THE MAN THEY SENT TO PRISON

Chapter 4 — The Missing Years

The rain had started before Daniel left his father's office. It tapped against the windows, slowly at first, then harder as the night grew darker.

Daniel remained in the chair behind his father's old desk, staring at the folder he had found. He had read the financial statements three times. The numbers were still there. Millions had disappeared from the company shortly before his arrest. And somehow, the transactions had been connected to him.

He leaned back and rubbed his eyes. Seven years ago, he had been arrested for stealing money. He had always said he was innocent. Nobody believed him. But now he had proof that money really had been moved.

The question was simple. Who moved it?

Daniel opened the folder again. There were several bank statements inside. He looked at the first one.

Transfer: $4.2 million.

The next.

Transfer: $7.8 million.

Another.

Transfer: $3.5 million.

His fingers tightened around the paper. That was more than fifteen million dollars. And those were only the transactions in the folder.

He searched through the documents, hoping to find a name. There was nothing. Only account numbers.

Daniel frowned. Someone had gone to great lengths to hide the identity of the person receiving the money.

He placed the papers on the desk. A thought suddenly came to him. His lawyer. If anyone knew what had happened during the trial, it would be him.

Daniel picked up his phone and searched through his old contacts. He found the number. He stared at it for a few seconds before calling.

The phone rang. Once. Twice. Then someone answered.

"Hello?"

Daniel didn't speak immediately. The voice on the other end sounded older.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Adams?"

There was silence.

"Who is this?"

"It's Daniel."

Another silence. Then the lawyer's voice changed. "Daniel?"

"Yes."

"Where are you?"

"Home."

"You've been released?"

"This morning."

The lawyer sighed. "I didn't know."

"I didn't tell anyone."

"How are you?"

Daniel looked at the papers on the desk. "Fine." He wasn't fine. But he didn't want to explain that over the phone.

"I need to see you."

The lawyer hesitated. "Why?"

"I have questions about my case."

Silence.

Daniel's eyes narrowed. "Mr. Adams?"

"I'm busy tonight."

"I'll come tomorrow."

"Daniel"

"Tomorrow."

He ended the call. He placed the phone on the desk. Something about the man's hesitation bothered him.

The next morning, Daniel woke before sunrise. He had barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered the same things. The courtroom. The judge. Claire crying. His father's disappointed face. The prison gates closing behind him. Then the financial documents would appear in his mind. Millions transferred before his arrest.

Daniel got out of bed. He showered, dressed in the cleanest clothes he owned, and walked downstairs.

Emma was in the kitchen. She looked surprised. "You've been awake?"

"Couldn't sleep."

She placed a cup of tea on the table. "You should rest."

"I've rested enough."

She sat opposite him. "What are you going to do today?"

"See my lawyer."

Emma became quiet. "Why?"

"I found something in Dad's office."

Daniel didn't tell her everything. He wasn't sure who could be trusted yet.

"There were financial records from before my arrest."

Emma frowned. "What did they show?"

"Money was moved from the company."

"How much?"

"Millions."

She stared at him. "Before you were arrested?"

"Yes."

"Could Dad have known?"

"I don't know."

Emma lowered her voice. "Daniel, be careful."

He looked at her. "Why?"

"Because people have been asking questions about you."

Daniel became still. "What people?"

"I don't know."

"When?"

"Over the years."

"What did they ask?"

"Whether you had contacted us. Whether Dad had received any messages from you."

Daniel leaned forward. "Who asked?"

Emma shook her head. "They never gave names."

Daniel thought for a moment. "Did they threaten you?"

"No."

"Did they threaten Dad?"

She looked away.

"Emma."

"Not directly."

"What does that mean?"

She took a breath. "Sometimes strange things happened."

"Like what?"

"Cars parked outside the house."

Daniel's expression hardened. "How often?"

"Every few months."

"And you never told me?"

"You were in prison."

"I needed to know."

"I was trying to protect you."

Daniel looked at his sister. He couldn't blame her. She had been dealing with everything alone.

"I'll handle it from here."

Emma shook her head. "You don't even know what you're dealing with."

Daniel gave her a faint smile. "Neither do they."

Mr. Adams' office was located in an old commercial building downtown. Daniel arrived at ten in the morning.

The receptionist looked at him. "Do you have an appointment?"

"Yes."

She checked the computer. "Name?"

"Daniel Carter."

The woman's fingers stopped moving. She looked up. "Daniel Carter?"

"Yes."

She stared at him for a second longer. Then she picked up the phone. "Mr. Adams, Mr. Carter is here." She listened. "Yes." She put the phone down. "He'll see you."

Daniel entered the office. Mr. Adams stood behind his desk. The lawyer looked much older than Daniel remembered. His hair was almost completely gray. His eyes became uncomfortable when he saw Daniel.

"Sit."

Daniel sat. Mr. Adams remained standing. "You've changed."

"Everyone says that."

"You look healthier."

"Prison does strange things to people."

The lawyer gave a nervous smile. "How is your family?"

"Not good."

Mr. Adams looked away.

Daniel noticed. "You knew."

"Knew what?"

"That my family was struggling."

"I heard some things."

"How much did you know?"

"Daniel, I wasn't involved in your family's business."

"But you knew."

Mr. Adams sat down. "Your father never discussed business matters with me."

Daniel placed a copy of the financial statement on the desk. "Then explain this."

