Chapter 6 - The Secret My Father Buried
The next video arrived forty-six minutes later.
Stephanie appeared alone.
Her wrists were tied.
There was blood near her hairline.
She looked directly at the camera.
“Emily, I’m sorry.”
My chest broke at the sound of her voice.
“I should have told you years ago.”
She swallowed.
“Your father asked me not to.”
The video shook slightly.
Someone was holding the phone.
Peter.
Stephanie continued.
“Charles didn’t just hide financial records.”
I leaned closer.
“He hid money.”
Reed exchanged a look with another agent.
“How much?” I whispered.
Stephanie answered from the screen.
“Sixteen million dollars.”
The room became silent.
“He moved it out of Peter’s control before he died. He created a trust.”
My stomach turned.
“For who?”
Stephanie’s eyes filled.
“For you.”
I sat back.
“No.”
Calvin stared at me.
Stephanie continued.
“You were never supposed to know until Peter was convicted. Your father believed the money originally belonged to investors Peter defrauded. He wanted you to return it.”
My mind spun.
Sixteen million.
A trust in my name.
A criminal fortune I had never known existed.
The video cut.
Reed immediately began making calls.
“If the trust exists, Peter needs access.”
“How?”
“You.”
That was obvious now.
Peter didn’t simply want evidence destroyed.
He needed me.
Another message arrived.
A location.
This time with instructions.
COME ALONE OR STEPHANIE DIES.
Calvin said, “Absolutely not.”
Reed said nothing.
I looked at him.
“You’re considering it.”
“I’m considering how to use the demand.”
“You can track me.”
“We can attempt it.”
Calvin stood.
“No.”
I turned toward him.
“She went through this because of my father.”
“She made choices.”
“So did you.”
That stopped him.
I continued.
“You lied to me because you thought you were protecting me.”
“Yes.”
“Stephanie did the same thing.”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“I hate both of you for it.”
He looked at me.
“I know.”
“But I’m not letting Peter kill her.”
The meeting place was an unfinished luxury home outside the city.
One of Peter’s developments.
Federal agents positioned themselves around the property.
I wore a wire.
My hands shook despite everything Reed taught me.
Calvin held my shoulders before I left the surveillance van.
“You do not have to prove anything.”
“I’m not proving anything.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
“Because twelve years of friendship should not end in the trunk of a car.”
He leaned his forehead against mine.
“I love you.”
I closed my eyes.
“I know.”
It was not forgiveness.
But it was true.
I entered the house alone.
No lights except temporary construction lamps.
Peter stood in the unfinished living room.
Stephanie sat tied to a chair.
Alive.
I nearly cried.
Peter smiled.
“Emily.”
“You got me here.”
“Yes.”
“Let her go.”
“When we finish.”
“Finish what?”
He held out documents.
Trust transfer papers.
“You have authority over the Holloway Restoration Trust.”
“I didn’t know it existed.”
“You do now.”
“You want sixteen million dollars.”
“I want what your father stole.”
“My father stole from you?”
Peter’s smile vanished.
“He became sentimental.”
“You mean guilty.”
“Same thing, eventually.”
Stephanie shook her head.
“Don’t sign.”
Peter slapped the back of her chair.
“Quiet.”
My anger became stronger than fear.
“Do that again and I leave.”
Peter studied me.
Then laughed softly.
“You are Charles’s daughter.”
“I wish I understood whether that was a compliment.”
“It wasn’t.”
He placed the papers on an unfinished countertop.
“Sign.”
I stepped closer.
The wire beneath my blouse felt like fire.
“What happens after?”
“You leave.”
“And Stephanie?”
“She leaves.”
“You?”
“I disappear.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
At least he was honest.
I picked up the pen.
Peter watched.
I needed him talking.
“Did you kill my father?”
Stephanie’s eyes widened.
Peter smiled slowly.
“No.”
“Did you cause his death?”
“He had a weak heart.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“He received upsetting information.”
My pulse hammered.
“What information?”
“That you had discovered your husband was cheating.”
I stared.
Calvin had not even been my husband then.
“What?”
Peter laughed.
“Not Calvin.”
I understood.
My first fiancé.
Ryan.
He cheated on me months before I met Calvin.
My father had been devastated because he knew my history with betrayal.
“You told him?”
“I told him his daughter had inherited his taste in dishonest men.”
I wanted to hit him.
Instead I asked:
“What does that have to do with his heart attack?”
“He became angry.”
“You threatened me?”
“I suggested your life could become unpleasant.”
Stephanie whispered, “Emily.”
Peter looked at her.
That was enough distraction.
A shadow moved outside.
Agent.
I needed another minute.
I placed the pen down.
“What if I refuse?”
Peter reached inside his jacket.
Stephanie screamed.
I stepped back.
He pulled out a gun.
The room exploded into motion.
“Federal agents!”
Windows shattered.
Peter grabbed Stephanie.
Gun at her neck.
Agents flooded the lower level.
I dropped behind the counter.
Peter dragged Stephanie toward the stairs.
Calvin’s voice came from outside.
Then gunfire.
One shot.
Silence.
I lifted my head.
Peter was gone.
Stephanie lay on the floor.
Alive.
Agents rushed her.
“Where is he?”
She pointed upstairs.
Reed ran toward the staircase.
I crawled to Stephanie.
She grabbed my hand.
“I’m sorry.”
“Later.”
“I never slept with Calvin.”
“I know.”
“I sent that message because Peter made me.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“He knew you’d see it.”
“Why?”
“To make you distrust Calvin before he could tell you the truth.”
Footsteps crashed upstairs.
Then a window broke.
Reed shouted.
Peter had escaped through the roof access onto the neighboring construction site.
Agents pursued.
Stephanie squeezed my hand.
“There’s something else.”
“Not now.”
“You need to know.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Calvin didn’t tell you everything about the hotel.”
I stared at her.
“What did he leave out?”
Before she answered, someone shouted from outside.
May you like
“Man down!”
Then I heard Reed yell Calvin’s name.
