Chapter 14 - THE PERSON I NEVER SUSPECTED
The microchip contained one video.
My father appeared on screen.
But this time, he was not alone.
Beside him stood Evelyn.
My attorney.
I stared.
"What?"
Evelyn looked directly into the camera.
"If Claire is watching this, then I failed."
My heart stopped.
The video continued.
"Marcus is dangerous."
My father spoke.
"But he is not the person who betrayed us."
I looked at Evelyn.
She remained silent.
My father's voice continued.
"The betrayal came from someone I trusted completely."
The screen changed.
A list appeared.
My father's closest advisers.
One name was highlighted.
Evelyn Hart.
I couldn't breathe.
"No."
Evelyn closed her eyes.
"Claire."
"You lied to me."
"I was trying to protect you."
"You knew."
"Yes."
"How long?"
"Since before your father died."
I stepped away from her.
"Did you know about the money?"
"Yes."
"The shell companies?"
"Yes."
"Evan?"
"Yes."
"Marcus?"
"Yes."
I felt betrayed all over again.
"Then why?"
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
"Because your father asked me to stay close to you."
"Why?"
"Because he knew they would come for you."
"Who?"
"Everyone."
She handed me a file.
Inside was the final piece.
My father had secretly transferred control of the forty-million-dollar trust to an independent foundation.
Not Evelyn.
Not Griffin.
Not me.
A board of three trustees.
One was a retired judge.
One was a federal investigator.
The third was—
I stopped.
My name.
I looked up.
"Why am I listed?"
"Because your father believed you would eventually be strong enough."
I laughed bitterly.
"I wasn't."
"You are now."
Then the door opened.
Griffin walked in.
He looked at Evelyn.
"You told her?"
She nodded.
He turned toward me.
"There's one more thing."
I was exhausted.
"What now?"
He pulled out his father's watch.
"The microchip wasn't the only thing hidden inside."
He opened another compartment.
A small key.
Stamped with the number 17.
The hospital room.
Evelyn's face changed.
"That's impossible."
"What?"
She stared at the key.
"Your father had a second room."
"What room?"
She whispered:
"17B."
The police searched the hospital records.
17B had been sealed for years.
Inside was a storage cabinet.
And inside the cabinet was a box.
The box contained one item.
A wedding photograph.
Mine.
Griffin's.
Taken twelve years earlier.
On the back was a note from my father.
I was wrong about him.
My hands shook.
Wrong about Griffin.
I looked at my husband.
He looked terrified.
The note continued.
Griffin is not the danger. The danger is the person who introduced him to Claire.
I looked at Evelyn.
She whispered:
"Who introduced you two?"
I remembered.
A family friend.
A man who had attended our wedding.
A man who had known my father for decades.
A man who had always treated me like a daughter.
I whispered his name.
"Marcus."
Evelyn shook her head.
"No."
Then Griffin said:
"Not Marcus."
He pointed to the photograph.
Someone stood behind us.
Smiling.
May you like
My father's oldest friend.
Thomas Reed.
