Oliver Pointed to a Stranger in the Hotel Lobby — Then the Security Footage and One Familiar Name on His Registration Form Revealed Why He Was Really

Chapter 3 — Rachel Had Told Margaret Where Daniel Would Be

Daniel pulled out his phone.

“I’m calling her.”

Peter immediately said:

“She didn’t arrange this.”

Daniel looked toward him.

“You just said she told my mother where I was.”

“She mentioned the conference.”

“That is not the same thing as arranging a meeting.”

Daniel called Rachel.

She answered on the third ring.

“Hey.”

“Did you tell Mom I was staying at the Grand Marlow Hotel?”

Silence.

Daniel’s face hardened.

“Rachel.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“It came up.”

“How does my hotel come up accidentally?”

Rachel sighed.

She explained.

Margaret had called her two weeks earlier.

Not asking where Daniel lived.

Not demanding his phone number.

She simply asked whether Rachel believed Daniel would ever agree to a conversation.

Rachel mentioned the upcoming conference.

She said Daniel might be less defensive meeting somewhere neutral than at either person’s home.

“You suggested the hotel?”

“I said a neutral place might help.”

“Did you give her the dates?”

Rachel hesitated.

“Yes.”

Daniel closed his eyes.

“You promised me you would stop doing this.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you?”

Rachel’s voice softened.

“Because Mom didn’t ask me to make you forgive her.”

“She asked how she could apologize without showing up at your house.”

Daniel became quiet.

That was different from the Margaret he remembered.

Not enough to erase anything.

But different.

“Did you know she hired Peter?”

“No.”

“Did you know he was going to approach Oliver?”

Rachel sounded alarmed.

“He did what?”

Daniel looked toward Peter.

“Exactly.”

He ended the call.

Peter rubbed his forehead.

“That was not part of the plan.”

Daniel stared.

“Then what was the plan?”

Peter looked toward his leather bag.

“I was supposed to give you something.”

Daniel frowned.

Peter opened the bag.

Inside was a sealed envelope.

Across the front was Daniel’s name.

Written in Margaret’s handwriting.

But Peter did not hand it over.

Instead he said:

“Before you read this, you need to know something else.”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed.

“What?”

Peter glanced toward the hotel registration screen.

“Your mother didn’t only arrange my room.”

“She’s registered here too.”