Chapter 9 - The Envelope From a Dead Man|
The man identified himself as Thomas Reed.
He claimed to represent the estate of Marcus's late father.
But Daniel Price immediately noticed that his identification carried an outdated registration number.
"Don't let him inside," Daniel said.
Raymond moved toward the entrance.
Marcus watched through the window.
Thomas remained perfectly calm.
He opened the envelope and held up a document.
Marcus recognized the signature.
His father's.
"Let him speak," Marcus said.
Daniel shook his head.
"Not without verification."
The man eventually left the envelope with the security team and drove away.
Inside were three documents.
The first was a copy of an old trust agreement.
The second was a list of offshore accounts.
The third was a letter addressed to Marcus.
His father's handwriting was unmistakable.
My son, if you are reading this, then the family has reached the point I feared. I made decisions that I believed would protect what I built. Some of those decisions hurt people who trusted me. Your mother knows more than she has admitted. Evelyn knew everything.
Marcus stopped reading.
Norah stood beside him.
"There's more."
He continued.
Do not allow the Bellara documents to disappear. They contain the names of everyone involved in the original transactions. The person who controls them controls the truth.
Daniel examined the pages.
"This is bigger than we thought."
"How big?" Marcus asked.
"Potentially several families. Maybe more."
Norah looked at the account list.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Richard Voss.
She recognized it from the paperwork she had reviewed at her previous job.
Voss was a wealthy investor whose company had recently purchased several properties near the old Ellery shipping warehouses.
"Mr. Price?"
Daniel looked up.
"Yes?"
"Who is Richard Voss?"
Daniel's expression changed.
"He's one of the men who financed your father's shipping operations."
Marcus took the list.
"He's also Peter's former employer."
Norah felt cold.
"Could he be involved in Evelyn's death?"
"Possibly."
Marcus immediately called Raymond.
"Find Voss."
While Raymond began searching, Norah took Lily upstairs.
The child had been quiet for most of the afternoon.
Norah placed the rabbit on the bed.
"Do you remember the man in the photograph?"
Lily nodded.
"Was he the man who hurt Mommy?"
The little girl stared at her.
Then she pointed to the photograph.
She touched Peter's face.
Afterward, she touched the dark shape beside the car.
Norah leaned closer.
"Someone else?"
Lily nodded.
She took a pencil and drew a second figure.
This one wore a watch.
A large silver watch.
Norah remembered the man outside.
Thomas Reed.
His watch had been silver.
She immediately called Marcus.
But when she returned to the hallway, she heard Vivien speaking on the phone.
"No, Thomas. The girl doesn't have the ledger."
A pause.
"Yes, the key is still here."
Another pause.
"Then get it before Marcus does."
Norah stopped breathing.
Vivien turned.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Vivien lowered her phone.
"How much did you hear?"
Norah stepped backward.
"Enough."
Vivien's expression changed.
"Listen to me. You don't understand what this family is facing."
"I understand that you just told someone to steal evidence."
"I was trying to protect Marcus."
"By threatening Lily?"
Vivien looked toward the stairs.
Norah followed her gaze.
At the top landing, Lily stood holding her rabbit.
Her eyes were wide.
May you like
And for the first time, the little girl spoke without being asked.
"Grandma lied."
