Chapter 7: The Last Person My Father Trusted
My mother's message stayed on the screen.
*Nora, don't trust Daniel. He was the last person with your father before he died.*
I read it once.
Then again.
Then a third time.
The room seemed to tilt beneath me.
Daniel was standing near the desk, pulling on his coat.
I slowly lifted my phone.
"Why did my mother say you were the last person with my father?""
Daniel stopped.
His hand remained on the zipper.
He didn't look at me.
"Because it's true.""
My chest tightened.
"And you forgot to mention that?""
"I was trying to protect you.""
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
I took a step toward him.
"Nobody tells me the truth.""
Daniel finally faced me.
"I didn't kill your father.""
"I didn't accuse you.""
"But you're thinking it.""
I said nothing.
He sighed.
"I was with him the night before he went to the hospital.""
"Why?""
"Because he called me.""
"What did he want?""
Daniel looked at the black case.
"He was scared.""
The word landed heavily.
"My father wasn't afraid of anything.""
"He was that night.""
"Of Julian?""
Daniel nodded.
"And someone else.""
"Who?""
"I never found out.""
My mother sent another message.
*Come home. Alone. Do not tell Julian where you are.*
I stared at it.
Daniel watched my face.
"What did she say?""
I showed him.
He cursed quietly.
"She knows.""
"Knows what?""
"That Julian is coming for the will.""
"Then why tell me not to trust you?""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Because she thinks I betrayed your father.""
"Did you?""
"No.""
"Then prove it.""
He reached into his coat.
I stepped back instinctively.
He stopped.
Slowly, he pulled out a small plastic evidence bag.
Inside was an old key.
I recognized it immediately.
A brass key like the one my father had left in Locker 314.
But this one was smaller.
Daniel held it out.
"Your father gave me this.""
"What does it open?""
"He told me I'd know when the time came.""
I stared at it.
"You've had this for eleven months?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your father made me promise.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Of course.""
Daniel looked exhausted.
"Nora, I know how this sounds.""
"It sounds like everyone knew my father was in danger except me.""
He lowered his eyes.
"Yes.""
The honesty made my anger falter.
My phone buzzed again.
This time it was a call.
Mom.
I answered.
"Mom?""
Her voice came immediately.
"Where are you?""
"Milwaukee.""
There was a pause.
"Are you with Daniel?""
"Yes.""
Another pause.
Then she whispered:
"Leave him.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Why?""
"Because your father wasn't alone when he died.""
Daniel's face changed.
My mother continued.
"Julian was there.""
"I know.""
"No.""
Her voice trembled.
"You don't know everything.""
I gripped the phone.
"What don't I know?""
"My husband—your father—wasn't supposed to die that night.""
Silence.
"What happened?""
"I don't know.""
"You said it was sudden.""
"It was.""
"Mom.""
"I thought it was a heart attack.""
"You thought?""
Her breathing became uneven.
"Nora, listen to me. Your father called me that night. He told me Julian had threatened him.""
I looked at Daniel.
"He told you?""
"Yes.""
"What did you do?""
"I drove to the house.""
My heart raced.
"What happened?""
"I saw Julian's car.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Then what?""
"When I got there, your father was already on the floor.""
I couldn't breathe.
"Mom, was he alive?""
"Yes.""
The word cracked.
"He was conscious.""
"Then why didn't you call me?""
"Because Julian was there.""
My entire body went cold.
"What did he say?""
"He told me your father had collapsed.""
"And you believed him?""
"I was terrified.""
My mother began to cry.
"I made the biggest mistake of my life.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was staring at the floor.
"Where is the original will?"" I asked.
My mother's crying stopped.
"What?""
"Julian said you have it.""
A long silence followed.
Then she whispered:
"I do.""
"Why?""
"Because your father gave it to me.""
"Before he died?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because the will isn't about money.""
I looked at Daniel.
"What is it about?""
My mother's voice dropped.
"You.""
My stomach tightened.
"Me?""
"Your father discovered something about the day you were born.""
I couldn't speak.
"What?""
"He wasn't your biological father.""
Everything inside me stopped.
I stared at nothing.
Daniel looked up sharply.
My mother continued.
"I found out after your father died.""
"No.""
"I'm sorry.""
"You're lying.""
"I'm not.""
"My father was my father.""
"He was.""
Her voice broke.
"He loved you. He raised you. He was your father in every way that mattered.""
"Then why did he leave me a will?""
"Because the truth could destroy Julian.""
I swallowed.
"What truth?""
"I can't tell you over the phone.""
"Why?""
"Because I don't know who is listening.""
The room suddenly felt dangerous again.
I looked toward the office door.
"Where are you?""
"At home.""
"Is Julian there?""
"No.""
"Mom, I'm coming.""
"No.""
Her response was immediate.
"You must not come here alone.""
"Why?""
"Because someone has already been here.""
My blood turned cold.
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
"What did they take?""
"My husband's safe.""
Daniel's eyes widened.
"Where was it?""
"Behind the painting in the study.""
I looked at the documents on the desk.
"Was the will inside?""
"No.""
"Then what was?""
My mother hesitated.
"Your father's death certificate.""
I frowned.
"Why would someone steal that?""
"I don't know.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Ask her about Rachel.""
My mother went silent.
I looked at Daniel.
"Mom?""
"Who told you that name?""
"Why does everyone react when I say it?""
Her voice became almost inaudible.
"Rachel was your father's investigator.""
I stared.
"My father had an investigator?""
"Yes.""
"What did she investigate?""
"Julian.""
My heart hammered.
"What happened to her?""
"She disappeared.""
"When?""
"Three weeks before your father died.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
My mother continued.
"Your father thought Julian had found her.""
I turned toward Daniel.
He looked shaken.
"You knew Rachel.""
He nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
"How?""
"She worked for my father too.""
I stared.
"Then why did you tell me she was Julian's wife?""
"Because she was.""
Daniel looked at me.
"But she was also investigating him.""
I remembered the message.
*She was his first victim.*
I looked at my mother.
"Mom, what did Rachel find?""
Silence.
Then:
"She discovered Julian had been moving money out of Blackwood Holdings for years.""
Daniel nodded.
"That's what we suspected.""
"No," my mother whispered.
"She found more.""
"What?""
"Julian wasn't stealing alone.""
My heart pounded.
"Who was helping him?""
My mother didn't answer.
"Mom.""
"I can't say.""
"Why?""
"Because that person is still alive.""
The line went quiet.
A sharp sound came through the phone.
A knock.
My mother stopped breathing.
"Mom?""
Another knock.
Harder.
"Who is it?""
She didn't answer.
I heard footsteps.
Then my mother's voice, distant and terrified.
"No.""
"Mom!""
A man's voice came through the phone.
Calm.
Familiar.
"Hello, Nora.""
Julian.
I nearly dropped the phone.
"Where are you?""
He laughed softly.
"You should ask your mother.""
I heard my mother scream.
"Julian, no!""
The call ended.
I stood frozen.
Daniel grabbed his coat.
"We're going.""
I shook my head.
"My mother said not to come alone.""
"I'm not alone.""
"We don't know what he'll do.""
"We know exactly what he'll do.""
Daniel pulled open the office door.
"We go now.""
I followed.
But before I reached the elevator, my phone buzzed.
A message.
From Julian.
There was a photograph.
My mother was sitting in her living room.
Alive.
Terrified.
And Julian was standing behind her.
In his hand was the original will.
The caption beneath the photograph said:
*Come home, Nora.*
Then another message appeared.
*Bring Daniel.*
May you like
A third followed.
*It's time you learned who your real father was.*
