Chapter Thirteen

Damian Knight used the last 15 years of his life to run after the past, nevertheless he never foresaw that it would come running after him. He glared at the picture that was sent to him.

The picture was taken on the night his dad was suspected of embezzling millions of dollars from Carter Holdings.

That was the last normal night that Damian had before his life turned to a complete mess.

Damian called Ethan and  gave the phone to him. He glared at the picture. Ethan said “This is Dad, together with your in-laws.”

Ethan looked closely again and noticed the picture stamp, “This picture was captured just before the defamation.” “Yes it was.” Damian said, with an unsteady voice. “Can you see uncle Victor smiling at the back?” Damian affirmed. As Damian pinpointed the picture, he was engrossed in  the paper envelope that Emiiy's father was holding in his hand. The paper envelope had a tiny handwriting that says Project Eclipse. Damian instructed Ethan to look for every little thing that is linked to that project. Any past document, receipt payment, any name that is linked to that project, he wants it all.

“What about Victor?” Ethan asked. “Specifically Victor,” Damian responded. “Okay, I will begin right away.” Just as he turned to leave, Damian called him back and instructed him not to tell a single soul about what they just discussed. He agreed and left Damian's office. As Damian took a glance at the picture again, he began to ponder on how everyone including Emily's parents and his father had faith in Victor because they believed he was loyal. And in this photograph, they all posed together just a couple of hours before the destruction of the two families. What it means is that somebody was not truthful, for many years.

___

Emily just laid herself down on Sophia's sofa holding her Mom's picture. Sleep was the very last thing she had in her mind. She thought about a lot of things including Project Eclipse. Sophia was encompassed by paper reports and files on the dining table. “I am going over the whole thing all over again.” She said in a tired manner.  “Have you found anything yet?” She asked as she looked at Sophia. 

“Three separate banks were used to move the 18 million.”

“Is there a chance that Ryan got access to it?” “Like I told you before, let us not rule out any possibility, everyone is still a suspect.” Emily requested to see the original documents of the trust because she had only seen the photocopied ones.

“Is there a reason why you want to see them?” Sophia wanted to know.

“Anyone is is capable of doctoring my signature can also change other things as well.” 

“Do you think that the trust was manipulated?” Sophia asked as she looked at her. “I am not sure, but somebody has been telling a lot of lies.” 

As she was staring at the picture one more time, her cellphone buzzed. Damian was calling. She was reluctant at first but she decided to answer. “Are you with Sophia?” Damian asked. Emily said “yes. Is there any problem?” Damian told her that he had discovered something and Emily also admitted to him that she had also discovered something herself.

“I found a picture of both our parents with Victor also standing with them.”

Emiiy wasn't so surprised because she had received the picture as well. She wanted to know about something else. “Please tell me Damian, what is Project Eclipse?” There was a brief wave of silence. “I am not sure what it is.” Damian finally struggled to say something. “I know that you are lying to me, just tell me the truth. I can handle it.”

All of a sudden, the call ended. She glared at the phone in disbelief. She called Damian again but he never answered. 

Sophia seemed very anxious as she demanded to know what went down.

They both observed the light of Sophia's residence as it twinkled. It twinkled five times before going out eventually.

The living room was now totally dark as Sophia was looking for a way to get her phone and turn on the flashlight. “Did somebody deliberately cut off the power supply to her apartment?” She as Emiiy as her heart jumped.

Sophia clutched Emily's arm as they heard a sound coming from the front door.

They both held their breath because they were both helpless at this point. The foot pace got to their door and somebody stuck in a key through the lock and opened the door.

It was a man dressed in black. When he came inside the living room, they both screamed for help. He instantly lifted both hands and said “don't shoot.” “I am a federal agent.” He said, as he brought out his badge. Emily was in complete shock when he said he was a federal agent.

He told them his name is Daniel Brooks.

“Why did you come here?” Sophia asked as he looked at Emily. “I came because there has been a reopening of your parents' cold case.” He said as he puts back the badge in his jacket.

“Is it the case of their death? Who ordered the reopening?” She asked as her heart skipped.

Daniel was quiet as he looked at the door that was already open. “I can't give out any information. I am here because this was found in a concealed file of Carter Holdings.” He said, as he reached for a paper envelope and gave it to Emiiy. Emily did not hesitate to open it, it contained a note written by her Dad. She knew it was by her Dad because the handwriting was familiar.

Her hands were unsteady as she read it.

The first line started with.

The fact that you are reading this means that Victor Knight is victorious. Sophia came closer to her and wanted to know what the note said. Emily continued reading with a frown on her face. “My Dad said that he put his trust in the wrong fellow.”

“The person who broke his trust was within our family.” That was what the last line of the letter said. 

Daniel suddenly noticed something at the window. Something that wasn't quite right. “Lie down!” He exclaimed. “Right now!’

The window cracked in fragments as pieces of glass splattered over the living room. Sophia and Emily lay flat on the floor as they screamed. Daniel brought out his gun as he made his way to the window. Emily's heart pumped faster as she was lying flat on the ground, with the note her dad left her, still in her hand. A large part of it had torn off during the chaos. But there was still a little part left that clearly said. “Ask Margaret what happened on that night.”

As Emiiy was processing that sentence, Daniel Brook's  phone buzzed loudly. Daniel picked up the call and put his phone on speaker. The caller informed him that there was another shooting. It was at Carter Holdings this time. Emiiy quickly jumped up from the floor, her heart also jumped. “Was anyone shot?” Mr Brooks asked. “Yes, there was a casualty.? “Who was shot?”  He didn't answer. Daniel asked again as he looked at Emily, “Tell me, who was shot.”  Then the caller answered and said, “Ryan Carter.”