Chapter 6: The Woman Lucas Trusted
By seven the next morning, I'd learned three things.
Hope was stable.
My father had spent the night calling lawyers.
And Rebecca was not a name Daniel Reeves had ever heard Lucas mention.
That last detail bothered me most.
Lucas told me everything. Or so I'd believed.
He told me when he was worried about money, when a client was being difficult, when he'd accidentally ordered three hundred dollars' worth of the wrong screws for a renovation project.
He told me when he was embarrassed.
He told me when he was afraid.
But apparently, he'd kept at least one secret.
I sat beside Hope's incubator, watching her sleep, while Daniel made calls in the corridor.
A nurse had helped me into a wheelchair so I could visit the neonatal unit. Every movement pulled at my incision, but I refused to return to my room until I'd spent some time with my daughter.
Hope's hand rested against the side of the incubator.
I slipped one finger through the opening.
"Your daddy was terrible at keeping secrets," I whispered.
"He once hid my birthday present in the oven and then forgot where he'd put it.""
Hope shifted slightly.
"Honestly, sweetheart, he was a mess.""
My voice cracked.
"And I miss him so much.""
I bent my head, pressing my forehead against the edge of the incubator.
For several minutes, I allowed myself to grieve.
Not the composed, quiet grief I'd shown at the funeral.
Not the tears I'd wiped away whenever someone asked whether I was eating enough.
This was the ugly kind. The kind that made breathing difficult and left my face wet.
When I finally looked up, Daniel was standing at the entrance to the unit.
"Sorry," he said.
"I didn't want to interrupt.""
"You can interrupt. I need answers.""
He nodded.
"I've been looking into Rebecca. We found a woman named Rebecca Shaw who worked as a financial analyst for Bennett Logistics until eight months ago.""
"Eight months?""
"She resigned abruptly. Her employment record shows that she signed a confidentiality agreement when she left.""
"Does she know Lucas?""
"According to a former colleague, they met several times during the months before his death.""
I stared at him.
"Why would my husband meet a woman who worked for my father's company?""
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
"Where is she now?""
"Her last known address is in a neighboring state. My investigator is checking whether she still lives there.""
I looked down at Hope.
"Lucas wrote her name for a reason.""
"Agreed.""
"Then find her.""
"We will.""
Daniel pulled a folded sheet from his briefcase.
"In the meantime, we've opened the locked drawer.""
My heart began pounding.
"What did you find?""
"Three folders, a flash drive, and a sealed envelope addressed to me.""
He handed me a photograph of the drawer's contents.
The folders were labeled in Lucas's handwriting.
*COMPANY ACCOUNTS.*
*MILLER PAYMENTS.*
*CHARLES — ORIGINALS.*
I stared at the final label.
"What does that mean?""
"We haven't reviewed everything yet. But the first folder contains records of transfers from your husband's company to several accounts linked to Bennett Logistics.""
"And the second?""
"Payments to Frank Miller. There are three, not one.""
My mouth went dry.
"How much?""
"Twenty-five thousand dollars before the accident. Another ten thousand six weeks earlier. And a third payment of fifteen thousand dollars made two days after Lucas died.""
I gripped the photograph.
"After he died?""
"Yes.""
I felt sick.
"Who paid him after my husband was dead?""
"The transfer originated from a company associated with your father.""
I looked at the incubator.
For years, Charles had told me that money was the measure of a person's worth. He'd used it to control every conversation, every disagreement, every relationship he didn't understand.
Now it appeared he'd been moving money through companies I barely knew existed.
And Lucas had discovered it.
"What's on the flash drive?"" I asked.
"We're having a forensic specialist make a verified copy. I don't want to risk altering the original.""
"Did you find the letter?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Yes. It's addressed to me, but Lucas included a note for you.""
He opened the briefcase and removed a second envelope.
My name was written across the front.
I took it carefully.
The letter inside was shorter than the first.
Emily,
If you've reached this point, Charles has probably tried to take something from you. Maybe the house. Maybe the company. Maybe your ability to make decisions without him.
I need you to understand why I kept these records.
Your father approached me with a business proposal shortly after we announced the pregnancy. He said he wanted to help secure the baby's future. He offered to invest in the company in exchange for access to our accounts.
I refused.
At first, I thought that was the end of it. Then I discovered that money was already moving through accounts I had never authorized.
I asked Rebecca Shaw to help me trace the transfers. She found something much bigger than accounting fraud.
I stopped reading.
"What's the rest?""
Daniel pointed to the next paragraph.
I continued.
The warehouse records show that Bennett Logistics has been receiving shipments under false invoices. Some of the invoices were approved using my company's credentials.
Rebecca believes the documents are being used to conceal payments to people who should never have been connected to the business.
I don't know how far Charles is involved. I know enough to be afraid.
My hands trembled.
The final paragraph was only three lines.
If I can't finish this, find Rebecca.
She has the original ledger.
And she knows who gave the order.
I read the last sentence twice.
"Who gave what order?""
Daniel shook his head.
"We don't know.""
"An order connected to the warehouse?""
"That's the most reasonable interpretation, but we can't assume more than the letter establishes.""
I pressed the paper flat against my knee.
"Did Lucas think my father wanted him dead?""
"He clearly feared retaliation. Whether he believed someone would kill him specifically is not established by this letter.""
I swallowed.
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
Daniel's expression softened.
