Chapter 5: The Man Behind the Money
Daniel Whitmore had always been careful.
He wore tailored suits, spoke softly, and never raised his voice.
He was the kind of man who could sit across from a furious businessman and make him feel unreasonable for being angry.
When I first met him, I thought he was charming.
When I began working with him, I thought he was brilliant.
And when he told me Marcus's marriage to Catherine had been built on secrets, I believed him.
Now he was sitting in an interrogation room.
And the police had found my signature in his office.
Rebecca drove me back to the station after my interview.
I had been released pending further investigation, but my attorney had warned me not to contact Marcus or anyone from Cole Industries.
I watched the rain slide down the passenger window.
"Why would Daniel have Catherine's medical records?"" I asked.
Rebecca kept her eyes on the road.
"That's what the police are trying to establish.""
"But why my signature?""
"That's another question.""
I turned toward her.
"Do you think he forged it?""
"Possibly.""
"Then why am I being investigated?""
"Because the signature appears on documents connected to accounts you may have benefited from.""
I looked down.
"I never wanted any of this.""
Rebecca didn't respond.
We reached the station twenty minutes later.
She parked near the entrance.
"Listen carefully, Vanessa. Don't volunteer information. Don't make accusations you can't support. And don't try to protect Daniel.""
I looked at her.
"Why would I protect him?""
She held my gaze.
"Because people often protect the person who helped them get what they wanted.""
I opened the car door.
"I don't know what you mean.""
Rebecca sighed.
"Let's go.""
Daniel was brought into the building through a side entrance.
I saw him through the glass corridor.
His wrists were cuffed.
His hair was disheveled, and his usually immaculate tie hung loosely around his collar.
He looked up.
For a moment, our eyes met.
Then he smiled.
Not warmly.
Not reassuringly.
It was the same small smile he had given me the first time he told me Marcus was vulnerable.
I felt sick.
Rebecca noticed my expression.
"Don't approach him.""
"I wasn't going to.""
We entered another interview room.
Detective Harris was waiting.
He placed a thick folder on the table.
"Mrs. Cole, we have some new information.""
Rebecca pulled out a chair.
"Go ahead.""
Harris opened the folder.
"Daniel Whitmore has been questioned about the transfers from Cole Industries. He initially denied involvement.""
I stared at the papers.
"Then?""
"He changed his statement after investigators showed him records from his office.""
"What did he say?""
"He claims you were the person directing the transfers.""
I shook my head.
"That's ridiculous.""
"He also claims you approached him months before your marriage to Marcus.""
I looked at Rebecca.
She remained still.
Detective Harris continued.
"According to his statement, you wanted access to Marcus's financial accounts and asked him to prepare documents that would make you the primary beneficiary of the estate.""
I felt my face grow hot.
"He's lying.""
"Do you have any relationship with Mr. Whitmore outside your husband's former legal representation?""
"No.""
Harris looked at the photograph.
"Then how do you explain this?""
He placed another picture on the table.
It showed Daniel and me standing outside a hotel.
I recognized the building immediately.
The Grand Meridian.
We had met there several times before I married Marcus.
I had told Marcus those meetings were related to charity work.
"That's not what it looks like," I said.
Detective Harris folded his hands.
"What does it look like?""
I looked at Rebecca.
She gave a slight shake of her head.
I turned back.
"We were discussing legal matters.""
"Why at a hotel?""
"Because he was busy.""
"Why weren't those meetings documented through his law firm?""
I didn't answer.
Harris slid another photograph toward me.
This one showed Daniel entering my apartment six months before I met Marcus.
I stared at it.
My throat tightened.
"Who took these?""
"That's not relevant.""
"Of course it is.""
"Mrs. Cole, the question is whether you and Daniel were working together.""
I lowered my eyes.
"I was trying to get financial advice.""
"About what?""
"An inheritance.""
"Whose inheritance?""
I hesitated.
"My mother's.""
Detective Harris looked at the file.
"Your mother died twelve years ago.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
"Her estate was settled ten years ago.""
I said nothing.
Rebecca closed her notebook.
"Detective, my client has answered your questions. If you have evidence of a crime, present it. Otherwise, we're finished.""
Harris nodded.
"One more thing.""
He pulled out a document.
"Daniel claims he was not the person who created the prescription documents. He says he received them from someone working at the medical clinic.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
Harris looked directly at me.
"Your husband's first wife.""
I frowned.
"Catherine?""
"According to the records, Catherine had requested several prescription changes before her death.""
Rebecca leaned forward.
"How does that connect to my client?""
"That's what we're investigating.""
I looked at the detective.
"Are you suggesting Catherine was involved in this?""
"I'm suggesting there are documents that haven't been fully explained.""
He placed a photocopy of a prescription on the table.
The date was seven years earlier.
The patient's name was Marcus Cole.
