Chapter 16 - DANIEL'S CHOICE
Daniel did not run.
He came to the police station voluntarily.
"I signed the transfer," he said.
Nathan stared through the interview-room glass.
"Why?"
"Because Marcus had my daughter."
Daniel showed them photographs.
His sixteen-year-old daughter getting off a school bus.
A man following her.
Messages from Marcus.
Sign or she disappears.
Daniel had spent years being weak in exactly the places Marcus needed him weak.
He had destroyed evidence without asking questions.
Drafted Grace's agreement.
Authorized fake support accounts.
And finally signed a transfer that would have moved thirty million dollars overseas.
"I kept telling myself I wasn't the one hurting anyone," Daniel said. "That's how people like Marcus build teams. One coward at a time."
He agreed to cooperate.
The transfer was stopped.
Federal agents froze Marcus's accounts.
Victoria accepted a plea deal for conspiracy, assault, unlawful surveillance, and financial crimes in exchange for testimony about Richard's death.
But Grace cared about only one case.
Lily.
A family court judge temporarily recognized Nathan as Lily's biological father after independent DNA testing.
The judge asked Grace whether she wanted Nathan added to the birth certificate immediately.
Grace looked at him.
Nathan said nothing.
The choice was hers.
"Yes," she said finally. "But custody changes slowly."
Nathan nodded.
"As slowly as she needs."
After court, Lily took his hand for the first time without asking Grace.
Nathan nearly cried.
Then Rachel called.
Caleb was gone.
His bedroom window was open.
May you like
On the pillow sat a note.
ONE HEIR IS ENOUGH.