"Perhaps he thought he could resolve it before it reached you. Perhaps he didn't want to frighten you during the pregnancy. We may never know exactly what he was thinking.""
I looked away.
I'd spent weeks replaying Lucas's final days, searching for some moment when I could have stopped him from leaving the house that morning.
Now I wondered whether he'd been trying to protect me from something he'd already understood was dangerous.
My phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
Daniel glanced at the screen.
"That may be our investigator.""
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke cautiously.
"Is this Emily Bennett?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Rebecca Shaw. I understand you're looking for me.""
I stood so abruptly that pain shot through my abdomen.
Daniel reached for the wheelchair.
"Emily, sit down.""
I barely heard him.
"How did you get my number?""
"Daniel Reeves left a message with someone I trust. I wasn't going to call until I knew it was really him.""
"Did you know my husband?""
Silence.
Then Rebecca said, "Yes.""
"Why didn't he tell me about you?""
"He was trying to protect you.""
The words felt like a slap.
"Everyone keeps saying that. My husband is dead, my father is trying to take my baby, and I'm supposed to be grateful that nobody told me anything.""
Rebecca exhaled.
"You're right. You deserve the truth.""
"Then tell me who gave the order.""
Another pause.
When she spoke again, her voice had dropped almost to a whisper.
"I can tell you who signed the original warehouse authorization. I can tell you who paid Frank Miller. And I can tell you why Lucas came to see me the night before the accident.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"The night before?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because he'd discovered that someone had accessed his car's maintenance records.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"His car?""
"Lucas believed someone had arranged for a repair to be performed without his knowledge. He wanted to know whether the work order was legitimate.""
I stared at Daniel.
He had gone completely still.
"Did he tell you what was wrong with the car?""
"No. He didn't have time. He said he was going to confront the person responsible.""
"Who?""
Rebecca's breathing became uneven.
"I can't tell you over the phone.""
"Why not?""
"Because I don't know who else is listening.""
I felt a cold sensation creep up my arms.
"Are you in danger?""
"I've been in hiding for months.""
"Where are you?""
"Somewhere your father can't easily reach me.""
I closed my eyes.
"Rebecca, I have a premature baby in intensive care. My father threw me out of my house. He has filed a petition to take my daughter. I cannot keep living like this.""
"I'm sorry.""
"Sorry doesn't help me. The truth might.""
Rebecca was silent for several seconds.
Then she said, "I'm willing to meet you. But I need you to understand something first.""
"What?""
"Your father isn't the only person who wants those records.""
I looked at the photograph of the three men outside the warehouse.
"Who else?""
"I don't know his full name. Lucas called him Mr. Vance. He was the man who signed the authorization for the warehouse shipments.""
Daniel leaned toward the phone.
"Rebecca, this is Daniel Reeves. Do you have evidence linking Mr. Vance to the vehicle maintenance order?""
"I have a copy of the authorization. I also have a recording of a meeting where Charles discussed the payment to Miller.""
Daniel's expression sharpened.
"Is the recording authentic and unedited?""
"Yes. I made it myself.""
"Where is it?""
"In a safe deposit box. I haven't accessed it in months.""
I gripped the phone.
"Can you bring it to us?""
"I can bring it to Daniel. But not to the hospital.""
"Why?""
"Because someone has been watching the hospital entrance.""
I turned toward the window.
Beyond the glass, the parking garage stood in the morning haze.
"How do you know?""
"Because I saw the same black SUV outside your house yesterday. It followed me for three blocks before I lost it.""
My blood ran cold.
"Rebecca, you need to tell the police.""
"I will. But first, you need to know something about your father's court petition.""
"What?""
"He didn't file it because he wants to raise your daughter.""
I felt Daniel watching me.
Rebecca continued.
"He's trying to get legal control of Hope because he believes Lucas transferred the company shares into a trust for her.""
I looked at Daniel.
He didn't deny it.
Rebecca's voice became urgent.
"If your father gains control of the estate before the trust is properly secured, he may be able to access the accounts Lucas was investigating.""
I stared at the yellow rabbit sitting inside its evidence bag.
The house. The forged signature. The sudden petition.
None of it had been about helping me.
My father wanted control of the evidence.
And he believed my newborn daughter was the easiest way to get it.
"Rebecca," I said, "when can you meet us?""
"Tomorrow morning. I'll send Daniel a location.""
"Will you bring the recording?""
"Yes.""
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
Then Rebecca added one final sentence.
"Emily, there's something else. The last time I saw Lucas, he told me he had already made a copy of the warehouse ledger.""
"Where?""
"He said he'd hidden it somewhere Charles would never think to look.""
I stared at the tiny yellow rabbit.
The torn ear.
The brass key.
The locked drawer.
"Where did he hide it?"" I asked.
Rebecca's answer was barely audible.
"He said the safest place in the world was the one place your father had spent his entire life refusing to enter.""
The call ended.
I looked at Daniel.
"What place?""
He shook his head slowly.
"I don't know.""
Then my phone vibrated with a message from the hospital's security office.
A photograph showed a man standing near the neonatal unit's entrance.
He wore a dark suit and carried a bouquet of white flowers.
I recognized him immediately.
Richard Sloan.
My father's attorney.
May you like
And beneath the photograph was a message from security.
*He says he has permission to see the baby. He is refusing to leave.*
