Chapter 6 - The Signature Daniel Never Made
Ethan opened the closet.
Empty.
The window behind it was raised.
Whoever had entered had escaped seconds earlier.
Valerie picked up Daniel’s ring.
Her hands shook.
“Is the blood his?”
“We’ll test it.”
She looked at Ethan.
“If Daniel is alive, why terrorize me?”
“Maybe he isn’t the one doing it.”
The blood was tested that night.
It belonged to Daniel.
But it was old.
Preserved.
Someone wanted Valerie frightened, not informed.
Ethan moved her into a secured apartment.
She resisted until another collection notice appeared taped to her front door.
Inside the apartment, Ethan showed her Daniel’s employment records.
Valerie studied the signatures.
“That one isn’t his.”
Ethan leaned closer.
“Which?”
She pointed.
Daniel Bennett.
The forgery was excellent.
But Valerie knew that Daniel always connected the two n’s in Bennett.
This signature did not.
They checked every authorization.
Twenty-three forged signatures.
All approved fraudulent transfers.
All processed through Marcus Hale’s division.
Ethan said nothing.
Valerie watched him.
“You trust Marcus.”
“With my life.”
“Maybe that’s the problem.”
Ethan looked at her.
She immediately regretted the words.
But he did not become angry.
“My father used to say betrayal requires trust first.”
“That’s bleak.”
“My father was bleak.”
Valerie closed the file.
“What happens if Marcus did this?”
Ethan did not answer.
She understood enough.
“No.”
“What?”
“You’re not killing him.”
“Valerie—”
“I don’t know what your world looks like now. But if I’m going to be dragged into it, I’m not watching people disappear.”
Something unexpected happened.
Ethan nodded.
“Okay.”
She stared.
“That easily?”
“You asked.”
Twelve years ago, she had begged him not to become his father.
Maybe some part of him had listened.
His phone rang.
Security.
They had recovered surveillance from Valerie’s house.
Ethan opened the footage.
The intruder entered wearing a hood.
He placed Daniel’s ring on the bed.
Then, before leaving, he looked directly into the camera.
He removed his hood.
Valerie screamed.
It was Daniel.
Alive.
Daniel leaned toward the camera and silently formed two words.
Not safe.
May you like
Then he turned toward someone entering the room behind him.
The footage ended.
