Chapter 5: The Recording Danielle Left Behind
The following morning, Darius arrived at Marcus Reed's office at 9:15.
Evelyn had insisted on staying with Amara.
Before leaving, Darius had kissed his daughter on the forehead.
“Daddy will be back before lunch.””
“Promise?””
“Promise.””
Amara held up her pinky finger.
He hooked his around hers.
“No broken promises,” she whispered.
“No broken promises.””
At Marcus's office, Simone Carter was already waiting.
She looked older than she did in the photograph. Her brown hair was tied back, and her hands trembled as she held a leather handbag.
When Darius entered, she immediately stood.
“Darius.””
He stopped.
“Simone.””
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally, Darius pulled out a chair.
“Please. Sit down.””
Simone sat.
Marcus closed the office door.
Darius looked directly at her.
“Why did Vanessa tell me to ask you about Danielle's death?””
Simone lowered her eyes.
“Because she knows I have the truth.””
Darius felt his chest tighten.
“What truth?””
Simone reached into her handbag and removed a small silver flash drive.
“Danielle gave me this two days before the accident.””
Darius stared at it.
“What is it?””
“A recording. She was afraid something would happen to her.””
Darius shook his head.
“Danielle was happy. We had our daughter. We were planning our future.””
Simone looked at him sadly.
“That's what she wanted you to believe.””
The words struck him like a slap.
“What are you saying?””
Simone took a breath.
“Danielle discovered that someone was accessing her personal accounts. Money was disappearing from the foundation she managed. She initially thought it was an accounting error.””
Darius frowned.
“Which foundation?””
“The Danielle Williams Children's Foundation.””
Darius remembered it.
Danielle had established the organization to provide educational support for children from low-income families.
He had helped fund it.
“Who was responsible?””
“Nathan Cole.””
Darius stood.
“Nathan?””
Simone nodded.
“Danielle found several transfers to companies that didn't exist. When she confronted him, he claimed someone had stolen his login information.””
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“She wanted proof before involving you. She believed someone close to your family was helping him.””
Darius slowly sat down.
“Who?””
Simone looked toward Marcus.
Then back at Darius.
“Vanessa.””
The room went silent.
Darius shook his head.
“No.””
“I'm sorry.””
“Vanessa wasn't even in our lives when Danielle died.””
Simone hesitated.
“She was.””
Darius stared at her.
“What?””
“Danielle knew Vanessa before you did.””
He looked genuinely stunned.
Simone continued.
“Vanessa used to attend charity events with Nathan. She introduced him to Danielle as a financial consultant. Danielle trusted her because she believed Vanessa was helping connect donors to the foundation.””
Darius covered his mouth.
“How did I never know?””
“Danielle didn't want you involved. She was worried about what would happen if you confronted them.””
Marcus inserted the flash drive into his laptop.
“Let's hear the recording.””
The screen flickered.
Then Danielle's face appeared.
Darius stopped breathing.
His wife was sitting in their old living room, wearing the blue sweater he had given her for their anniversary.
Her hair was tied back.
She looked tired.
But she was smiling.
“Darius,” she began, “if you're watching this, something has happened, and I haven't been able to explain everything to you.””
Darius gripped the armrests.
Danielle continued.
“I need you to know that I love you. And I need you to protect Amara.””
Her expression became serious.
“I found out that Nathan and Vanessa have been working together. They've been using the foundation to move money. I have copies of the documents, and I've hidden them somewhere safe.””
She paused.
“Vanessa believes I'm going to sign a statement saying the missing funds were my responsibility. I'm not going to do that.””
Darius's eyes filled.
“There's something else. Nathan has been asking questions about your insurance policies and the trust you created for Amara.””
He leaned toward the screen.
Danielle lowered her voice.
“Please don't trust them.””
The recording ended.
Darius stared at the blank screen.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he whispered:
“She knew.””
Simone nodded.
“She was trying to protect you.””
Darius wiped his face.
“What happened the night of the accident?””
Simone looked down at her hands.
“Danielle called me at 8:42 p.m. She said someone had been following her car.””
Darius felt sick.
“Did she tell you who?””
“She said she recognized the vehicle. She believed Nathan had sent someone to retrieve the documents.””
“Did you call the police?””
“I tried. But before I could, Danielle called again. She was crying.””
Simone's voice broke.
“She said, 'If anything happens to me, don't let them take Amara.''”
Darius covered his eyes.
Marcus paused the recording.
“We need to preserve this evidence and give it to the appropriate authorities. But we also need the original documents Danielle mentioned.””
Simone nodded.
“She told me where she hid them.””
“Where?””
Simone reached into her handbag again.
She removed a folded piece of paper.
“Inside the lining of Amara's old nursery rocking chair.””
Darius looked up.
“That chair is still at my house.””
Simone nodded.
“Danielle said nobody would ever think to look there.””
Marcus immediately picked up his phone.
“We need to get home.””
But before Darius could stand, his phone rang.
It was Evelyn.
He answered immediately.
“Mom?””
Her voice was frantic.
“Darius, you need to come home right now.””
“What happened?””
“Vanessa is here.””
Darius stood.
“Why did you let her inside?””
“I didn't! She came through the back entrance.””
“Where's Amara?””
Evelyn hesitated.
“She's upstairs. But Darius…”
“What?””
“Vanessa is holding the nursery rocking chair.””
Darius's blood ran cold.
“Don't let her touch it!””
A crash sounded through the phone.
Then Evelyn screamed.
The call disconnected.
Darius ran out of the office.
May you like
And for the first time in three years, he feared that the danger surrounding his family was not something from the past.
It was standing inside his home.