The lawyer looked at the paper. His face changed. "Where did you get this?"

"My father's office."

Mr. Adams stared at the document.

"These transactions happened before my arrest."

"Yes."

"And they were used as evidence against me."

"Some of them."

Daniel leaned forward. "Who received the money?"

"I don't remember."

"You represented me."

"Seven years ago."

"You should remember."

The lawyer sighed. "Daniel, your case was complicated."

"I was sentenced to seven years."

"I know."

"I lost my marriage."

"I know."

"My mother died while I was inside."

Mr. Adams looked down.

"You knew about that too."

"I was trying to protect you."

Daniel laughed bitterly. "Everyone keeps saying that."

He stood. "I want my complete case file."

Mr. Adams looked at him. "Why?"

"Because I want to read it."

"Daniel, there's no point reopening the past."

"That's my decision."

The lawyer hesitated. Then he opened a drawer. "I have some of it." He placed a file on the desk.

Daniel took it. "Some?"

"Some documents were transferred to another office."

"Which office?"

Mr. Adams didn't answer.

Daniel stared at him. "Who took them?"

The lawyer finally looked up. "The court."

Daniel nodded slowly. "Thank you."

He turned to leave.

"Daniel."

He stopped.

Mr. Adams' voice was low. "Let the past stay where it is."

Daniel looked over his shoulder. "Why?"

The lawyer hesitated. "Because some people don't like being reminded of old mistakes."

Daniel stared at him. "Are you warning me?"

"I'm telling you to be careful."

Daniel left without answering.

Outside the building, Daniel opened the case file. He walked slowly along the sidewalk while reading.

The first pages were familiar. The charges. The evidence. The witnesses. Then he found something he had never seen before.

A witness statement. The name was unfamiliar. Michael Grant.

Daniel read it. The witness claimed he had seen Daniel entering the company building late at night.

Daniel frowned. That wasn't possible. He had been at home that night. He remembered it clearly. His father had been there. Claire had been there. They had dinner together. Why would a stranger claim otherwise?

Daniel checked the date. Three days later, the same witness had withdrawn his statement.

Daniel stopped walking. Why?

He continued reading. The original statement was still used in court despite the withdrawal. Daniel's heart began beating faster.

There were more documents. Another witness. Another contradiction. A missing security recording. A bank account that had been closed shortly after the trial. Pieces that didn't fit.

Daniel stood beneath a tree and looked at the file. His conviction suddenly looked different. He had been so focused on proving his innocence that he hadn't noticed how many things around the case had gone wrong. Someone had built a story. And everyone had accepted it.

Daniel closed the file. He needed to find the people involved. He started with Michael Grant. He searched the name online. Nothing useful. Then he found an old address. He took a taxi there.

The address led to a small neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. Daniel knocked on the door.

An elderly woman answered. "Can I help you?"

"Are you Mrs. Grant?"

"Yes."

"I'm looking for Michael."

Her expression changed. "You know him?"

"I'm trying to find him."

She stared at Daniel. "You're Daniel Carter." It wasn't a question.

Daniel became alert. "How do you know me?"

The woman slowly opened the door wider. "Michael talked about you."

"What did he say?"

She looked around nervously. "Come inside."

Daniel entered. The house was small. Old furniture filled the living room. The woman closed the door.

"Michael died four years ago."

Daniel froze. "How?"

"Car accident."

"Was anyone else involved?"

She shook her head. "He was alone."

Daniel thought about the witness statement. "Did he ever tell you why he changed his testimony?"

The woman's face became pale. "He regretted what he did."

"What did he do?"

"He lied."

Daniel's heart pounded. "About me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

The woman looked toward the window. "He was afraid."

"Afraid of who?"

She didn't answer.

Daniel stepped closer. "Mrs. Grant, I spent seven years in prison because of that statement."

Tears appeared in her eyes. "I know."

"Then please tell me."

She opened her mouth. Before she could speak, a loud crash came from outside.

The woman jumped. Daniel rushed to the window. A black car sped away from the house.

Daniel ran outside. The car disappeared around the corner. He turned back. Mrs. Grant was standing in the doorway. Her face was terrified.

"Who was that?"

She shook her head. "I don't know."

Daniel knew she was lying. He walked back toward her. "You're afraid."

She looked at him. "Michael told me never to talk about that night."

"What night?"

"The night before you were arrested."

Daniel's expression changed. "What happened?"

She hesitated. Then she whispered, "Michael wasn't the only witness."

Daniel stared at her. "Who was the other witness?"

She looked directly into his eyes. "Your wife."

Daniel felt as if the ground had shifted beneath him. "Claire?"

Mrs. Grant nodded. "She was there that night."

Daniel's mind raced. Claire had always claimed she knew nothing about the case. She had always said she believed he was innocent. But now another question appeared. Why had she been there?

Before Daniel could ask anything else, Mrs. Grant's phone rang. She looked at the screen. Her face went completely pale.

"What is it?" Daniel asked.

She slowly showed him the phone. There was a message.

Tell Daniel to stop digging.

Daniel stared at it. A second message arrived.

The next person who talks will not live long enough to regret it.

Mrs. Grant dropped the phone. Daniel looked toward the window. The black car was gone.

He slowly closed his fist. Seven years ago, someone had helped send him to prison. And now that he had started asking questions, that same person was afraid. But Daniel had one question burning in his mind.

What had Claire seen on the night before he was arrested?