Chapter 7 - THE MAN WHO KNEW BOTH OUR FAMILIES
Everything changed after that.
Charles disappeared.
Vanessa came to my apartment.
She was crying.
"My father is dangerous."
I stared at her.
"You knew?"
"I suspected."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't know how deep it went."
She handed me a flash drive.
"My father has been using Northstar for years."
"To do what?"
"Blackmail."
She explained.
Northstar collected information on wealthy families, politicians, executives, and government officials.
Then Charles sold silence.
People paid him to bury secrets.
My father had discovered it.
Richard Harrison had discovered it.
And my mother had discovered it.
All three had tried to expose him.
Only my mother survived long enough to leave evidence.
"Where is my father?" I asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know."
Daniel looked at her.
"What about mine?"
She hesitated.
"Your father died in a private clinic six years ago."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Then who has been using his identity?"
"We don't know."
The flash drive contained financial records.
One payment stood out.
A recurring transfer to a trust.
The beneficiary was:
Amy Reed Harrison.
I stared.
"That's my name."
Daniel looked at the document.
"What is this?"
"I don't know."
The trust had been established twenty-two years ago.
Before I met Daniel.
Before his father disappeared.
Before I even understood what money was.
The amount was enormous.
But the condition was strange.
The trust would only activate when I became legally married to a Harrison.
I stared at Daniel.
"Our marriage?"
He looked equally stunned.
"Someone wanted you to marry me."
The thought was horrifying.
"Who?"
We searched the records.
The original trustee was Richard Harrison.
But a secondary trustee had been added later.
Charles Cole.
My blood ran cold.
"Our marriage wasn't an accident."
Daniel stepped closer.
"Amy..."
I backed away.
"Did you know?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
I wanted to believe him.
But doubt had become instinct.
Then Vanessa spoke.
"There's one more condition."
"What?"
"If Amy becomes pregnant, the trust transfers control of Northstar."
Silence.
My hand instinctively moved toward my stomach.
Daniel looked at me.
His face changed.
"That's why they wanted you pregnant."
The room seemed to tilt.
Our baby wasn't just a baby to someone.
It was leverage.
I felt sick.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice said:
"Congratulations, Amy."
I knew immediately.
Charles.
"Your mother built Northstar."
He laughed softly.
"Your father tried to destroy it."
"Where is he?"
"Alive."
I froze.
"What?"
"Your father is alive."
Daniel grabbed my hand.
Charles continued.
"And if you want him to stay that way, bring me the trust documents."
"Where?"
"Tomorrow."
"Where?"
He gave an address.
Then added:
"Come alone."
The line went dead.
Daniel looked at me.
"You're not going."
"I am."
"Not alone."
"I have to."
"No."
I looked at him.
"For the first time in our marriage, I'm asking you to trust me."
He stared.
Then nodded.
May you like
"I will."
But neither of us knew Charles had already anticipated that answer.
