a key and a note.
THE ORIGINAL FILES ARE UNDER THE GRAVE OF THE WOMAN YOU BOTH LOVE.
Luca looked at me.
May you like
We understood the message simultaneously.
Sofia Costa's grave.