The signature at the bottom belonged to Catherine.
But the handwriting in the instructions looked familiar.
I leaned closer.
Then I recognized it.
It was the same handwriting as the note on the medical report Olivia had brought to the house.
Increase dosage before scheduled examination.
I looked at Rebecca.
She had noticed it too.
"Where did you get this?"" she asked.
"From Daniel's office.""
I swallowed.
"Why was he keeping it?""
Detective Harris closed the folder.
"That's a question you may want to ask him.""
I saw Daniel again an hour later.
Rebecca objected, but Detective Harris agreed to allow a brief conversation under supervision.
Daniel sat across from me.
The cuffs had been removed, but two officers remained outside the door.
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he spoke.
"You shouldn't have come.""
I leaned forward.
"What did you do?""
He smiled faintly.
"That's a complicated question.""
"Why did you tell me to run?""
"Because you were in danger.""
"From whom?""
He glanced toward the observation window.
"Not here.""
"Daniel, the police found Catherine's medical records in your office.""
His expression changed.
"Who told you that?""
"Does it matter?""
He lowered his voice.
"Vanessa, listen to me. You have to understand something. Marcus's family has been hiding things for years.""
"Stop talking in riddles.""
He sighed.
"Catherine wasn't the woman Marcus believed she was.""
I stared at him.
"What does that mean?""
"She had a relationship with someone else before Ethan was born.""
I remembered the photograph.
"With you?""
Daniel looked at me.
For the first time, he seemed genuinely uncomfortable.
"Who showed you that photograph?""
"Answer me.""
He leaned back.
"Yes.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"You're Ethan's father?""
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "Biologically, yes.""
I covered my mouth.
"Does Ethan know?""
"No.""
"Does Marcus?""
"Not officially.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because it wasn't relevant to what we were doing.""
I laughed bitterly.
"What we were doing? You mean stealing from my husband?""
Daniel's eyes hardened.
"Watch your words.""
"Almost two million dollars disappeared, Daniel!""
"That money was supposed to be transferred into protected accounts.""
"Under my name?""
"Yes.""
"Without Marcus knowing?""
He leaned forward.
"Marcus has been hiding money for years. You weren't the only person who deserved protection.""
I shook my head.
"You're insane.""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Do you know why Marcus married you?""
I stared at him.
"Because he loved me.""
Daniel laughed once.
"That's what he told you?""
"Yes.""
"Vanessa, Marcus didn't marry you because he fell in love. He married you because he thought you could help him settle a problem connected to Catherine's death.""
My heart began pounding.
"What problem?""
Daniel looked toward the door.
Then he spoke.
"Seven years ago, Catherine discovered something about Marcus's business. She planned to leave him and take Ethan away. The night she died, she had an appointment with a lawyer.""
"With you?""
He nodded.
"She was going to tell me everything.""
"What happened?""
Daniel stared at me.
"She never arrived.""
I felt cold.
"Are you saying Marcus killed her?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he slid a small folded paper across the table.
I opened it.
There was a handwritten address.
And beneath it, a name.
*Dr. Richard Hale.*
The same doctor connected to Marcus's unauthorized prescription.
Daniel leaned closer.
"Find him before Marcus does.""
I stared at the paper.
"Why?""
"Because he's the only person alive who knows what happened the night Catherine died.""
The door opened.
Detective Harris stepped inside.
"That's enough.""
Daniel leaned back.
Before the officers escorted him away, he turned toward me.
"Vanessa.""
I looked up.
"Yes?""
His eyes were suddenly serious.
"Don't trust Olivia.""
I froze.
"What?""
Daniel continued.
"She knows more about Catherine's death than she's telling you.""
The officers pulled him toward the door.
I stood up.
"Daniel! Wait!""
He looked back one last time.
"Ask Olivia why she was at the hospital that night.""
Then he disappeared into the corridor.
Rebecca approached me.
"What did he say?""
I handed her the paper.
She read the address.
Then she looked at me.
"Do you believe him?""
I stared at the door.
"I don't know anymore.""
My phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*You have ten minutes to leave the police station.*
Another message followed.
*Daniel has already told them where to find you.*
I looked up.
Across the corridor, Detective Harris was speaking quietly with another officer.
Then the second officer turned toward me.
He pointed.
"That's her.""
Rebecca grabbed my arm.
"Vanessa, we need to go.""
We hurried toward the exit.
But as we reached the lobby, my phone rang.
Marcus.
I answered.
"Hello?""
His voice was cold.
"Where are you?""
"At the police station.""
"I know.""
"What do you want?""
He took a breath.
"Olivia has just told me something about Ethan.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"What?""
Marcus's voice broke.
"He isn't my biological son.""
I stopped walking.
Behind me, Rebecca whispered my name.
May you like
Marcus continued.
"And apparently, you already knew.""
