Chapter 5: Her Father's Final Warning
Nia read the authorization again.
Her father's name stared back at her in black ink.
"Who had access to this account?" she asked.
Dr. Hayes folded his hands.
"I can only tell you that the account was presented as belonging to a family investment trust. We are reviewing the original documents."
Rachel took a photograph of the page.
"We'll need certified copies and a complete record of the authorization chain."
Adrian's mother suddenly appeared in the doorway.
"That won't be necessary."
Everyone turned.
Evelyn looked at Nia.
"Your father wanted to help Adrian. He believed in his potential."
Nia felt anger rising in her throat.
"My father barely trusted Adrian with a dinner reservation. Why would he finance a secret medical procedure?"
"Because he knew Adrian was struggling."
"No. Tell me what you did."
Evelyn's composure finally broke.
"Your father discovered that Adrian had been using company funds to cover personal losses. He threatened to report him. Adrian panicked, and I arranged a private settlement."
Nia stepped backward.
"My father died six years ago. Adrian's procedure was three years ago."
"The original financial arrangement began earlier. The later payment was made through a trust."
"Whose trust?"
Evelyn hesitated.
Rachel's expression sharpened.
"Mrs. Cole, are you saying money belonging to Nia's family was used without her knowledge?"
"I'm saying that complicated arrangements were made to protect people."
"People like Adrian?" Nia asked.
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
For years, Nia had believed her father died with his affairs in order. He had been a careful businessman who recorded every transaction and kept handwritten notes in a locked study at home.
After his death, Adrian had offered to help organize the estate.
Nia had trusted him.
She had never checked every document.
Now she wondered what else had disappeared.
"I want every document connected to my father's trust," she said.
Evelyn shook her head.
"Some of those records are sealed."
"Then my attorney can determine whether I have a legal right to them."
Adrian appeared behind his mother.
"You need to stop digging."
Nia turned toward him.
"Why? What am I going to find?"
He looked at Rachel, then back at Nia.
"Your father wasn't the man you think he was."
The room fell silent.
Nia stepped closer.
"Explain."
Adrian's expression softened into something almost convincing.
"Your father had debts. Serious ones. I helped him keep them from becoming public."
"You're lying."
"Am I? Ask Rachel to investigate the estate properly."
Rachel said nothing, but Nia noticed her eyes narrow.
Adrian continued.
"I did things I shouldn't have done. But not everything was for my benefit."
For one terrible moment, Nia wondered whether her memories of her father were incomplete.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
NIA, DO NOT TRUST ADRIAN. YOUR FATHER LEFT YOU A RECORDING. CHECK THE SAFE DEPOSIT BOX AT MERIDIAN BANK.
A second message followed.
GO BEFORE EVELYN DOES. SHE KNOWS WHAT'S INSIDE.
Nia looked up.
Evelyn was staring at her phone.
May you like
And when she realized Nia had seen the messages, she whispered four words that chilled her blood.
"He's supposed to be dead."
