“Tell me exactly what happened.”
Daniel's brother, Mark, was on the phone as Daniel drove through the city.
“Emma received a strange message, then someone called me and told me to come to the Franklin warehouse.”
Mark became silent.
“Daniel, turn around.”
“Why?”
“Because that warehouse has been empty for years.”
“Then why would someone send me there?”
“I don't know.”
Daniel tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“I'm almost there.”
“Don't go inside.”
Daniel ended the call.
Twenty minutes later, he pulled up outside the warehouse.
The huge building looked abandoned.
There were no workers.
No lights.
No other vehicles.
Then Daniel noticed something.
A black luxury SUV was parked near the entrance.
He recognized it.
“That's mine.”
His own vehicle was registered under his company, but he had not given anyone permission to use it.
Daniel stepped out.
He walked toward the warehouse door.
“Hello?”
No answer.
He pushed the door.
It opened.
Inside, the building was almost completely dark.
Daniel's phone rang.
“Hello?”
The same man's voice returned.
“Keep walking.”
Daniel looked around.
“Where are you?”
“You will see.”
Daniel walked deeper into the building.
Then he heard a woman's voice.
“Daniel?”
He stopped.
“Who is that?”
A woman stepped into the light.
Daniel recognized her immediately.
It was Sarah Mitchell, his former business partner's wife.
“What are you doing here?”
Sarah looked terrified.
“Your daughter asked me to help her.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Help her with what?”
Sarah took a breath.
“She found something in your office.”
“What?”
Sarah handed him a small envelope.
“Bank records.”
Daniel opened it.
His eyes moved across the pages.
Several large transfers had been made from his company account.
“Who authorized these?”
Sarah shook her head.
“That's what Emma was trying to find out.”
Daniel looked up.
“My daughter has been investigating my company?”
“She thought someone was stealing from you.”
Daniel stared at the documents.
“Why didn't she tell me?”
“Because she found out something else.”
“What?”
Sarah's voice dropped.
“The transfers were being hidden under the name of a charity.”
Daniel looked confused.
“Which charity?”
Sarah pointed toward another document.
Daniel read the name.
His face went completely still.
“That's my daughter's charity.”
Sarah nodded.
“Exactly.”
Daniel's heart sank.
“Emma would never steal money.”
“I know.”
“Then why is her name on these records?”
Sarah looked toward the far side of the warehouse.
“Because someone used her identity.”
Daniel's phone suddenly rang.
It was Emma.
He answered immediately.
“Emma, where are you?”
Her voice was shaking.
“I'm sorry, Dad.”
“Sorry for what?”
“I should have told you.”
“Tell me now.”
Emma started crying.
“The person who used my name is someone you trust.”
Daniel looked at Sarah.
“Who?”
Emma hesitated.
“Uncle Mark.”
Daniel's expression changed.
Sarah whispered.
“That's impossible.”
Daniel remembered his brother's warning.
Don't go inside.
He suddenly understood why Mark had tried to stop him.
“Emma, where are you?”
There was silence.
Then Emma whispered.
“I'm at home.”
Daniel relaxed for half a second.
Then he heard another voice behind her.
“Daniel, don't move.”
The call ended.
Daniel's blood ran cold.
Someone was inside his house.
Leave a Comment