Chapter 7 - THE MAN WHO BUILT THE SYSTEMDaniel Hart remained in custody.
But he continued to smile.
That frightened Lena more than anything.
She visited him once.
He sat behind the glass.
Perfectly calm.
“You found the basement,” he said.
Lena did not sit.
“Where is Eli?”
Daniel smiled.
“I don't know.”
“Twenty-three children.”
His smile faded.
Only for a second.
But Lena saw it.
“You know exactly where they are.”
Daniel leaned closer to the glass.
“You think Eleanor was a saint?”
Lena said nothing.
“She built the foundation because she felt guilty.”
“For what?”
Daniel looked away.
“My sister.”
The dead girl from the photograph.
Lena's breath caught.
“She died because of Eleanor.”
“No.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“She died because Eleanor chose another man over her family.”
Lena stared.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Eleanor had secrets. Everyone does.”
“Your sister was murdered?”
Daniel looked back at her.
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
He smiled.
“That is the question Eleanor spent twenty-seven years trying to answer.”
Lena's voice hardened.
“And you?”
“I stopped looking.”
“Why?”
“Because I found the truth.”
Lena waited.
Daniel leaned toward the glass.
“The girl was never killed.”
Lena froze.
“What?”
“My sister survived the accident.”
Lena's heart began to race.
“Then where is she?”
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“She became someone else.”
The door behind Lena opened.
A police officer appeared.
“Your time is up.”
Lena turned to leave.
Daniel spoke again.
“Ask Eleanor why she never told you.”
Lena stopped.
“Why would she tell me?”
“Because you were her replacement.”
Lena turned around.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel looked directly into her eyes.
“Three years ago, when you found Mia, Eleanor did not just find her granddaughter.”
He smiled.
“She found the next person she could use.”
Lena left the room.
But the words followed her.
You were her replacement.
Outside, Nora was waiting.
Lena looked at her.
“Tell me the truth.”
Nora said nothing.
Lena's voice rose.
“Was Eleanor using me?”
Nora lowered her eyes.
“Not at first.”
Lena felt her heart sink.
“What happened later?”
Nora took out her phone.
“I found one more recording.”
She pressed play.
Eleanor's voice filled the hallway.
“I am sorry, Lena.”
Lena froze.
May you like
The recording continued.
“If you are hearing this, it means I failed to protect you too.”
