Chapter 4: The Man Who Paid to Keep Me Silent
For several seconds, I couldn't breathe.
Someone had been paying to keep me in prison?
I looked at Opal, waiting for her to explain.
Instead, she moved toward the study door and turned the lock.
"Don't make a sound," she whispered.
Outside, Trevor knocked again.
"Rebecca, sweetheart. I know you're frightened, but we need to talk.""
Sweetheart.
He used to call me that when he brought me coffee in bed.
Now hearing the word made my stomach turn.
I stepped toward the door.
"How did you find me?""
Trevor laughed softly.
"Your sister has friends. That's all.""
Monica interrupted him.
"Rebecca, stop hiding behind that old woman. You have no idea what kind of trouble you're bringing into her life.""
I looked at Opal.
She shook her head.
"Don't answer.""
But I couldn't stay silent.
"You stole my company, Monica!""
There was a pause.
Then Monica's voice became cold.
"You were convicted, Rebecca. Remember? The court decided what happened.""
"You know I didn't do it!""
"Lower your voice. You're embarrassing yourself.""
I clenched my fists.
Trevor spoke again.
"Listen. We know Opal has some old documents. Give them to us, and we'll leave you alone.""
Opal's expression changed.
She walked to her desk and pressed a small button beneath it.
A quiet mechanical click sounded somewhere in the hallway.
"What did you just do?"" I whispered.
"Activated the security system.""
She opened a drawer and removed an old cordless telephone.
"Now listen to me. There is a reason I never gave those documents to the police.""
"What reason?""
"Someone inside the investigation was protecting Richard Voss.""
Before I could ask another question, the door shook violently.
"Open this door!"" Trevor shouted.
Opal raised one finger to her lips.
Then she spoke loudly enough for the people outside to hear.
"Mr. Mallory, you're trespassing. Leave my property.""
Trevor laughed.
"You don't understand what you're involved in, Mrs. Hargrove.""
"I understand perfectly.""
"You've been holding stolen property.""
"And you've been frightening an elderly woman. I suggest you leave before I contact the authorities.""
Monica spoke quietly.
"Trevor, she's bluffing.""
I heard footsteps moving away.
Then something struck the front window.
Glass shattered.
I screamed.
Opal pulled me behind the desk.
A brick landed on the carpet, followed by a folded piece of paper.
My hands shook as I picked it up.
There were only seven words written on it.
STOP DIGGING, OR YOUR RELEASE WILL BE REVERSED.
I stared at the message.
"They can't send me back to prison just because I know something.""
Opal looked at me.
"People who can manipulate evidence can make other things happen.""
She picked up her phone and called someone.
"Daniel? It's Opal. I need you at the house immediately.
Yes, tonight. Bring the files you collected from Walter's attorney.""
She listened.
Then her face tightened.
"What do you mean he contacted you?""
She ended the call.
"What's happening?"" I asked.
"Daniel Price is my attorney. He has been investigating the missing records for years.""
"Is he coming?""
"He's on his way.""
She walked to the window and carefully looked through a narrow gap in the curtains.
The black SUV was gone.
So was the gray sedan.
I sat on the sofa, staring at the broken glass.
"Why would Trevor risk coming here personally?""
Opal pulled a blanket from the chair.
"Because he's desperate.""
"For what?""
She sat beside me.
"Three weeks ago, someone contacted my attorney. They claimed Richard Voss was alive and wanted to negotiate.""
My head snapped toward her.
"Alive?""
"Yes.""
"But you said he disappeared.""
"He did. That doesn't mean he died.""
I remembered the photograph.
Trevor standing beside Richard.
The transactions.
The note in Monica's handwriting.
"What does Richard want?""
Opal looked toward the locked cabinet.
"Whatever Walter left behind.""
At that moment, headlights swept across the front windows.
A car stopped outside.
I stood immediately.
Opal caught my hand.
"That's Daniel.""
A tall man in his early sixties entered the house carrying a leather briefcase.
His eyes went straight to the broken window.
"What happened?""
"Trevor Mallory," Opal replied.
Daniel put down his briefcase.
Then he looked at me.
"Rebecca Hale?""
"Yes.""
He studied my face with an expression I couldn't understand.
Finally, he opened his briefcase and removed a sealed document.
"Mrs. Hargrove, I think it's time she knows what Walter discovered.""
He placed the document on the table.
At the top was a bank transfer authorization.
At the bottom was a signature.
My signature.
But the date was six months after I had already been incarcerated.
Daniel looked at me.
"Rebecca, according to this document, you continued stealing money from your company while you were in prison.""
My blood ran cold.
"That's impossible.""
He nodded.
"Exactly. And whoever signed this was using your identity to move money.""
Then he turned the page.
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A name appeared in the recipient information.
Monica Hale.
