Chapter 9: The Woman Who Knew My Father
I met Susan in a small café away from downtown.
I arrived early.
Not because I was nervous.
Because I had learned something important.
People who planned in secret depended on others staying predictable.
I was done being predictable.
Susan arrived ten minutes later.
She was older than I expected.
Her hair was gray.
Her eyes were tired.
But when she saw me, she looked relieved.
“Claire.””
I stood.
“You know me?””
She smiled sadly.
“I knew you when you were a child.””
That sentence made me freeze.
“You did?””
She nodded.
“I worked for your father for fifteen years.””
We sat down.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Susan opened her bag.
She placed a small envelope on the table.
“This belonged to your father.””
I stared at it.
“Why do you have it?””
“Because he trusted me.””
I opened the envelope carefully.
Inside was a letter.
Another letter.
But this one was not from me.
It was from my father.
My hands shook as I read.
*If anything happens to me, I need Claire to know the truth.*
I stopped.
“Anything happens?””
Susan looked away.
“Your father knew something was wrong.””
“What?””
“He discovered money was missing.””
“From his company?””
“Yes.””
“Who took it?””
Susan took a deep breath.
“Eleanor’s father.””
I stared at her.
“Eleanor’s father?””
She nodded.
“Your father confronted him.””
“What happened?””
Susan’s eyes became sad.
“The company collapsed. Your father lost everything.””
I looked down at the letter.
“And my father believed Eleanor knew?””
“She knew more than she admitted.””
My heart pounded.
“But why would she come after me now?””
Susan looked directly at me.
“Because your father left something behind.””
“What?””
She reached into her bag again.
This time, she placed a small key on the table.
I stared at it.
“What is this?””
“A safety deposit box.””
My breath caught.
“Where?””
“Your father created it before everything happened.””
I picked up the key.
“What is inside?””
Susan looked nervous.
“Evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
She lowered her voice.
“Evidence that Eleanor’s family destroyed your father’s company.””
I looked at the key.
For years, I thought my father’s failure was just bad luck.
A business mistake.
A tragedy.
But now I realized someone had caused it.
Someone had taken from my family before.
And now they were trying to take from me.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?””
Susan looked down.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Eleanor?””
She nodded.
“She has spent years making sure nobody talks.””
My phone suddenly vibrated.
A message.
From Adrian.
I opened it.
*We need to talk. Please. Alone.*
I showed Susan.
Her expression changed.
“Don’t meet him.””
“Why?””
“Because Adrian knows.””
“Knows what?””
She looked at me.
“That I found the key.””
My blood ran cold.
“How would he know?””
Susan reached across the table.
“Claire.””
“Yes?””
“You need to understand something.””
Her voice trembled.
“Adrian was never just helping his mother.””
I stared at her.
“Then what was he doing?””
Susan looked toward the café window.
Then whispered:
“He was finishing what his family started twenty-five years ago.””
At that exact moment, my phone rang again.
This time, it was Rebecca.
I answered.
Her voice sounded urgent.
“Claire, where are you?””
“A café. Why?””
“Leave immediately.””
My heart raced.
“Why?””
A pause.
Then she said:
“Because someone just accessed your condo records.””
I stood.
“Who?””
May you like
Rebecca’s voice became quieter.
“Adrian.””
