Chapter 7 - The Security Man
Nathan called Daniel and asked him to come alone.
He did not mention the video.
Daniel arrived forty minutes later.
For eleven years, Daniel had protected Asterion executives, managed security at the Hale residence, and coordinated with law enforcement after Elena vanished.
Nathan had trusted him with Sophie.
That thought made his hands cold.
They met in the empty planetarium.
Nathan displayed the frozen video across the dome.
Daniel looked up.
His face drained.
“Explain.”
Daniel remained silent.
Nathan stepped closer.
“You were with Elena after she disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she called me.”
“And you told no one?”
“She told me not to.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“Apparently everyone listened to Elena except me.”
Daniel lowered his head.
“She was afraid.”
“Of Rebecca?”
“Of Gavin.”
“Why Gavin?”
Daniel took a slow breath.
“Because Gavin knew where Sophie slept.”
Nathan went still.
Daniel explained.
Three years earlier, Gavin had quietly ordered changes to residential security access under the excuse of an executive protection upgrade.
Rebecca approved them.
A master credential had been created.
It could open every door.
“You knew?” Nathan asked.
“Not until Elena showed me.”
“Then why didn’t you arrest him?”
“I’m not police.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Elena believed Gavin was framing you.”
Nathan’s voice sharpened.
“And you agreed to help her disappear?”
“No.”
Daniel looked at the dome.
“I tried to get her to the FBI field office.”
“What happened?”
“Someone followed us.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. We split up. Elena went with her attorney. I returned and pretended I knew nothing.”
Nathan stared.
“Attorney’s name.”
“Thomas Keene.”
Nathan knew the firm.
Keene & Rowe represented government whistleblowers.
“Is Elena alive?”
Daniel looked at him.
“She was fourteen months ago.”
Nathan’s heart stopped.
“How do you know?”
“She called.”
“And you didn’t tell me.”
“She said the case was almost ready. Then contact stopped.”
Nathan turned away.
Fury and hope collided inside him.
Fourteen months.
Elena had been alive.
He had married Rebecca before then.
Had Elena known?
Daniel answered without being asked.
“Yes.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
“She knew you married Rebecca.”
“How?”
“She monitored public filings and company news.”
Nathan imagined Elena seeing wedding photographs.
Sophie in a white dress.
Rebecca beside him.
He had told himself Elena was gone.
Elena had been somewhere watching her life replaced.
“Why didn’t she come back?”
Daniel’s voice was quiet.
“She said the evidence wasn’t enough yet.”
Nathan hit the back of a chair.
“For God’s sake!”
Sophie’s voice came from the doorway.
“Daddy?”
Nathan immediately stopped.
He had not known she was there.
Sophie looked frightened.
He crouched.
“I’m sorry.”
“Is Mom alive?”
Nobody answered.
Sophie looked at Daniel.
“You know?”
Daniel’s eyes filled.
“She was the last time I spoke to her.”
“When?”
“A while ago.”
“How long?”
Nathan said softly, “Fourteen months.”
Sophie stared at him.
Then at Daniel.
Then she ran.
Nathan found her in Elena’s old observatory room.
“I hate all of you!”
“I know.”
“You all knew things!”
“I didn’t.”
“You signed papers saying she left me!”
That stopped him.
Sophie had seen the adoption file.
Nathan sat on the floor several feet away.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I believed the wrong person.”
“You believed Rebecca.”
“Yes.”
“Not Mom.”
“Yes.”
Sophie wiped tears from her face.
“Then why should I believe you now?”
Nathan had no answer.
That was his consequence.
Not Rebecca’s manipulation.
His.
That evening Mara found Sophie’s school tablet open on the bed.
A message had arrived from an unknown account.
SOPHIE, YOUR MOTHER IS ALIVE.
Below it:
YOUR FATHER KNOWS WHERE SHE IS.
COME TO THE EAST GATE AT 8:00 IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH.
Nathan looked at the time.
7:58.
May you like
The bedroom window was open.
Sophie was gone.
