Shadows Of Deceipt

Chapter 14

Anna sat in her bedroom, her father’s voice still echoing in her mind. She had just finished a long conversation with him, one that had shaken her deeply. Richard Greenfield wasn’t just the tough, no-nonsense police commissioner she’d grown up watching; he was her father, the man who had raised her with unwavering values of honesty, integrity, and loyalty. The heart-to-heart they had shared over dinner had not been planned. It had started innocently, as her father asked about the final preparations for her exhibition. But soon, the conversation turned more personal.

“Anna,” Richard had said, his voice softer than usual, “I know you’re grown now, and I respect your decisions, but I need you to know something. My job—it’s not just about catching criminals. It’s about protecting the people I love. People like you.” Anna had smiled, but there was a heaviness in the air. He looked at her intently, his eyes filled with concern.“I’ve always tried to keep you away from the darker side of my world,” he continued. “But I worry. I worry about who you trust. Who you let into your life. Especially now that things in the city are... complicated.”

She had known immediately who he was talking about.“Dad...” she began, but he shook his head, stopping her.“About Delano, Anna,” Richard said, his tone gentle but firm. “I don’t want to pry. But please, just be careful. You’re smart. You have a good heart. Don’t let anyone take advantage of that.”

His words had struck a nerve. Anna had nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She didn’t have the courage to tell him the truth in that moment. But now, as she sat alone, the weight of what she had to do was crashing down on her. Her phone buzzed on the bedside table, the sudden sound jolting her out of her thoughts. She hesitated before picking it up, already knowing who the message was from.
Tom: "The shipment’s confirmed. It’s happening on the 15th. Please, Anna. Move the exhibition. It’ll keep your father busy that day. I’ll make it up to you, I promise."

Anna’s chest tightened. This was it—the moment she had to decide. She stared at the screen, torn between her loyalty to Tom and her loyalty to her father. The man she loved, and the man who had raised her. But after her father’s heartfelt words, she couldn’t bring herself to betray him. He had always been there for her, always done what he thought was right. Could she really deceive him? Could she play a part in helping a criminal, even if she cared for that man? The answer hit her like a cold wave. No. She couldn’t. She had to stop this before it went too far.

The next morning, Anna paced nervously in her father’s office. She had decided to tell him everything. It was the hardest decision she’d ever made, but she knew it was the right one. She couldn’t keep Tom’s secret any longer. If she didn’t speak now, more people could be hurt—and she couldn’t live with that. When Richard finally walked in, she steeled herself.

“Dad, there’s something I need to tell you.”

He raised an eyebrow, immediately sensing the seriousness in her voice. “What is it, Anna?”

She hesitated, feeling the weight of what she was about to say. But she had no choice. “It’s about Tom Delano.”

Richard’s expression hardened, his brows furrowing. “What about him?”

“He’s... he’s not who I thought he was. And he’s definitely not who you think he is,” she said, her voice trembling. “Tom... he’s involved in something dangerous. He’s part of a drug empire. He’s been hiding it from me this whole time.”

Her father’s face was unreadable as he processed her words. The silence stretched between them, thick with tension.“I didn’t know at first,” Anna continued, her voice softer now, guilt evident in her tone. “But when I found out, he asked me to move my exhibition to distract you from a shipment coming in. He told me the date—he said it’s happening on the 15th.” Richard stood still, his jaw clenched tightly. His usually calm, authoritative demeanor seemed to falter for a moment as he took in the gravity of her confession.“I should have told you sooner,” Anna whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m so sorry, Dad. I—”