Chapter 5 - The Man My Wife Warned Me Never to Become
By midnight, Chicago was under a storm warning.
The city glittered beneath the rain.
We moved Grace to a secure apartment downtown.
Marian stayed with her.
Evelyn remained nearby.
I went alone to meet Victor Hale.
It was stupid.
Dangerous.
Exactly the thing Anna had warned me not to do.
But some conversations couldn't happen through intermediaries.
Hale chose an empty restaurant overlooking the river.
He sat alone.
White suit.
Silver hair.
Elegant watch.
He looked more like a senator than a man capable of ordering a child's death.
“Anthony,” he said.
I sat opposite him.
“You killed my wife.”
He didn't deny it.
“Anna made choices.”
“You murdered her.”
“She knew what she was involved in.”
“She was protecting children.”
“She was protecting herself.”
I leaned forward.
“Don't insult her.”
Hale smiled.
“You've finally learned the truth.”
“No.”
“I think you have.”
“You don't know me.”
“Oh, I know you very well.”
He opened a folder.
Photographs.
My father.
My father with Hale.
My father with politicians.
My father signing documents.
Then one photograph stopped me.
Anna.
Pregnant.
Standing beside Hale's son.
I stared.
“What is this?”
“Your wife met my son before she met you.”
I looked up.
“You're lying.”
“Ask Marian.”
He slid another photograph across the table.
Anna holding newborn Grace.
Beside her was Hale's son, Daniel.
My wife's secret lover?
No.
There was no tenderness between them.
Only fear.
“What happened to Daniel?”
“He betrayed me.”
“Because of Anna?”
“Because of his daughter.”
I stared.
Hale leaned back.
“Daniel wanted to expose me.”
“And Anna helped him.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she marry me?”
Hale's expression changed.
“Because your father offered her a way to disappear.”
I understood.
My father hadn't helped Anna out of kindness.
He had traded her safety for my marriage.
My entire life suddenly seemed constructed from lies.
“Did my father know Grace was your granddaughter?”
“Yes.”
“He knew?”
“He helped erase her identity.”
I stood so quickly the chair scraped backward.
“My father protected her.”
“Until he didn't.”
I reached across the table.
Hale didn't move.
“You don't understand what happens next.”
“I know exactly what happens next.”
“You kill me.”
He smiled.
“And then Grace is hunted by every person who thinks she can expose them.”
I froze.
“You're not the only one.”
“No.”
“There are judges. Senators. CEOs. Police commanders. Men you have trusted.”
He leaned forward.
“Kill me and you will never know which one ordered Anna's final death.”
My anger burned.
“You expect me to work with you?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I expect you to choose.”
He placed two photographs on the table.
One of Grace.
One of Marian.
“You can save one.”
I stared at him.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing yet.”
He smiled.
“Midnight tomorrow.”
“Where?”
“St. Gabriel's church.”
“Why?”
“Because Anna once believed in miracles.”
He stood.
Then he leaned close.
“Bring Grace.”
I grabbed his coat.
“You touch my daughter and I'll bury you.”
Hale smiled.
“You still haven't learned.”
“What?”
“I don't need to touch Grace.”
He tapped the photograph.
“Someone she trusts already has.”
When I returned to the apartment, Grace was gone.
The security guard lay unconscious.
The door was locked from inside.
Marian was missing.
Evelyn stood near the window.
Blood covered her sleeve.
I pointed my gun.
“What happened?”
She whispered:
“They took her.”
“Who?”
She looked at the floor.
“Someone who knew our safe house.”
My mind raced.
There were only four people who knew.
Marian.
Evelyn.
Marcus.
Me.
I stared at Evelyn.
“Who betrayed us?”
She lifted her eyes.
“Marcus.”
I shook my head.
“Impossible.”
“He's gone.”
My phone buzzed.
A video.
Grace sat in a dark room.
She wasn't crying.
She looked directly toward the camera.
Behind her stood Marcus.
My most trusted security man.
Then Hale appeared.
“Anthony.”
I watched Grace's face.
Hale smiled.
“Tomorrow night.”
The video ended.
I sat down.
For the first time since becoming a father, I had no idea how to save my daughter.
Then Evelyn placed something on the table.
A gun.
And beside it, Anna's pendant.
“She left this for you,” Evelyn said.
I picked it up.
May you like
On the back were four words.
Don't kill the wrong man.
