Chapter 7 - The Man Behind the CurtainReid's father was alive.
We discovered him two days later.
His name was Edward Marlowe.
He had been living under another identity in Charleston.
He did not deny anything.
But he claimed Vivienne had misunderstood his plan.
“I never wanted Clara harmed.”
Reid nearly attacked him.
“You erased me.”
“I protected you.”
“You let my wife believe I was dead.”
“I needed the network to believe it.”
Edward explained that he had been building a case against the people who had taken control of his old financial operation.
He had discovered that someone inside the government was selling information.
The person had used Reid's mission to eliminate him.
Edward had secretly arranged for Reid to be rescued.
But he had been unable to reach Clara.
Vivienne had taken advantage of the situation.
“She went too far,” Edward admitted.
“Too far?” Reid shouted. “She threatened my wife with an iron.”
Edward lowered his head.
“I know.”
“Who gave her the orders?”
Edward looked at me.
“The person you should fear is not Vivienne.”
“Who?”
“Daniel Brooks.”
I stopped breathing.
Reid turned.
“Our attorney?”
Edward nodded.
“Daniel has been moving money through the trust for years.”
Reid immediately called Daniel.
No answer.
Then the hospital security alarm sounded.
Someone had entered the maternity wing.
Reid ran.
I held our daughter.
A nurse shouted.
The lights flickered.
Then Daniel appeared at the end of the corridor.
He was holding a folder.
“Give me the baby.”
I backed away.
“No.”
His expression was calm.
“I don't want to hurt you.”
“You already did.”
He took another step.
Reid appeared behind him.
“Step away from my family.”
Daniel turned.
For one second, nobody moved.
Then police officers surrounded him.
Daniel dropped the folder.
Inside were birth records, trust documents, and a plane ticket.
He had planned to disappear with the child.
May you like
Reid's father had been right.
The final betrayal had been sitting beside us all along.
