Chapter 2
Trusting Words
Gale Fears
“Daniel,” I said, my hands closing into tight fists as I glared at the wall across from me. “I am so angry right now. I am so furious that I could kill someone.”
“Come now,” Daniel said. “Calm down, my friend. So, Stella is blackmailing you to leave the Avery case. I know it’s not ideal, but I think it’s the best for you right now.”
“What do you mean, best for me?” I asked, looking up at him, unable to believe what I was hearing from my best friend.
I had asked Daniel to come and meet me after all that Stella had said. Hillary was supposed to have the morning off, and even though Daniel had to go meet someone, he was kind enough to drop everything else when I called. But whatever I had expected him to say, I hadn’t expected that.
“Think about it,” Daniel said. “You wouldn’t have won the case, anyway. It would have just brought unnecessary trauma to the girl’s parents and to all the other victims. If you don’t do as she says, she will tell everyone about your father. Imagine the catastrophe that would be. Imagine the degree of damage! Every case that this firm has ever worked on would be under investigation. This is enough to allow murderers to go free! You realize what a huge mess this is? God knows how many other cases your father took bribes for. Once it starts unravelling, there will be no way to save it. You have to do as she says. You have to keep this all hidden. The lives of many people depend on you!”
“I know,” I said, shaking with emotion. “I know you are right. But those parents – they put all their hope on me. Katie and Laura trusted me to finally bring them justice. And Hillary—”
“If it’s Hillary you are concerned about,” Daniel said in a soft voice. “Then you should forget about her.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, looking at him, staring at my best friend; suddenly he seemed like a complete stranger.
“Do you remember you asked me to investigate who is responsible for all the leaks? The files being deleted and stolen, and all that information being leaked to the public about the Durrick case?”
“Yes?” I whispered, my heart throbbing.
“I found a clue,” he said. “And you won’t like it.”
“Show me,” I said softly.
He took out his laptop and turned it towards me, playing a clip on his screen.
“This is from one of your security cameras,” Daniel said. “I had your security guards comb through hours and hours of footage to find this. I knew we would have some clue somewhere, but going through so much footage takes time. And then, when I saw this, I could hardly believe it.”
I watched the video showing how Hillary walked into my office, a terrified look on her face. She looked all around her before opening the door and entering my office. A few minutes later she emerged, a file clutched desperately in her hands as she closed the door behind her and ran off. Daniel zoomed in on the screen, so I could clearly see Hillary holding the Durrick case files in her hand.
“She has been betraying you all this time,” Daniel said. “She was probably paid to do this. I told you. I told you that she was just interested in your money. She doesn’t really want you. She was using you, and when Stella blackmailed you into being in a relationship with her, Hillary had to make money by other means. How much do you think she was paid to steal it? Or worse, how much do you think she sold it for? It was probably her own idea. Get the file and sell it to the media for a high amount.”
“No, this can’t be true,” I said, unable to believe it. “She won’t do anything like that. She won’t—”
“She is using you,” Daniel said sympathetically. “I am sorry I had to tell you this. You are my closest friend, Gale. We have been friends for so long, do you remember? It was such an odd friendship. I was just a poor boy, raised by a single mother. And you were the son of the Fears family. We played in the same park every day, and I remembered watching you from afar. I always wanted to join you and your friends, but I was too scared that you would push me away because I was poor. And then, one day, you were playing with your friends, and you accidentally ended up injured. They all ran away, too scared that they would be blamed for your injuries. But I didn’t leave you. I walked to you, remember? I helped you get home, and from that day on, we were fast friends. I know this hurts, Gale. I know you loved and trusted Hillary, but I am your best friend. I have always supported you and looked after you. I was there for you when you were dealing with Stella, and I am here for you now when no one is with you. Do you think I would lie to you?”
I swallowed, my heart aching with emotion and pain. I believed Daniel completely and thoroughly. He was the only person who had always been there for me through everything. I looked down at the laptop screen, my heart twisting in pain. I couldn’t believe it. Hillary had been the enemy all along. She had been playing with me, using me, making me fall for her, and when she couldn’t get me, she betrayed me. She did this…what else did she do? Was she responsible for it all? I knew whoever was doing this had access to the inside, but I had never thought it would be Hillary.
“What do I do?” I asked, my hands cupping my face, as I felt my heart tear into a million pieces.Hillary, how can you betray me?
“Fire her,” Daniel said. “Drop the Avery case. Everything will work out. Don’t worry, you have me by your side.”
