Chapter 5: The Message Sent Three Years After His Funeral
Nathan sat down so abruptly that the sofa creaked.
"Daniel died with my father," he said.
"The police confirmed it. We held a joint memorial because his family couldn't bear to organize another service.""
Sarah kept the photograph open.
"Are you certain it's him?""
Nathan pointed at the screen.
"That scar came from a boating accident when we were kids. He and my father grew up together. I spent every summer with him at our lake house.""
He rubbed his face.
"If that's Daniel, someone has been lying to us for three years.""
I glanced at the black phone in his hand.
"Can we check the messages?""
Nathan hesitated.
"If it's company property, accessing it might be complicated.""
"Then don't access it secretly," I said.
"Preserve it and get someone qualified to examine it. But we cannot pretend we didn't see what we saw.""
He nodded.
For the first time that evening, I felt we were standing on the same side.
Sarah saved copies of the original photographs to a secure memory card. She also made a note of the timestamps and the circumstances in which each image had been taken.
Then Nathan called his father's former attorney, Michael Reeves.
It was nearly seven in the evening, but Michael answered after the second ring.
"Nathan? Is everything all right?""
"No. I need you to come to the hotel.""
"What's happened?""
Nathan looked at me.
"Someone may have used my father's identity after his death. And I have reason to believe my mother knows more than she's admitting.""
Michael went quiet.
"Don't confront anyone else until I arrive. Preserve every photograph, message, and device. I'll be there in twenty minutes.""
When Nathan ended the call, Lauren rose from the sofa.
"I should go.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because I have nothing else to say.""
"You haven't explained the five thousand dollars. You haven't explained the photograph. And you haven't told us who gave you that phone.""
Lauren gripped her handbag.
"I told you what I know.""
"Then why are you afraid to stay?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Because Isabella will destroy me if she finds out I've talked.""
Nathan stood.
"She doesn't get to threaten people anymore.""
Lauren gave a bitter laugh.
"You don't understand. Your mother has spent years controlling everything. You think she only threatens people? She knows things about everyone.""
"What does she know about you?"" I asked.
Lauren looked at me, then away.
Before she could answer, someone knocked.
Michael Reeves entered carrying a leather briefcase. He was a silver-haired man in his sixties, with a careful manner that made every movement seem deliberate.
He greeted Nathan, then studied my torn gown.
"I take it the reception hasn't gone according to plan.""
"That's an understatement," Nathan replied.
Within minutes, the photographs were spread across the table. Michael examined each one without speaking.
When he reached the image of Daniel Cross, his expression changed.
"Where did you get this?""
"Our photographer took it," Nathan said.
"Apparently, he was inside the bridal suite this morning.""
Michael removed his glasses.
"That is not possible.""
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"" Nathan demanded.
"We have a photograph.""
Michael placed the camera down carefully.
"Because Daniel Cross was declared dead. His estate was settled, his shares were transferred, and the company paid a substantial insurance claim.""
I felt cold.
"How substantial?""
Michael looked at Nathan.
"Fourteen million dollars.""
Nathan stared at him.
"My father and Daniel were business partners. Their deaths were treated as a single accident.""
"Yes.""
"Who received the money?""
Michael hesitated.
"The company was the beneficiary of the policy. The proceeds were used to settle outstanding debts and restructure several properties.""
"And who managed that process?""
Michael didn't answer immediately.
He didn't need to.
Nathan's face tightened.
"My mother.""
Michael nodded once.
"Your mother handled the insurance paperwork, but she did so under the supervision of the company's board. At the time, no one had reason to question the documentation.""
"Unless Daniel wasn't dead," I said.
Michael looked at me.
"That would mean the insurance claim could have been fraudulent. But we must not jump to conclusions based on one photograph.""
Nathan picked up the phone.
"Then let's establish what happened.""
Michael held out his hand.
"Don't turn it on. Don't delete anything. I'll arrange for a forensic specialist to examine it.""
Lauren suddenly spoke.
"There's something else.""
Everyone turned toward her.
She swallowed hard.
"Isabella told me that Daniel had been helping her.""
Nathan went completely still.
"Helping her with what?""
"She said he knew the company better than anyone. She said he could make certain documents disappear.""
Michael's face hardened.
"What documents?""
Lauren shook her head.
"I don't know. But she told me that if Nathan ever questioned her authority, there were papers that could prove he wasn't entitled to control the company.""
Nathan looked at Michael.
"Can that happen?""
"Not without a legal basis," Michael replied.
"Your father's estate documents are clear. You inherited the controlling shares.""
"Then why would she say that?""
Michael opened his briefcase and removed a folder.
"There is one matter I never discussed with you because your father specifically instructed me to wait until you were married.""
Nathan stared at him.
"What matter?""
Michael placed a sealed envelope on the table.
The handwriting on the front was unmistakably Richard Whitmore's.
For Nathan, to be opened on his wedding day.
Nathan's hands trembled as he broke the seal.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
He read the first paragraph silently.
Then he read it again.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He handed me the letter.
My eyes moved across the page.
Richard had written that he feared someone close to him was stealing money from the company. He had begun collecting evidence, but he was afraid that revealing it would put his family in danger.
The letter ended with a sentence that made my heart pound.
If I die before I can tell you the truth, do not trust the person who insists she knows what happened to me.
Nathan stared at the paper.
"My father believed someone might kill him.""
Michael's voice was quiet.
"He told me he suspected financial misconduct. But he never named the person responsible.""
I looked at the photographs again.
The man who had supposedly died with Richard had appeared in my bridal suite.
And the woman who had insisted the wedding dress incident was an accident had been managing the company ever since.
Nathan picked up his phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
Before he could dial, a new message appeared on the mysterious black phone.
No one had touched it.
The screen lit up with a notification from an unknown number.
*You should have left the past buried, Nathan. Ask your mother what happened at the lake.*
Nathan stared at the words.
May you like
Then he whispered something that made Michael close his eyes.
"The lake was where my father died.""
