Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Evelyn moved quickly.
She grabbed Marcus's sleeve and pulled him away from the living room window.
"Don't open that door.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why?""
"Because those aren't police officers.""
Another knock shook the door.
"Mrs. Price, open up!""
I looked at Marcus.
He immediately took out his phone.
"What's happening?""
Evelyn rushed toward the kitchen.
"There are people who have been looking for me since I left Vivian's employment.""
"Who?""
"People who work for her.""
Marcus called 911.
Outside, the knocking became louder.
"Mrs. Price! We know you're inside!""
Evelyn opened a cabinet and removed a small metal key.
She handed it to Marcus.
"There's a storage unit on Roswell Road. Unit 214. Ethan left something there.""
Marcus stared at the key.
"What is it?""
"Documents. Recordings. Original contracts.""
"Why didn't you give them to the police?""
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I don't know which officers Vivian has paid.""
A heavy thud shook the front door.
I instinctively placed my hand over my stomach.
Marcus moved in front of me.
"Stay behind me.""
Evelyn pointed toward the hallway.
"There's a back entrance. Go now.""
"We're not leaving you here.""
"Marcus, please!""
The door shook again.
A crack appeared near the lock.
Evelyn grabbed my hand.
"Naomi, listen to me. Your father didn't leave you only a company. He left you something much more important.""
"What?""
"Proof.""
"Proof of what?""
"That the Westbridge project was never supposed to belong to Richard Caldwell.""
Before she could explain, the front door burst open.
Two men entered.
They wore dark jackets and carried themselves like security professionals.
The first man looked directly at Evelyn.
"Mrs. Price. We need you to come with us.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Who are you?""
The man ignored him.
"Family business. Stay out of it.""
Marcus pulled out his phone.
"Police are on their way.""
The second man looked at my stomach.
Then at the documents on the table.
"Get the folder.""
Marcus shoved the folder into his briefcase.
"Don't touch my wife.""
The first man stepped closer.
"Mr. Caldwell, your mother would prefer that you didn't make this difficult.""
Marcus froze.
"My mother sent you?""
The man didn't answer.
Evelyn suddenly threw a glass vase against the floor.
The crash startled everyone.
"RUN!"" she shouted.
Marcus grabbed my hand.
We hurried through the kitchen and out the back door.
My slippers slipped on the wet patio stones.
I stumbled.
"Naomi!""
Marcus caught me before I fell.
"Are you hurt?""
"My ankle.""
He looked back toward the house.
Then he lifted me carefully.
We reached the car just as a second vehicle pulled into the driveway.
Marcus placed me in the passenger seat and locked the doors.
He started the engine.
A man ran toward us.
Marcus reversed sharply, turned onto the street, and accelerated away.
I looked back.
Evelyn was standing in her doorway.
She raised one hand.
Then she disappeared inside.
Twenty minutes later, we reached a quiet parking lot.
Marcus called the police again and reported the attempted break-in.
Then he turned toward me.
"Are you okay?""
I nodded.
"My ankle hurts, but the baby is moving.""
He exhaled.
"Thank God.""
I held his hand.
"What do we do now?""
He looked at the key Evelyn had given him.
"We go to that storage unit.""
"Shouldn't we wait for the police?""
"Which police, Naomi? The ones who may be working for my mother?""
I couldn't argue.
We drove to Roswell Road.
The storage facility was surrounded by a tall metal fence and security cameras.
Marcus entered the code Evelyn had given him.
Unit 214 was near the back.
The lock opened with a small click.
Inside were several cardboard boxes, a metal filing cabinet, and a large black suitcase.
Marcus switched on the light.
Dust floated through the narrow beam.
He opened the first box.
It contained architectural drawings.
The second held old company contracts.
The third contained photographs of Richard Caldwell meeting several unidentified men.
I found a folder labeled:
*WESTBRIDGE — ORIGINAL OWNERSHIP RECORDS.*
I opened it.
Inside were signed partnership agreements, financial statements, and an original ownership certificate.
