I understand that Jasper is being paid by Adrian Vale, that you signed away control of land, and that somebody named Daniel is being used against you.”
Her face collapsed at his name.
“Keep your voice down.”
“Is Daniel alive?”
“Yes.”
“Is Jasper threatening him?”
Penelope sat opposite me.
The woman who usually spoke like every sentence was a verdict now clasped both hands together to stop them shaking.
“Jasper approached me three months ago.
At first he said he knew Daniel.
Then he showed me photographs.”
“Real photographs?”
“Yes.”
She swallowed.
“Daniel is alive.
He has been living under another name.
Jasper said Adrian had found him first.”
“Why would Adrian care?”
Penelope looked toward the hallway.
“Because Daniel knows what happened before my husband died.”
The room seemed to narrow around us.
Penelope explained that years earlier, Caleb’s father and Adrian had fought over company money.
Records had vanished.
Accusations had been made.
Daniel had witnessed part of it and threatened to expose Adrian.
Then Daniel disappeared.
Penelope had always believed her brother ran away because he was frightened.
Jasper told her Adrian now knew where Daniel lived.
He claimed Daniel was safe only as long as Penelope cooperated.
“What did Jasper want?” I asked.
“Access.
Property.
Signatures.
Eventually control of the company shares held in trust.”
“And you married him?”
The question came out sharper than I intended.
Penelope looked at me with a flash of her old pride.
“He told me if I refused, Adrian would send men to bring Daniel back to Oakhaven and make sure he never spoke to anyone.”
“So you thought marrying Jasper would keep him close.”
“I thought I could watch him.
Delay him.
Gather proof.”
She laughed once without humor.
“I overestimated myself.”
The investigator’s report suddenly made sense.
“You hired someone before the wedding.”
“Yes.
When I learned Jasper was meeting Adrian, I knew he was lying.
But by then he knew about Daniel.
He showed me a live call.
My brother was there.”
“Did Daniel know he was being used?”
“I don’t know.”
I leaned forward.
“What does ‘send him’ mean?”
Penelope’s eyes filled.
