Chapter 4 - THE COMPANY WITH DANIEL'S NAMEThe company was called D.C. Advisory Partners.
Daniel had never created it.
Corporate records contained his signature.
His Social Security information.
An old home address.
Even a scanned copy of his driver's license.
Everything necessary to make it look legitimate.
The company received $1.3 million from foundation-related vendors.
Then transferred the money elsewhere.
If Emma found only the first layer, Daniel would look guilty.
Detective Mills asked:
“Who has access to your personal documents?”
Daniel almost laughed.
“Half my family.”
That was an exaggeration.
But not much.
Victoria stored copies of childhood records.
Adrian's finance office handled family tax planning.
Daniel's assistant had identification files.
The family attorney.
Accountants.
Too many people.
Emma's unsent email suddenly made more sense.
She had found D.C. Advisory.
Perhaps that was why she didn't tell Daniel immediately.
She didn't know whether the company was his.
Daniel felt betrayed by whoever framed him.
Then realized Emma must have felt worse.
She slept beside a man she suddenly couldn't rule out.
Financial tracing cleared Daniel quickly.
Money left D.C. Advisory and moved into an account tied to Adrian's private holding company.
The company in Daniel's name was camouflage.
Adrian had created a path where any investigation might stop at his younger brother.
Daniel confronted him with police present.
“You used my name.”
Adrian remained silent.
“You made my wife think I was stealing.”
Still nothing.
“You made her afraid of me.”
Adrian finally spoke.
“You were never supposed to know.”
Daniel stared.
“That is your defense?”
“The foundation wasn't supposed to be examined.”
“Emma examined it.”
“Yes.”
“So you drugged her?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Adrian looked toward the observation mirror.
Daniel understood.
Victoria.
“Did Mom drug Emma?”
Adrian shook his head.
“I didn't see her do it.”
“Did you know Emma's juice was drugged?”
“No.”
“Why were you following her upstairs?”
“To get the drive.”
“Did you push her?”
“No.”
“Did Mom?”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Daniel's pulse rose.
“What happened?”
“She was dizzy.”
“Then?”
“She told Mom she had copied everything.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“What did Mom do?”
“Grabbed her bag.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
“Emma resisted.”
Adrian stared at the table.
“They struggled.”
“And?”
“Emma lost balance.”
Daniel felt cold.
“She fell?”
“Yes.”
“Down the stairs?”
“Only several steps.”
“Only?”
Adrian looked up.
“I didn't mean—”
“You didn't call an ambulance.”
“I was scared.”
“You took the drive.”
“Yes.”
“And Mom?”
“She told me to delete the cameras.”
Daniel stood.
There it was.
Adrian might not have caused the fall.
But he had helped cover it.
“Who put the sedative in the juice?”
“I don't know.”
“Adrian.”
“I don't.”
Daniel believed one thing.
His brother was scared of Victoria.
That was new.
Adrian had always seemed like the dominant son.
The heir.
The CFO.
The one Victoria trusted most.
Now Daniel saw something else.
He was still her boy.
Still waiting for instructions.
Detective Mills asked Adrian separately about the sedative.
Eventually he revealed something.
Victoria had a prescription.
Same medication.
Doctors confirmed.
That didn't prove she put it in Emma's drink.
But it narrowed possibilities.
Police searched Victoria's belongings.
The prescription bottle was nearly empty.
She claimed she had dropped pills.
Then hotel receipts emerged.
Three days before the memorial, Victoria purchased a pill crusher from a pharmacy.
Cash.
Security camera.
Clear image.
Daniel watched the footage.
His mother standing at the register.
Calm.
Ordinary.
A small paper bag.
He felt numb.
Detective Mills said:
“This is circumstantial.”
Daniel nodded.
He had learned not to jump.
But the circle was closing.
Then Emma woke.
Not fully.
Her eyes opened for less than a minute.
Daniel was there.
He stood so fast the chair fell.
“Emma?”
Her gaze struggled to focus.
“Hey.”
She tried to speak around the oxygen support.
No sound.
Daniel touched her hand.
“Don't talk.”
Her eyes moved toward Leo's empty chair.
“He's safe.”
Emma's body relaxed.
Daniel began crying.
“Leo is safe.”
Her eyes returned to him.
Something changed.
Fear.
Daniel understood.
She still didn't know whether he was safe.
Whether he was involved.
He whispered:
“I found the card.”
Emma blinked.
“The tie.”
Another blink.
“I know about Adrian.”
Her eyes filled.
“And my mother.”
The monitor increased.
Daniel immediately stopped.
Then he said the most important thing.
“I didn't know.”
Emma stared at him.
He couldn't prove his soul in one sentence.
He simply held her hand.
“I should have listened to you long before this.”
A tear slid from the corner of her eye.
Daniel lowered his head.
“I'm sorry.”
Emma's fingers moved.
Weakly.
Then she squeezed his hand.
Once.
Daniel broke down.
It wasn't forgiveness.
It was contact.
Enough.
Later, when doctors allowed a short interview, Emma managed only a few words.
Detective Mills asked:
“Did Victoria Carter give you the orange juice?”
Emma blinked.
Yes.
“Did you see her put anything in it?”
No.
“Who caused you to fall?”
Emma's eyes closed.
Then opened.
She whispered one word.
“Victoria.”
Daniel turned away.
The question had finally been answered.
But Emma wasn't finished.
Her next whisper changed the entire case.
May you like
“Not alone.”
Who else had helped Victoria—and why had Emma still been afraid after Adrian was exposed?
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