Chương 6
Margaret looked toward the old town streets outside.
"His family owned the land before the county bought parts of it."
"And?"
"And Daniel was the person Eleanor suspected most."
Chloe felt the pieces moving.
Not fitting.
Moving.
"Why would he still care about something from years ago?"
Margaret gave a quiet answer.
"Because some things become more dangerous when they are buried."
Before Chloe could respond, the office door opened.
A man stood outside.
He was in his late fifties, wearing a clean jacket and holding a folder under one arm.
His expression was polite.
Almost too polite.
"Margaret."
The color drained slightly from her face.
Chloe noticed.
The man looked between them.
Then his eyes landed on Lily and the globe.
For a moment, something unreadable crossed his face.
Recognition.
Concern.
Or fear.
"I didn't realize you had company," he said.
Margaret stood.
"Daniel."
The man's smile appeared slowly.
"Looks like we need to talk."
Daniel Voss stepped into the office without waiting for an invitation.
The confidence in his movement bothered Chloe immediately.
It was not arrogance exactly.
It was the comfort of someone who believed every room would eventually make space for him.
Margaret remained standing beside her desk.
"How did you know I was here?"
Daniel looked at the folder in his hand.
"I came to return some records."
His eyes moved briefly toward Chloe.
"Unexpected timing."
Chloe said nothing.
She had learned enough that morning to know silence could reveal more than questions.
Daniel offered a small smile.
"You're Chloe Parker, right?"
The fact that he knew her name made her uncomfortable.
"Yes."
"I live near the eastern side of the mountain."
"I know."
"Then you know my family has been here a long time."
Chloe watched his face.
He said family like it was an explanation.
Like history itself gave him permission.
"My daughter was with Julian yesterday," she said.
Daniel's expression barely changed.
"Was she?"
The response was too controlled.
"Yes."
He glanced at the globe in Lily's hands.
"That is unusual."
Lily hugged it closer.
"Why?"
Daniel looked at her.
For a second, his expression softened.
Then it disappeared.
"Because that belonged to Eleanor."
"You knew Eleanor?"
Daniel looked toward Margaret.
"Everyone knew Eleanor."
Margaret's voice was cold.
"Not everyone."
The tension between them was immediate.
Chloe felt it before she understood it.
There was history here.
Not the kind people talked about at community events.
The kind people carried quietly for years.
Daniel adjusted the folder under his arm.
"I think there are some things we should discuss privately."
Margaret crossed her arms.
"No."
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
"No?"
"No."
The simple refusal seemed to surprise him.
"I don't think this conversation needs an audience."
"Then don't have it here."
Daniel looked at Chloe.
"Mrs. Parker, I hope you understand that old stories can become dangerous when people misunderstand them."
Chloe felt her patience disappear.
"Is that a warning?"
"No."
His answer came quickly.
"Advice."
"Those are not always different."
For the first time, his expression changed.
Not anger.
Interest.
As if he had expected someone easier to influence.
"Your daughter wandered onto private property."
Chloe stiffened.
"Julian's property?"
"Yes."
"She was with him."
"I know."
"Then why mention it?"
Daniel looked at the globe.
"Because sometimes people use children to create sympathy."
The room became silent.
Margaret immediately stepped forward.
"Leave."
Daniel looked at her.
"Margaret."
"No."
Her voice shook slightly.
But she did not move.
"You lost the right to tell anyone what to do years ago."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
Only for a second.
Then he smiled again.
"Still angry."
"Still avoiding."
The exchange was so personal Chloe almost looked away.
Daniel picked up his folder.
"I only came because I heard Julian was asking questions again."
Chloe noticed the wording.
Not finding answers.
Not investigating.
Asking questions.
"What kind of questions?" she asked.
Daniel looked at her.
"Questions that make people nervous."
"Why?"
"Because people with old memories sometimes forget what really happened."
Margaret laughed quietly.
It was not amusement.
"You mean people with money and influence sometimes hope everyone else forgets."
Daniel's face hardened.
"Be careful."
The words were quiet.
Almost gentle.
That made them worse.
Margaret held his gaze.
"I have been careful for thirty years."
Daniel left without another word.
The bell above the office door rang as it closed behind him.
Nobody moved.
Outside, a car started.
Then disappeared down the street.
Lily looked up.
"Is he mean?"
Chloe looked at Margaret.
The older woman sighed.
"Sometimes people hurt others without thinking they are the bad person."
Lily considered that.
"That sounds confusing."
Margaret gave a tired smile.
"It is."
Chloe waited until Lily walked toward a shelf of old books before speaking.
"Tell me everything."
Margaret looked exhausted.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because I don't know everything."
"Then tell me what you do know."
Margaret sat back down.
"Eleanor discovered records showing that waste from an old mining operation was buried on land owned by several families."
"Daniel's family?"
"Possibly."
"Possibly?"
Margaret nodded.
"The records were incomplete."
"Then why was Eleanor afraid?"
"Because someone threatened her."
Chloe went still.
"When?"
"About six months before she died."
"Did she tell Julian?"
"She tried."
"What happened?"
Margaret looked down.
"They argued."
The answer matched what Julian had said.
"He thought she was becoming obsessed."
"And she was?"
Margaret took a moment.
"Maybe."
That honesty mattered.
"Maybe?"
"Chloe, grief and fear can make people see danger everywhere."
She glanced toward the globe.
"But sometimes fear exists because there really is something dangerous."
Chloe understood.
The hardest part was not deciding who was telling the truth.
The hardest part was accepting that everyone might be partly right.
"Where is Daniel now?"
"Probably back at his office."
"Do you think he took the notebook?"
Margaret looked toward the window.
"I think he had a reason to want it gone."
That was not the same answer.
Chloe noticed.
"Did you tell Julian the notebook was missing?"
"No."
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"Why?"
"Because I didn't want him confronting Daniel."
