Chapter 8
Daniel refused to believe Rachel wanted Sophie’s money.
Then he remembered Rachel had hidden her survival from him.
She had spoken secretly with Sophie.
She had stayed in contact with Eleanor.
Every fact contradicted the woman he remembered.
Federal agents moved Daniel and Sophie again.
This time to a guarded property outside the city.
No staff.
No family.
No visitors.
Sophie complained only once.
“My toys are home.”
Daniel knelt.
“We’ll get new ones.”
“I want Mommy Bunny.”
She meant the stuffed rabbit Rachel had bought before she died.
Daniel had brought it.
He held it up.
Sophie smiled.
That smile reminded him why none of the money mattered.
He would burn every dollar if it kept her safe.
That evening, Agent Nolan arrived carrying a folder.
“We verified the trust.”
“It’s real?”
“Yes.”
“Who created it?”
Nolan hesitated.
“Rachel.”
Daniel stared.
“What?”
“Approximately six months before her disappearance.”
“That makes no sense. She didn’t have three hundred million dollars.”
“She didn’t.”
“Then where did it come from?”
“Your father.”
Daniel frowned.
“My father was dead.”
Nolan opened the folder.
“Richard Mercer placed assets into a generational trust before his death. The beneficiary was defined as your first biological child.”
Daniel leaned back.
“So when Sophie was born…”
“The assets transferred automatically.”
“Why didn’t I know?”
“The documents were sealed through a private trust company.”
“Who knew?”
“Rachel discovered it.”
“And Eleanor.”
“Yes.”
“Michael?”
“Probably.”
Daniel rubbed his face.
“So Sophie became worth hundreds of millions when she was born.”
“Yes.”
“And Rachel discovered my family was stealing money around the same time.”
“Yes.”
Daniel looked toward the window.
“That’s why they wanted Sophie controlled.”
“It appears relevant.”
“What about Rachel?”
Nolan closed the folder.
“She tried to alter the successor trustee.”
“From Eleanor?”
“Yes.”
“To who?”
Nolan met his eyes.
“Herself.”
Daniel went still.
There it was.
The detail Eleanor had used to poison everything.
“Why?”
“We don’t know.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Convenient.”
Nolan continued.
“She never completed the change.”
“So if something happened to me, Eleanor still controlled Sophie’s money.”
“Yes.”
“And if Eleanor was removed?”
“Michael.”
Daniel stared at the wall.
Someone knocked.
An agent entered.
“We have movement.”
Nolan stood.
“What?”
“A woman matching Rachel’s identity crossed into Washington State this morning.”
Daniel’s heart hammered.
“Where is she now?”
“We lost her.”
“Of course you did.”
Nolan ignored the insult.
“She may be heading here.”
Daniel stood.
“Then let her.”
“No.”
“She is Sophie’s mother.”
“She may also be the target drawing danger toward Sophie.”
Daniel stepped close.
“I have spent four years believing she was dead. I will not hide if she is trying to reach us.”
Before Nolan could answer, Sophie called from the bedroom.
“Daddy?”
Daniel rushed in.
She held a small piece of paper.
“Someone gave me this.”
Every adult froze.
“Who?”
“The lady outside.”
Daniel’s blood turned cold.
“What lady?”
Sophie pointed toward the bathroom window.
Security flooded the yard.
No one was found.
Daniel took the paper.
Three words.
BLUEBIRD. MIDNIGHT. ALONE.
Nolan grabbed it.
“What does Bluebird mean?”
Daniel stared.
“It was Rachel’s nickname for a cabin.”
“What cabin?”
“My father owned one near Lake Crescent.”
“Who knows about it?”
“Family.”
Nolan shook his head.
“You’re not going.”
Daniel looked at him.
“She knew Sophie would understand enough to bring me this.”
“She could have sent a message.”
“Not if phones are compromised.”
“Daniel—”
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“You cannot legally imprison me.”
“No, but I can tell you walking into an unknown meeting after multiple threats is incredibly dangerous.”
