Chapter 4: The Call
Julian stared at his phone as it vibrated against his palm.
*FBI — NEW YORK FIELD OFFICE.*
The name disappeared.
Then the phone rang again.
Nobody breathed.
Celeste whispered, “Julian, answer it.””
He looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because if you don't, they'll know you're hiding something.””
He gave a bitter laugh.
“They already know.””
The phone stopped ringing.
A second later, a message appeared.
Julian read it.
His face drained of color.
I watched him carefully.
“What did they say?””
He slipped the phone into his pocket.
“Nothing.””
I shook my head.
“Show me.””
“No.””
“Then I'll call them myself.””
I reached for my phone, then remembered it was somewhere beneath the Amazon River.
Martin spoke through the laptop.
“I've already contacted federal counsel.””
Julian turned sharply.
“You had no right.””
Martin's voice remained calm.
“You initiated a $200 million transfer from a protected corporate account immediately after falsely representing your mother's death. I believe I had several rights.””
Julian's jaw clenched.
Richard sat down heavily.
“Eleanor, I can explain the money.””
“You can explain it after the police arrive.””
Richard looked at me.
“I don't want you to go to prison.””
I stared at him.
“You should have thought about that before you watched me drown.””
He closed his eyes.
A vehicle engine suddenly sounded outside.
Everyone froze.
Julian moved toward the window.
Celeste grabbed his arm.
“Don't.””
He pulled away.
Headlights swept across the trees.
Then another vehicle arrived.
Martin looked toward his camera.
“I think they're here.””
Julian's breathing became shallow.
“That's impossible.””
“You've been tracked through the transfer,” Martin said.
“The bank's fraud system flagged the transaction immediately.””
Julian stared at me.
“You did this.””
I almost laughed.
“No, Julian.””
I stepped closer.
“You did.””
Three sharp knocks hit the lodge door.
Julian didn't move.
The knocking came again.
“Federal agents. Open the door.””
Celeste began crying.
Richard whispered, “Julian, don't make this worse.””
Julian looked at him.
“You're the one who signed the authorization.””
Richard flinched.
“I didn't know you were going to kill her.””
The room went silent.
Julian stared at his father.
“You knew about the river.””
“I thought you were going to scare her.””
“You watched me push her.””
“I couldn't stop you.””
“You didn't try.””
Richard's face collapsed.
The door opened.
Two federal agents entered, followed by a local officer.
The first agent held up his credentials.
“Julian Thorne?””
Julian raised his hands.
“Yes.””
“You're being detained pending investigation into financial fraud, attempted murder, and conspiracy.””
Celeste screamed.
“Attempted murder?””
The agent looked at her.
“We'll be speaking with everyone.””
Julian looked at me as the agent reached for his wrists.
“You think this is over?””
I said nothing.
He leaned closer.
“You still don't know why I needed the company.””
I felt a chill.
“What does that mean?””
The agent pulled him toward the door.
Julian looked over his shoulder.
“Ask your husband.””
Then he was gone.
The lodge fell silent.
I turned toward Richard.
He was staring at the floor.
“What didn't Julian tell me?””
Richard didn't answer.
I walked toward him.
“Richard.””
He slowly looked up.
There was terror in his eyes.
“There's something you need to see.””
He reached inside his jacket.
For a moment, I thought he was pulling out a weapon.
Instead, he produced a small envelope.
My name was written across the front.
*ELEANOR.*
My handwriting.
I recognized it instantly.
I took the envelope.
“When did I write this?””
Richard's lips trembled.
“You didn't.””
I looked at him.
“Then who did?””
He swallowed.
“Your father.””
I stared at the envelope.
May you like
My father had been dead for twenty-six years.
And the last thing he had written to me was something I had never been supposed to find.
