Chapter 4 - The Woman Who Knew My Father Died
Rebecca closed the door behind her.
She was fifty-seven, composed, silver-blonde, and dressed as though it were noon rather than three-thirty in the morning.
Valeria stared at the phone.
"Where did you get that?"
"Harrison gave it to me."
"The night he died?"
Rebecca's expression changed.
"Yes."
Ethan stepped forward.
"Put it on the desk."
Rebecca obeyed.
"I didn't kill him."
Valeria almost laughed.
"I didn't accuse you."
"You were about to."
"Then explain."
Rebecca had known Harrison for thirty-two years.
Business partner.
Friend.
Sometimes enemy.
For six months, Harrison had believed someone was going to kill him.
He refused police protection because he suspected the conspiracy involved people close enough to manipulate an investigation.
On the night he died, he met Rebecca.
He gave her the phone.
Then he collapsed.
"Why didn't you call an ambulance?"
"I did."
"Why did you take his phone?"
"Because his final words were, 'Don't let them erase Lucas again.'"
Valeria looked at Camille.
Rebecca hadn't known Camille was there.
Her face changed.
"Camille."
"Rebecca."
Then Rebecca saw Noah.
She covered her mouth.
"Lucas's boy."
Valeria watched carefully.
The emotion looked genuine.
"Show me the phone."
Rebecca unlocked it.
Harrison's final recordings appeared.
In one, he described discovering fraudulent transfers.
In another, he named Owen Blake as someone he suspected of helping conceal them.
But Owen wasn't the mastermind.
Harrison believed Owen was being paid.
By whom?
He didn't know.
Then Valeria opened the final recording.
Harrison appeared at his desk.
"If you're watching this, Val, I'm sorry."
She swallowed.
"I spent my life thinking money could protect the people I loved. Lucas proved me wrong."
Camille began crying silently.
"I hid your brother because I was afraid scandal would destroy the company. When he discovered the theft, he begged me to expose it. I waited."
Harrison lowered his eyes.
"Three days later, Lucas died."
Valeria felt tears.
Her father had lived with that guilt.
"I will not make that mistake again."
The recording ended.
Valeria looked at Rebecca.
"Lake Geneva."
Rebecca stiffened.
"What?"
"Someone wants me there."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because Harrison owned a house there."
"Where Lucas died."
Rebecca shook her head.
"Lucas didn't die at the house."
"Then where?"
"On Harrison's boat."
Valeria's phone vibrated.
Another message.
NOON.
COME ALONE OR ETHAN'S ORIGINAL AGREEMENT GOES PUBLIC.
She showed him.
"What agreement?"
Ethan looked sick.
Valeria's stomach dropped.
"There is one."
"Yes."
"What did you sign?"
Ethan sat down.
Three months earlier, Harrison offered him five million dollars.
In exchange, Ethan would legally relinquish all potential claims against Valeria's inheritance.
"I refused the money."
"But you signed something."
"A waiver."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Harrison made me promise."
Valeria's anger returned.
"Everyone keeps protecting me by lying to me."
"I know."
"No. You don't."
She turned away.
Ethan didn't follow.
That was the first intelligent thing he'd done.
At noon, Valeria went to Lake Geneva.
Not alone.
Ethan followed at a distance.
Camille remained with Noah.
Rebecca contacted federal investigators she trusted.
The lake house looked abandoned.
Valeria entered.
A folder waited on the dining table.
ETHAN VANCE.
Inside was the agreement.
Ethan had signed away every claim.
But another page had been added.
It stated Ethan would receive ten million dollars upon Harrison's death if Valeria's marriage ended before distribution of the trust.
His signature appeared below it.
Valeria knew immediately.
Forged.
Same mistake.
The V.
Whoever had forged her signature had forged Ethan's.
A voice spoke behind her.
"You finally learned to look at the handwriting."
Valeria turned.
Owen Blake stood in the doorway.
No weapon visible.
"Did you forge it?"
"No."
"Did you file my divorce?"
"I delivered it."
"Who created it?"
Owen smiled sadly.
"You still think this is about money."
"Thirty-five million tends to create that impression."
"Harrison stole something more valuable than money."
"What?"
"A life."
Valeria thought of Lucas.
"You killed my brother."
"No."
"Who did?"
Owen's face tightened.
"I tried to save him."
Owen had been on Harrison's boat the night Lucas died.
So had Richard.
So had one other person.
Lucas confronted them about stolen company funds.
There was an argument.
Lucas fell overboard.
"Who pushed him?"
Owen looked toward the window.
"Ask Richard."
"Richard said nothing about being there."
"Exactly."
Valeria heard a floorboard upstairs.
Someone else was in the house.
Owen heard it too.
His face changed.
"You were followed."
"Ethan—"
"Not Ethan."
A shot shattered the window.
Owen threw Valeria down.
Glass exploded.
Ethan burst through the side door.
"Val!"
Another shot.
Owen fell.
Blood spread across his shoulder.
Ethan dragged Valeria behind the kitchen island.
Outside, an engine started.
A car disappeared through the trees.
Valeria crawled toward Owen.
"Who was on the boat?"
Owen struggled to breathe.
"Richard."
"Who else?"
"Your mother."
Valeria froze.
"My mother died when I was fourteen."
Owen looked at her.
"No."
The word changed everything.
Her mother, Evelyn Vale, had supposedly died from complications after surgery eighteen years earlier.
Valeria attended the funeral.
She had touched the coffin.
"You're lying."
"Harrison made you believe it."
"Why?"
"Because Evelyn discovered Lucas."
Valeria stared.
Her mother had learned Harrison had a son from a relationship before their marriage.
But that wasn't why she disappeared.
Evelyn had discovered the financial theft.
She threatened to expose Harrison's business partners.
Then she vanished.
"Harrison told everyone she died."
"Where is she?"
Owen coughed.
"I don't know."
Valeria's phone vibrated.
A message.
From the unknown woman.
NOW YOU KNOW WHY YOUR FATHER WAS AFRAID OF ME.
A photograph loaded.
Valeria dropped the phone.
The woman in the picture was older.
Gray touched her dark hair.
But Valeria knew those eyes.
Her mother's eyes.
Evelyn Vale.
Alive.
Another message arrived.
ASK RICHARD WHAT HE DID TO ME.
Valeria looked at Ethan.
Then the front door opened.
Richard stepped inside.
He stared at Owen bleeding on the floor.
Then at Valeria's phone.
His face went white.
"Where did you get that photograph?"
Valeria stood.
"You knew she was alive."
Richard backed toward the door.
"Valeria, listen carefully."
"Where is my mother?"
"I don't know."
"Liar."
"For once, I'm not."
Owen laughed weakly.
Richard glared at him.
"You should have stayed gone."
Valeria looked between them.
"Tell me what happened on the boat."
Richard closed his eyes.
"Lucas discovered who was stealing from Harrison."
"Who?"
Richard opened his mouth.
The house lights went out.
A woman's voice came through the speakers.
"Don't tell her, Richard."
Valeria stopped breathing.
She knew that voice.
She hadn't heard it since she was fourteen.
"Mom?"
The front door locked itself.
The speaker crackled.
May you like
Then Evelyn Vale whispered:
"Hello, sweetheart."
