Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD BROKEN
Kiora didn't react.
That surprised Daniel.
He had expected tears.
Maybe begging.
Instead, she sat quietly.
"What happens if I sign?"
Daniel relaxed.
"You keep five million dollars."
Kiora almost laughed.
Five million.
He thought he was offering generosity from an estate he didn't own.
"And my child?"
"You maintain custody."
Vanessa crossed her legs.
"Assuming the child is actually Daniel's."
Kiora looked at her.
"You've wanted him for years."
Vanessa smiled.
"I had him first."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Vanessa."
She ignored him.
"We were together before you."
Kiora turned to Daniel.
"Is that true?"
He didn't answer.
That was enough.
Kiora looked down.
She needed them to believe they had hurt her.
So she let her shoulders fall.
Daniel misread it as surrender.
He moved closer.
"Sign tonight."
"I need time."
"You have until midnight."
Kiora nodded.
"Can I rest?"
Daniel smiled.
"Of course."
He kissed her cheek.
She wanted to scrub her skin.
Instead, she walked upstairs.
The moment the bedroom door closed, she locked it.
Then she opened her purse.
The camera was still recording.
She sent one message to Elias.
ENOUGH?
His answer arrived immediately.
MORE THAN ENOUGH.
Kiora sat on the bed.
For the first time since the courthouse, she smiled.
Downstairs, Daniel poured champagne.
Vanessa raised her glass.
"To finally being free."
Daniel clinked his glass against hers.
Neither knew the microphone was still transmitting.
Neither knew Elias was listening from a surveillance van three houses away.
And neither knew two federal investigators were sitting beside him.
At 11:47 p.m., Kiora came downstairs.
The folder waited.
Daniel placed a pen beside it.
"Ready?"
Kiora nodded.
She sat.
Then she opened the document.
Page one.
Page two.
Page three.
She deliberately took her time.
Vanessa became impatient.
"Just sign."
Kiora looked at her.
"Where?"
Daniel pointed.
Kiora placed the pen against the paper.
Then the doorbell rang.
Daniel froze.
Nobody moved.
The bell rang again.
Vanessa whispered.
"Who is that?"
Daniel walked toward the door.
He looked through the camera.
His face changed.
"Elias."
Kiora put down the pen.
Daniel turned.
"Did you call him?"
"No."
Another knock.
Daniel opened the door halfway.
Elias stood outside.
Beside him was a woman in a navy suit.
"Mr. Bennett?"
She displayed identification.
"Special Agent Lena Morris."
Daniel's face drained.
"We need to speak."
"About what?"
"Financial fraud."
Vanessa stood.
Daniel tried to close the door.
Elias stopped it with one hand.
"Bad idea."
Daniel looked at Kiora.
She was still sitting at the table.
Calm.
Suddenly he understood.
"You."
Kiora stood.
"You wanted me to sign."
She pushed the papers toward him.
"So I read them."
Daniel's face twisted.
"You set me up."
"No."
Kiora looked at Vanessa.
"You did that yourselves."
Agent Morris entered.
"Daniel Bennett, we're executing a federal search warrant on this residence."
Vanessa grabbed her purse.
"I'm leaving."
Another agent blocked the rear doorway.
"No, ma'am."
Vanessa froze.
Daniel looked at Elias.
"You think you've won?"
Elias shook his head.
"This isn't about winning."
Daniel laughed.
"You have no idea what's coming."
Kiora studied him.
"What does that mean?"
Daniel's expression changed again.
For the first time, he looked almost pleased.
"You opened Arthur's box, didn't you?"
Kiora's blood ran cold.
How did he know?
Daniel smiled.
"Did you really think your father was the only person keeping secrets?"
Elias stepped closer.
"What are you talking about?"
Daniel looked directly at Kiora.
"Ask your precious uncle how your father really died."
The room went silent.
Kiora slowly turned toward Elias.
Daniel smiled.
"Go ahead."
"Ask him."
Kiora's voice barely came out.
"Elias?"
May you like
He didn't answer.
And that silence frightened her more than anything Daniel had said.