My father's name appeared on every major document.
Then I found something unexpected.
A letter addressed to me.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Dad's.
My fingers trembled as I unfolded it.
My darling Naomi,
If you are reading this, it means I was unable to finish what I started.
There are people who will tell you that I failed. They will say I was irresponsible, dishonest, and incapable of managing my business.
Do not believe them.
I discovered that someone was stealing from our company. I tried to stop it, but I was betrayed by the people I trusted most.
I left you the truth.
And I left you a choice.
You do not have to fight for money. You do not have to inherit my battles.
But if someone tries to take what belongs to you, remember this: the truth does not become a lie simply because powerful people deny it.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
For the first time in years, I felt close to my father.
Marcus stood beside me.
"Naomi?""
I wiped my tears.
"There's more.""
At the bottom of the box was a small digital recorder.
Marcus pressed the play button.
Static filled the storage unit.
Then a familiar voice emerged.
Richard Caldwell.
"Your father should have accepted the settlement.""
Another voice answered.
My father.
"I won't sign a false statement.""
Richard laughed.
"Then you'll lose everything.""
"I'd rather lose everything than help you steal from people.""
There was a pause.
Then Richard spoke again.
"You're making a mistake, Ellis.""
The recording ended.
Marcus stared at the device.
"That's my father.""
I nodded.
Then another voice appeared on the recording.
A younger voice.
Ethan.
"Grandfather, you need to stop.""
Marcus's face changed.
"Ethan...""
The recording continued.
Richard slammed something against a desk.
"Stay out of this!""
Ethan replied.
"You used Marcus's name. You used mine. You transferred money through companies that don't even exist.""
Richard lowered his voice.
"Do you understand what happens if this becomes public?""
Ethan answered immediately.
"People find out the truth.""
Then came a sentence that changed everything.
Richard said:
"Your mother already knows what happened to the original documents. And if you keep interfering, she'll make sure you disappear just like Ellis.""
The recording stopped.
I looked at Marcus.
"Your mother knew.""
He looked physically ill.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Evelyn Price sitting in the back of a black SUV.
Beneath it was a message.
*You have something that belongs to us. Return it before someone else gets hurt.*
I looked at Marcus.
He immediately called the police.
But before the call connected, another message arrived.
*And Naomi, congratulations on your pregnancy. It would be unfortunate if your child inherited your father's problems.*
My blood ran cold.
Marcus took the phone.
"That's it.""
He looked at me.
"We're going to end this.""
But I wasn't looking at the message anymore.
I was staring at the recording device.
Because there was one voice I hadn't heard.
Vivian's.
And I had a terrible feeling that she knew much more than the recording revealed.
That night, Marcus contacted an independent attorney named Catherine Miller.
She agreed to meet us at her office the following morning.
Before we left the storage facility, Marcus made copies of every document and stored them securely.
He also arranged for a trusted security company to watch our townhouse.
For the first time since our marriage, he seemed genuinely afraid of his own family.
As we drove home, I rested my head against the seat.
"Marcus?""
"Yes, baby?""
"Do you think your mother knows where Ethan is?""
He stared at the road.
"I don't know.""
"Do you think he's alive?""
Marcus didn't answer.
Then his phone rang.
The screen showed an international number.
He almost ignored it.
But something made him answer.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Marcus?""
My husband sat upright.
"Who is this?""
There was a long pause.
Then the voice whispered:
"It's me, brother.""
Marcus nearly drove off the road.
"Ethan?""
The voice became emotional.
"I don't have much time.""
Marcus gripped the steering wheel.
"Where are you?""
"Listen carefully. Don't trust Mom.""
Marcus looked at me.
"Where have you been for twelve years?""
Ethan exhaled.
"Hiding.""
"Why?""
"Because I know what happened to Dad.""
Marcus's voice cracked.
"He's dead, Ethan.""
"I know.""
May you like
Then Ethan said something that made the entire world seem to stop.
"Marcus, Dad didn't die naturally. And Vivian was the last person to see him alive.""
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