Chapter 5: The Driver's Secret
Daniel grabbed my arm.
"Don't look at him.""
Naturally, I looked.
Robert Hayes was in his late fifties, with thinning gray hair and a heavy build. I had seen him at family gatherings for years.
He had driven Margaret to our wedding.
He had carried Ellie on his shoulders at her third birthday party.
He had once brought Nathan home after a business trip when his car broke down.
He had always seemed harmless.
Now he was walking toward us with one hand inside his jacket.
"Mrs. Harper," he said.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
I stood.
"Robert.""
"Your mother-in-law wants you to come home.""
"Tell her I'm busy.""
"She says it's important.""
"Then she can call me.""
Robert glanced at Daniel.
"Dr. Price. I didn't expect to see you here.""
Daniel closed his laptop.
"Robert.""
The two men stared at each other.
Something passed between them.
Recognition.
Fear.
Maybe both.
Robert turned back to me.
"Mrs. Harper, your daughter is waiting.""
My stomach tightened.
"Where is Ellie?""
"With your mother-in-law.""
I looked at him.
"No, she's upstairs with a nurse.""
Robert's expression changed.
For half a second, he looked confused.
Then he smiled.
"Of course.""
I felt a cold wave move through me.
He had lied.
And he hadn't expected me to know.
"Why are you here, Robert?""
He leaned closer.
"Because this has gone far enough.""
Daniel stepped between us.
"Walk away.""
Robert gave a humorless laugh.
"You should have stayed out of the Harper family business.""
"Your employer nearly killed a man.""
Robert's eyes hardened.
"Be careful what you say.""
I pulled out my phone.
"I'm calling security.""
Robert stepped back.
"There's no need for that.""
He turned toward the exit.
But before he disappeared, he looked over his shoulder.
"Mrs. Harper, if I were you, I'd ask why Nathan transferred ownership of the company three days before his accident.""
Then he left.
I turned to Daniel.
"What did he mean?""
Daniel looked disturbed.
"I don't know.""
"Stop saying that.""
"Claire, I'm telling you the truth.""
"Then tell me about the ownership transfer.""
Daniel hesitated.
"Nathan was preparing to move his controlling shares into a trust.""
"Whose trust?""
"Yours and Ellie's.""
I felt my legs weaken.
"Why didn't he tell me?""
"Because he suspected someone was monitoring his communications.""
I remembered Nathan coming home late during the final weeks before the accident.
He had seemed distracted.
Sometimes he would stand in the kitchen, staring at his phone without answering when I spoke.
I had assumed he was stressed about work.
One evening, I had asked him whether everything was okay.
He had kissed my forehead and said, "I'm taking care of something, Claire. I promise you'll understand soon.""
I had been annoyed.
I had wanted him to trust me enough to tell me.
Now I would have given anything to hear those words again.
"Where is the trust document?"" I asked.
Daniel opened his folder.
"I don't have the original. But I know where Nathan kept a copy.""
"Where?""
"Your house.""
I shook my head.
"I searched his office after the funeral.""
"Not his office. His study at home. He once told me he had a locked compartment behind the built-in bookshelf.""
I stared at him.
"There is no locked compartment.""
"Look behind the bottom shelf. The wooden panel should slide sideways.""
I remembered the bookshelf.
Nathan had built it himself shortly after Ellie was born.
I had never noticed anything unusual.
"I need to go home.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not alone.""
"I'm not bringing you into my house.""
"Then take someone you trust.""
I almost laughed.
I couldn't think of anyone.
My mother was overseas visiting my sister. My closest friend, Rachel, lived two hours away.
And Margaret had spent the morning trying to control every move I made.
I called Rachel.
She answered immediately.
"Claire? Oh, my God. I've been trying to reach you. I heard something happened at the funeral.""
I closed my eyes.
"Rachel, I need your help.""
"Anything.""
"Can you come to my house?""
"Right now.""
"Bring your husband. And don't tell anyone where you're going.""
She went quiet.
"Claire, what's happening?""
I looked toward the emergency room.
"Someone tried to kill Nathan.""
There was a sharp intake of breath.
"I'm on my way.""
Two hours later, I returned home with Rachel and her husband, Mark.
The house looked exactly as I had left it.
Nathan's shoes were still beside the front door.
His coffee mug sat on the kitchen counter.
A half-finished crossword puzzle remained on the dining table.
I stood in the doorway, unable to move.
Rachel hugged me.
"Claire, I'm so sorry.""
I buried my face in her shoulder.
For a moment, I allowed myself to cry.
Then I wiped my cheeks.
"I need to find something.""
Mark followed me into Nathan's study.
"Tell me what we're looking for.""
"A hidden compartment.""
He examined the bookshelf.
"This thing looks solid.""
"Try the bottom panel.""
He crouched and ran his fingers along the wooden frame.
After several minutes, he found a narrow groove.
"Claire, come here.""
He pushed the panel.
A soft click sounded.
The bottom shelf moved sideways.
Behind it was a small metal safe.
My heart started racing.
"Do you know the combination?"" Rachel asked.
I stared at the keypad.
Then I remembered Nathan's favorite date.
The day we met.
I entered the numbers.
The safe opened.
Inside was a thick envelope, a flash drive, and a small photograph of Ellie sleeping in her crib.
I picked up the envelope first.
My name was written across it.
*For Claire. Only open this if I'm no longer able to protect you.*
My hands shook as I unfolded the letter.
My darling Claire,
If you're reading this, something has gone terribly wrong. I need you to understand that none of this is your fault.
My mother has been moving money from the company for years. But the money is only part of it.
She has been working with someone I trusted.
I stopped.
Someone he trusted.
I continued.
I discovered that the person helping her was connected to the private medical program at Northbridge. They have access to substances that can suppress a patient's vital signs to dangerously low levels.
My throat tightened.
I looked at Rachel.
She covered her mouth.
The letter continued.
I believe they intend to make me appear dead. If they succeed, they will gain control of the company and prevent me from revealing what I know.
I read the sentence again.
Then the next paragraph.
There is one person I have been afraid to name. Not because I don't know what he has done, but because I know what he is capable of.
The letter ended with a single line.
Claire, the person you should fear most is someone who has held our daughter.
I dropped the paper.
Rachel looked at me.
"What does that mean?""
I shook my head.
"I don't know.""
Then Mark picked up the flash drive.
"Maybe this explains it.""
He connected it to Nathan's old laptop.
A video file appeared.
The date was two days before the accident.
Nathan appeared on the screen, sitting in his study.
He looked tired.
His shirt was wrinkled, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.
"Claire," he began, "if you're watching this, then I couldn't stop them.""
My breath caught.
He leaned closer to the camera.
"I need you to do something for me. Don't trust Daniel. Don't trust my mother. And whatever happens, don't let Ellie go anywhere with...""
The video suddenly distorted.
The screen went black.
Mark tried restarting it.
Nothing.
"That's strange.""
Then the laptop chimed.
A notification appeared.
*NEW DEVICE CONNECTED TO HOME NETWORK.*
Rachel frowned.
"Did you connect something?""
Mark shook his head.
Then we heard footsteps upstairs.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Someone was inside the house.
Mark grabbed a heavy brass lamp from the desk.
"Stay here.""
I held Rachel's hand.
The footsteps stopped directly above us.
Then a floorboard creaked.
And a man's voice called from the staircase.
"Claire?""
I recognized it instantly.
May you like
It was the voice of someone who had no reason to be inside my home.
Robert Hayes.