Daniel looked at Sophie.
He understood.
“I won’t take her.”
“That does not make it safe.”
Daniel waited until Sophie slept.
Then he made his decision.
At eleven thirty, he left with Detective Reyes.
Not alone.
But close enough.
The cabin sat deep among trees beside the lake.
No lights.
Daniel approached the porch.
Reyes and agents remained hidden at a distance.
He opened the door.
“Rachel?”
Nothing.
He stepped inside.
A lamp switched on.
Daniel stopped breathing.
Rachel stood beside the fireplace.
Alive.
Older.
Thinner.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Daniel.”
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Daniel crossed the room.
Rachel opened her arms.
He did not hug her.
He slapped his palm against the wall beside her instead.
“You were alive.”
Rachel flinched.
“You were alive!”
“I know.”
“Four years!”
“I know.”
“Sophie cried for you!”
Rachel broke.
“I know!”
Daniel stepped back.
“No. You don’t get to cry first.”
She covered her mouth.
“I watched my daughter grow through photographs.”
“You chose that.”
“I chose to keep her alive.”
“You let her live with Eleanor!”
“I thought you would protect her.”
“I didn’t know she needed protection!”
Rachel closed her eyes.
“That was my mistake.”
“Your mistake?”
Daniel laughed.
“She was tied inside a crib.”
Rachel’s eyes opened.
“What?”
“Vanessa.”
Rachel went pale.
“No.”
“She hurt Sophie.”
Rachel took a step toward him.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“I need to see her.”
“No.”
Rachel stared.
“What?”
“You don’t walk back after four years and demand anything.”
“She’s my daughter.”
“She is the daughter you abandoned.”
Rachel recoiled.
Daniel regretted the words instantly.
But he did not take them back.
Rachel’s voice became quiet.
“I deserve that.”
Daniel looked away.
“Why were you talking to her through Eleanor?”
Rachel froze.
That was the wrong reaction.
“How do you know?”
“Sophie told me.”
Rachel sat slowly.
“Eleanor said she had changed.”
Daniel laughed.
“You trusted Eleanor?”
“I didn’t know who else could arrange contact.”
“You could have contacted me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“Three times.”
“I never received anything.”
Rachel looked at him.
“Then someone intercepted it.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel paced.
“What about Sophie’s trust?”
Rachel stared at him.
“So Eleanor told you.”
“Police found it.”
“I tried to change the trustee.”
“To yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew Eleanor wanted control.”
“You disappeared.”
“I planned to move it to an independent trustee before I left.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
Daniel rubbed his face.
“Why are you here now?”
Rachel’s expression changed.
“Because Michael contacted me.”
Daniel stopped.
“What did he say?”
“That Eleanor planned to have you declared unstable.”
Daniel stared.
“For what?”
“To take Sophie.”
“And the trust.”
“Yes.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“She already tried to make Sophie look unstable.”
Rachel nodded.
“That was phase one.”
“What is phase two?”
Rachel looked frightened.
“To make you look violent.”
Daniel remembered slapping Vanessa.
Security footage.
Police reports.
Witnesses.
Rachel continued.
“Vanessa was supposed to provoke you.”
Daniel’s face went cold.
“No.”
“Eleanor needed evidence that you were dangerous.”
Daniel thought of Vanessa reaching repeatedly for Sophie.
Her refusal to leave.
Her screaming about being hit.
Had some of it been planned?
Rachel whispered, “If you were arrested or declared unfit, Eleanor could petition for guardianship.”
Daniel sat down.
Everything connected.
Then a gunshot shattered the cabin window.
Rachel dropped.
Daniel threw himself over her.
Another shot hit the wall.
Reyes shouted outside.
Agents moved through the trees.
Daniel dragged Rachel behind the stone fireplace.
“Are you hit?”
“No.”
Glass covered the floor.
Rachel stared at him.
“They found me.”
Daniel looked toward the broken window.
“No.”
May you like
Another gunshot echoed.
“They found us.”
