Chapter 13 - DAVID’S LAST MESSAGE
Everett Sloan had been transferred to a federal detention facility before Nathaniel’s rescue.
By sunrise, prosecutors reopened David Bennett’s death investigation.
Carol sat alone in Nathaniel’s penthouse study, watching rain slide down the windows.
Nathaniel entered quietly.
His shoulder was bandaged.
“You should sleep.”
“So should you.”
He sat beside her.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Finally Carol said, “I hated your father last night.”
Nathaniel nodded.
“I did too.”
“And now…”
“You don’t have to forgive him.”
She looked at him.
“He knew David was in danger.”
“Yes.”
“He tried to protect him.”
“Yes.”
“But after David died, he still covered it up.”
Nathaniel lowered his gaze.
“Yes.”
That was the complicated truth.
Malcolm had not ordered murder.
But he had chosen silence afterward.
Carol leaned back.
“Power makes cowards out of people.”
Nathaniel looked toward her.
“Sometimes.”
She touched his hand.
“You didn’t sign the company over.”
“No.”
“You were willing to let it collapse.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Nathaniel smiled faintly.
“You know why.”
Carol’s eyes filled.
Before she could answer, Arthur entered carrying a small evidence envelope.
“Sorry.”
Nathaniel looked at him.
“What?”
“Federal investigators recovered this from an old safe-deposit box registered under David’s union office.”
Carol stood.
Arthur handed her the envelope.
Inside was a flash drive.
Her hands shook.
“David?”
Arthur nodded.
They inserted it into the laptop.
A video appeared.
David Bennett sat inside his truck.
Carol gasped.
He looked exactly as she remembered him.
Brown work jacket.
Tired eyes.
Easy smile.
“Carol,” David began.
She covered her mouth.
“If you’re watching this, something probably went wrong.”
Nathaniel looked away, giving her privacy without leaving.
“I found records at work. Bad ones.”
David rubbed his face.
“I don’t know who I can trust.”
Carol cried silently.
“I wanted to tell you, but you worry enough.”
He smiled.
“And you’ll yell at me for saying that because you hate when I decide what you can handle.”
Carol laughed through tears.
Nathaniel squeezed her hand.
David continued.
“If anything happens, take Ivy and go somewhere safe.”
His expression softened.
“She’s probably sleeping right now.”
He glanced toward the passenger seat.
A tiny stuffed rabbit rested there.
“Tell her Daddy loves her.”
Carol sobbed.
“And Carol…”
David paused.
“You deserve more than survival.”
Nathaniel swallowed.
“You gave up your career so I could keep this job. You make everybody around you better.”
David smiled.
“One day, somebody is going to see that.”
Carol looked at Nathaniel.
He had tears in his eyes.
David continued.
“When that happens, don’t feel guilty for being happy.”
Carol broke.
Nathaniel held her.
The recording ended.
For a long time, she cried against him.
Not from fresh grief.
From permission.
Permission she had never realized she needed.
Later that afternoon, Carol showed Ivy a shorter section of the video.
“Is that Daddy David?” Ivy asked.
“Yes.”
“He loved me?”
Carol smiled.
“More than anything.”
Ivy looked at Nathaniel.
“Daddy Nathaniel loves me too.”
Nathaniel crouched.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Ivy considered this seriously.
“So I have two daddies?”
Carol’s eyes filled again.
Nathaniel smiled.
“You do.”
“Is Daddy David in heaven?”
“I think so.”
Ivy looked toward the ceiling.
“Then he can watch my birthday.”
Carol laughed.
“Yes.”
Ivy ran away to find crayons.
Nathaniel stood beside Carol.
She leaned against him.
“I’m ready.”
“For what?”
“To stop being afraid happiness is betrayal.”
Nathaniel’s breath caught.
Carol looked into his eyes.
“I love you.”
He had heard her say it before.
But this time carried something different.
Freedom.
Nathaniel kissed her.
Across town, federal agents escorted Everett Sloan into an interview room.
He sat calmly until prosecutors placed David’s video on the table.
Then they added financial records.
Then Julian’s recordings.
Everett’s confidence disappeared.
“You have one chance,” the prosecutor said.
“Tell us everything.”
Everett stared through the glass.
Finally he whispered:
“You don’t understand.”
The prosecutor leaned closer.
“What?”
“Julian was never the most dangerous Cross.”
“Who was?”
May you like
Everett smiled weakly.
“Ask Nathaniel about his mother.”
