Chapter 4: My Mother’s Warning
Margaret’s last sentence stayed in the air long after the call ended.
Richard had stopped fighting Daniel.
He stood perfectly still, his face drained of color.
I looked from one man to the other.
“What did my mother mean?””
Neither answered.
I pressed the phone against my ear.
“Margaret, please. Tell me everything.””
“I can,” she said.
“But not over the phone.””
“Why?””
“Because there are documents you need to see in person. And because I don't know who else has access to your accounts.””
My eyes moved toward Richard.
He noticed.
“Emma,” he said quietly, “you need to be careful who you trust.””
I almost laughed.
“You stole over thirty-eight thousand dollars from me.””
“I told you I borrowed it.””
“You lied about paying my tuition.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From Daniel?””
“From everyone.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Richard, leave.””
Richard ignored him.
“Emma, your mother wasn't well when she wrote those documents.””
“My mother died in a car accident.””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“Yes.””
“Then why are you talking like you know something else?””
He looked at me.
For a moment, I saw fear in his eyes.
Real fear.
Then his expression hardened again.
“You're going to regret believing him.””
I lifted my phone.
“I'm meeting Margaret.””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
I stared at him.
“No?””
“You shouldn't.””
“Why?””
“Because Margaret wasn't your mother's friend.””
“She was her attorney.””
“She was paid to represent her.””
“That sounds like an attorney.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Enough.””
Richard pointed at him.
“You've been waiting years for this.””
Daniel's voice remained calm.
“No. I've been waiting years for her to ask.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Ask what?””
He didn't answer.
That scared me more than anything else.
I walked outside.
The late-afternoon sun was bright enough to make me squint. Families were taking pictures beneath the university banners. Parents hugged graduates. Children chased each other across the grass.
My graduation day.
The day I'd imagined for years.
I had thought the hardest part would be saying goodbye to college.
Instead, I was standing there wondering whether my mother had spent her final years running from the man who had just stolen my money.
Daniel followed me.
I didn't turn around.
“Did she hate him?””
“No.””
“That's not an answer.””
Daniel stopped beside me.
“She was afraid of him.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why?””
“She found out he was gambling.””
My eyes opened.
“What?””
“He'd been losing money for years. Your mother discovered he'd taken loans against things they owned.””
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“Because you were a teenager.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“She made me promise.””
I turned around.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it's true.””
Daniel reached into his coat and pulled out a small key.
I frowned.
“What is that?””
“Your mother's storage box.””
My breath caught.
“She left it with you?””
“She gave me the key two weeks before she died.””
“What's inside?””
“I don't know.””
“You never opened it?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because she told me it wasn't mine.””
I stared at the key.
“Where is the box?””
Daniel looked toward the parking lot.
“Bank safe-deposit box.””
My phone buzzed.
A message from Margaret.
*Tomorrow. 9:00 AM. My office. Come alone.*
I showed Daniel.
He nodded.
“I'll stay away.””
“You don't have to.””
He looked surprised.
I swallowed.
“I mean... I don't want to do this alone.””
His eyes softened.
“I'll be nearby.””
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed again.
This time, it was a bank alert.
*Security Notice: New device added to your account.*
I looked at Daniel.
Then at the message.
The device was listed as being registered *three minutes ago*.
I hadn't added anything.
My stomach dropped.
I opened the security page.
A new authorized device appeared under the name:
*Richard Carter — iPhone*
I stared at the screen.
“He's still inside my account.””
Daniel's face went pale.
“Call the bank.””
I did.
The representative verified my identity and immediately locked the account.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Ma'am, there was another login attempt.””
“When?””
“About thirty seconds ago.””
“From where?””
She hesitated.
“Your account shows the attempt came from the same device.””
I looked toward the graduation hall.
May you like
Richard was gone.
And so was the envelope containing my mother's documents.
