CHAPTER 7 — THE PROMISE DANIEL MADE BEFORE HE DIED
Emily stared at the letter, unable to breathe.
Her hands trembled as she unfolded the remaining pages.
Daniel's familiar handwriting filled the paper.
"My dearest Emily... if you're reading this, my name has finally been cleared. That means the truth survived, even if I didn't."
Tears blurred her vision.
Michael, Captain Sarah, and the others stood silently beside her.
Daniel continued.
"I prayed every day that you would never have to open this envelope. But if fate had other plans, there is one last thing you must know."
Emily slowly turned the page.
Inside was another document.
It was not a police report.
It was a trust agreement.
The beneficiary's name read:
Emily Carter.
Her unborn child.
And another name that stunned everyone...
Trustee: Michael Hayes.
Emily looked at Michael in disbelief.
"You...?"
Michael looked just as shocked.
"I've never seen this before."
Sarah examined the document carefully.
"It was notarized two weeks before Daniel died."
Michael sat down, speechless.
Daniel had secretly appointed him to protect his family if anything happened.
Emily continued reading.
"Michael will probably argue with this decision. That's exactly why I chose him. He's the only man I trust to protect you when I no longer can."
Michael covered his face with both hands.
Quiet tears slipped through his fingers.
"I don't deserve this..."
Emily gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
Daniel's letter wasn't finished.
"I also know Emily will refuse help because she's too proud. So if she says no... ignore her."
For the first time in months...
Emily laughed through her tears.
"That sounds exactly like him."
Everyone smiled.
Then Sarah reached the final page.
Folded inside was a cashier's check.
The amount made everyone gasp.
$2,000,000.
Emily's eyes widened.
"This... this can't be real."
Sarah carefully examined the attached documents.
"It is."
Michael frowned.
"Where did Daniel get two million dollars?"
Sarah looked at another page.
"He didn't."
She swallowed.
"It's the government's compensation."
Everyone looked confused.
Sarah explained.
"The federal government secretly created a protected compensation fund for officers killed while exposing organized corruption."
"But the money could only be released after their innocence was legally proven."
Emily stared at the check in disbelief.
"So..."
"I don't have to sell the necklace."
Michael smiled through his tears.
"You never did."
Just then, Sarah's phone rang.
She answered.
After only a few seconds...
Her expression changed.
"What?"
The room fell silent.
She slowly lowered the phone.
"They've caught the former Deputy Commissioner."
Michael nodded.
"Good."
Sarah continued quietly.
"He asked for only one thing."
Emily frowned.
"What?"
May you like
"He refuses to speak..."
"...unless he can see you."
