Chapter 9 - THE FAMILY FILE
“I saw it on Ryan’s laptop last night,” Daniel admitted.
Amy’s voice went flat.
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I couldn’t open it.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
“I was trying to understand what it was first.”
“Still not the question.”
Daniel shut his eyes.
“No. I didn’t tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because you already think I control everything.”
“You do.”
“I was trying not to dump more fear on you.”
“You decided for me.”
“Yes.”
“Again.”
“Yes.”
She hated how quickly he admitted it now.
It took some of the satisfaction out of being angry.
“What was in the file?”
“Encrypted documents.”
“Anything else?”
“A photo.”
Amy’s skin prickled.
“What photo?”
Daniel looked sick.
“A copy of your first ultrasound.”
Everything inside Amy stopped.
“That’s impossible.”
“I know.”
“No. I mean literally impossible. I never emailed it. I never uploaded it.”
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“Did your doctor print one?”
“Yes.”
“Did you keep it?”
“In my desk.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
Amy understood immediately.
“Someone was in our apartment.”
Thomas stepped closer.
“When was the last time you saw the photo?”
“Yesterday afternoon.”
“And after?”
“I put it in my purse.”
“So the copy was made before yesterday.”
Amy looked at Daniel.
“Who has access to our apartment?”
“Housekeeper. Building management. Security.”
“Ryan?”
“No.”
“Vanessa?”
“No.”
“Your mother?”
Daniel gave her a look.
“Amy.”
“Answer.”
“Yes, but she wouldn’t—”
“I know.”
Thomas asked, “Cameras?”
Daniel nodded.
“Lobby, elevators, service corridor.”
“Get the footage.”
Daniel called his building immediately.
Ten minutes later, they had an answer.
Someone had entered the apartment three days earlier using an authorized service key.
A woman.
Baseball cap.
Sunglasses.
No clear face.
But the hallway camera caught enough.
A silver bracelet.
Amy stared at the still image on Daniel’s phone.
She had seen that bracelet before.
At Christmas.
At their house.
On Vanessa’s wrist.
Daniel whispered, “Jesus Christ.”
Amy’s chest tightened.
“She was in our bedroom.”
Daniel’s face turned hard.
“She went through your things.”
“She touched my medical stuff.”
He stepped away and made a call.
Amy watched him.
His fury looked different now.
Focused.
Dangerous.
She had once loved that about him.
Now it scared her a little.
When Daniel returned, Amy said, “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“That eliminates most of my ideas.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“For once, let the police handle it.”
His jaw worked.
Then he nodded.
“All right.”
It was possibly the first time in seven years he had chosen restraint when action was available.
Amy noticed.
She wished she hadn’t.
Thomas received a call.
“Ryan’s ready to talk.”
They drove to the hospital under police escort.
Ryan looked small in the bed.
Bruised.
One arm bandaged.
His nose swollen from Daniel’s punch.
When Daniel entered, Ryan looked at him.
“You hit like a rich kid.”
Daniel stared.
“You sold me out.”
“Yeah.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
“No.”
Ryan turned to Amy.
“I’m sorry.”
Amy remained near the door.
“You accessed my medical records.”
“Yes.”
“You gave Vanessa information.”
“Yes.”
“You helped build fake stories about me.”
Ryan looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He swallowed.
“Blackwell had me.”
“How?”
“Debt.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You make seven figures.”
“Gambling.”
Daniel stopped.
Ryan looked away.
“Online. Private rooms. Sports. I lost control.”
“How much?” Daniel asked.
“Eight million.”
Daniel went silent.
Amy whispered, “Jesus.”
“Blackwell bought the debt,” Ryan said. “Then they offered to erase it if I helped force a sale.”
“So you used me,” Daniel said.
“Yes.”
“And Amy.”
Ryan looked at her.
“That’s the part I couldn’t live with.”
Amy folded her arms.
“When did you decide you grew a conscience?”
“When Vanessa told me about the baby.”
“After stealing my records?”
“Yes.”
“That’s convenient.”
“I know.”
Ryan coughed.
“I told her we were done.”
“And?”
“She panicked. Said Blackwell would destroy us.”
“Then what?”
“I copied everything.”
“The family file?” Amy asked.
Ryan’s face changed.
“That wasn’t mine.”
Amy stepped closer.
“Then whose was it?”
Ryan looked at Daniel.
“I found it on Blackwell’s server.”
“What was inside?” Daniel asked.
Ryan swallowed hard.
“A custody strategy.”
Amy’s blood ran cold.
“For who?”
May you like
Ryan looked directly at her.
“For Daniel.”
