Chapter 4 - MY FATHER STARTED MAKING PHONE CALLS
Mom called Monday morning.
I let it ring twice before answering.
“Emily?”
She sounded nervous.
“What?”
“What did you mean yesterday?”
I knew exactly what she meant.
“Ask Dad.”
“He has.”
“And?”
“Daniel isn't answering him.”
That surprised me.
Dad had Daniel’s number, but I could count on one hand how many times he had called him directly.
“What does Dad want?”
“I don't know.”
Mom lowered her voice.
“Your father barely slept.”
I almost laughed.
“Because I left dinner?”
“No.”
There was movement on her end, then a door closing.
“He asked Vanessa something after you left.”
“What?”
“Whether she knew Daniel's full legal name.”
That got my attention.
Daniel had always introduced himself simply as Daniel Cole.
There was nothing mysterious about that.
At least, I had never thought there was.
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
But Mom clearly knew more than she was saying.
Before I could push, I heard Dad in the background.
“Give me the phone.”
Mom whispered, “I have to go.”
The call ended.
Ten minutes later, Vanessa texted me.
What game are you playing?
I did not answer.
Then another message arrived.
Dad says Daniel knows someone at Mercer.
That meant nothing to me.
I put my phone down.
Five minutes later, Vanessa called.
I declined it.
She called again.
May you like
Then Dad called.
For the first time in my adult life, I watched Richard Bennett's name flash across my screen and felt absolutely no obligation to answer.
