Chapter 7 - The Secret Beneath the Rabbit's Ear|
Marcus did not sleep that night.
He spent hours reviewing old security reports, bank transfers, and the records connected to his mother's private security company.
By dawn, he had discovered something disturbing.
Three weeks before Evelyn's accident, a substantial payment had been transferred from an Ellery holding company to a private consulting firm.
The firm's registered director was Peter Shaw.
The payment description read: Security coordination.
There were additional payments.
One every month.
The final transfer had occurred two days after Evelyn died.
Marcus printed the records and placed them on his desk.
He was still studying them when Norah entered.
"Mr. Ellery?"
He looked up.
"Lily's asking for you."
Marcus immediately stood.
"Did she speak?"
Norah nodded.
"She said she wanted to show me something."
They found Lily in the playroom.
Her rabbit lay on the carpet.
She had carefully opened the damaged seam and removed a small silver key that Norah had never seen before.
Marcus stared.
"Where did you get that?"
Lily pointed toward the rabbit.
Norah crouched.
"Was this inside?"
Lily nodded.
Marcus picked up the key.
A tiny number had been engraved on its handle.
714.
He recognized it.
It belonged to a storage facility near the old Ellery shipping warehouses.
His father had rented several units there before his death.
"How long have you had this?"
Lily held up one finger.
Then she shook her head.
Norah gently clarified.
"Since the accident?"
Lily nodded.
Marcus looked at the rabbit.
"Evelyn must have hidden it."
The three of them went downstairs.
Marcus called his attorney, Daniel Price.
Daniel arrived within an hour.
When Marcus showed him the key, the attorney frowned.
"Don't go there alone."
"I'm not planning to."
"I mean it, Marcus. If this is connected to your father's estate, we need to involve investigators."
Marcus agreed.
But before they could leave, Vivien entered the office.
She looked at the key.
Then she looked at Lily.
"Give that to me."
Lily immediately stepped behind Norah.
Marcus moved between them.
"No."
Vivien's face hardened.
"You don't understand what you're doing."
"Then explain it."
She lowered her voice.
"That key opens a box containing information that could destroy this family."
Marcus stared at her.
"What information?"
"Your father made mistakes."
"What kind of mistakes?"
"The kind that should have remained buried."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Mrs. Ellery, I strongly advise you not to interfere with the investigation."
Vivien laughed bitterly.
"Investigation? You think you can investigate your way out of this?"
Marcus looked at his mother.
"Did you know Peter was following Evelyn?"
Vivien didn't answer.
"Did you arrange the payments?"
"Your father arranged them."
"He's been dead for six years."
"Exactly."
Marcus felt his anger rising.
"Then tell me what happened."
Vivien looked at Lily.
For a moment, her expression softened.
"I was trying to protect you."
"From what?"
She finally answered.
"Your father had discovered that Evelyn intended to expose the family's financial records. She had found evidence of illegal transfers and wanted to take Lily away."
Marcus stared at her.
"Why?"
"Because she was afraid of what your father would do."
"And you?"
Vivien's eyes filled with tears.
"I was afraid too."
Daniel asked quietly:
"Did you order someone to follow her?"
Vivien looked toward the window.
"I ordered Peter to bring her to me."
Marcus's voice dropped.
"And the accident?"
Vivien closed her eyes.
"I never told him to kill her."
The room became silent.
Lily began shaking.
Norah wrapped an arm around her.
Marcus looked at his mother as though he no longer recognized her.
"Where is Peter?"
Vivien whispered:
"I don't know."
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
May you like
The color drained from her face.
It was Peter Shaw.
