Chapter 10 - Daniel
Daniel Hale arrived forty minutes later.
Vincent’s older brother had taught him to drive, helped build the company, and stood beside him at Grace’s funeral.
Vincent placed the garage invoice on the table.
Then the photograph.
Then Grace’s financial records.
Daniel’s face changed.
“Mia remembers you,” Vincent said.
Daniel looked toward the next room.
“She remembers you talking to Grace the day she died.”
“Vincent—”
“She remembers the word accident.”
Daniel sat down.
Vincent’s stomach dropped.
“How long did you know Grant was stealing?”
“Six months.”
“You knew?”
“Our father left debts you never saw. Grant created shell vendors to hide cash shortages.”
“And then he started taking money.”
Daniel nodded.
“Grace found it.”
“Yes.”
“Did you threaten her?”
“No.”
“Then why did Mia hear you talk about an accident?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I said if the fraud became public, the company’s collapse would look like an accident. But it wouldn’t be. It would be murder.”
Plausible.
Too plausible.
Daniel pulled an old phone from his coat.
“I kept this because I was a coward.”
A voicemail played.
Grace’s voice:
“Daniel, I know you’re scared of Grant, but if you don’t help me now, you become part of this. He changed something on my car.”
Vincent stared at his brother.
“You got this before she died?”
“Yes.”
“What did you do?”
Daniel’s eyes filled.
“I called Grant.”
Vincent stepped back as if struck.
Before he could answer, Marcus called.
“We found Grant’s car.”
“Where?”
“Outside Mia’s school.”
Vincent’s blood went cold.
May you like
Mia was home.
But Grant clearly didn’t know that.
