Chapter 12: The Truth in the Safe
By the time I reached my father's house, my hands were shaking.
Maya drove.
Grandma sat beside me, holding my mother's letter in her lap.
Nobody spoke during the journey.
When we arrived, Brianna was waiting near the garage.
She looked terrified.
Her makeup was smudged, and she kept glancing toward the kitchen windows.
"Where's Dad?"" I asked.
"At the office. Vanessa went with him.""
"Did you take the documents?""
She nodded.
"Some of them.""
She pulled a folded sheet from her jacket.
It was a photocopy of an old accident report.
My mother's name appeared at the top.
*Victim: Elizabeth Carter.*
I stared at it.
"Where's the original?""
"In Dad's safe.""
Grandma stepped forward.
"Brianna, why are you helping us?""
She lowered her head.
"Because I didn't know how bad it was.""
I looked at her.
"You knew about the dress.""
She nodded.
"I did.""
"And you wore it anyway.""
"I know.""
"Why should I trust you now?""
She wiped her eyes.
"Because I found out Dad planned to take the scholarship money even if I won. He said he would use it to pay off a business loan. I was supposed to get a fashion internship, not the money.""
I felt sick.
"He was using you, too.""
She nodded.
"Mom told me you were selfish. Dad told me you didn't deserve the scholarship. I believed them because it was easier than admitting I was taking something that belonged to you.""
For the first time, Brianna looked genuinely ashamed.
"I can't undo what I did. But I can show you what I found.""
She led us inside.
My father's office was locked.
Brianna pulled a key from her pocket.
"Mom gave me this last year. She said it was for emergencies.""
She unlocked the door.
The office smelled of leather and expensive cologne.
A large wooden desk stood in front of the window.
Behind it was a framed photograph of my father shaking hands with a business executive.
Brianna moved toward a bookshelf.
She pulled out three books.
Behind them was a small digital safe.
"Do you know the code?"" I asked.
She nodded.
"His old company registration number.""
She entered it.
The safe clicked open.
Inside were several folders, a small jewelry box, and a black leather notebook.
Brianna removed the folder labeled ELIZABETH CARTER.
Grandma took it with trembling hands.
The first pages contained the accident report.
Then came a statement from a witness.
I read it slowly.
A truck driver had reported seeing two vehicles stopped near the highway shortly before the crash.
One was my mother's car.
The other was a black SUV.
The driver had heard shouting.
Then he had seen the SUV leave.
The report contained a note stating that the second vehicle had never been identified.
I looked at Brianna.
"Did Dad own a black SUV?""
She nodded.
"He had one back then. He sold it a few years later.""
Grandma covered her mouth.
I turned another page.
There was a photocopy of an insurance statement.
My father's name appeared as the person who had reported the accident.
But the date was wrong.
He had reported the crash almost two hours after the emergency services received the first call.
"Why would he wait?"" Maya asked.
Nobody answered.
I opened the black leather notebook.
Inside were handwritten entries.
Most concerned business meetings and financial transactions.
But one page had been marked with a red line.
*October 14 — Elizabeth refuses to sign the transfer. Daniel's collection must be secured before she speaks to the studio. Meeting scheduled for 8:30 p.m.*
I read it again.
October 14.
The date my mother died.
My knees weakened.
Grandma took the notebook.
"Oh, Elizabeth...""
Brianna was crying openly now.
"There's more.""
She pointed to a folded document inside the jewelry box.
I opened it.
It was a settlement agreement.
The document stated that my mother had agreed to transfer her rights to the Midnight Monarch and Daniel's remaining designs to Richard Carter.
At the bottom was a signature.
Elizabeth Carter.
But beside it was a handwritten note.
Agreement not executed. Signature disputed.
I looked up.
"Someone tried to make Mom sign this.""
Grandma nodded slowly.
"She refused.""
Then I noticed a small envelope tucked behind the agreement.
It contained a photograph.
My mother standing beside a black SUV.
And beside her was a woman I didn't recognize.
On the back, someone had written:
*The last person Elizabeth trusted before the accident.*
Maya turned the photograph over.
"Who is that?""
Brianna shook her head.
"I've never seen her.""
Grandma stared at the woman.
Then her face changed.
"I know her.""
I stepped closer.
"Who?""
Grandma swallowed.
"Her name is Caroline Monroe.""
I froze.
"Monroe?""
"Yes. She worked with Daniel and your mother before the accident.""
Maya looked at the photograph again.
"Is she related to Elise?""
Grandma nodded.
"She's Elise's older sister.""
A sound came from the hallway.
The office door slammed shut.
We all turned.
My father stood there.
Vanessa was behind him.
His eyes went straight to the open safe.
Then to the notebook in my hands.
"What have you done?""
Brianna stepped forward.
"I found the documents, Dad.""
He looked at her in disbelief.
"You went through my safe?""
"Why did you lie to us?""
His face hardened.
"Give me the notebook.""
I held it closer.
"No.""
He walked toward me.
"That isn't yours.""
"It's about my mother.""
"You're too young to understand.""
"I'm eighteen. And I'm tired of hearing that every time you don't want to answer a question.""
He reached for the notebook.
Maya stepped between us.
"Don't touch her.""
Vanessa grabbed Brianna's arm.
"Get away from your father.""
Brianna pulled free.
"No! I want to know what happened to Nia's mother!""
My father froze.
For a moment, his face looked almost unfamiliar.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Elizabeth's accident was exactly what the police said it was.""
I held up the photograph.
"Then why was Caroline Monroe with her?""
His eyes widened.
Just slightly.
But I saw it.
And so did Grandma.
My father looked at the photograph, then at me.
Finally, he whispered:
"Because Caroline was supposed to be driving that night.""
The room fell silent.
I felt my heart pounding.
"What?""
He closed his eyes.
"Your mother wasn't supposed to be in that car.""
Grandma gripped the edge of the desk.
"Richard, what are you saying?""
He opened his eyes.
And for the first time in my life, my father looked genuinely afraid.
"Caroline knows what happened that night. And if she's still alive, she'll destroy everything.""
Then he looked directly at me.
"Which is why you must never let Elise Monroe find her sister.""
*But before I could ask another question, someone knocked three times on the office door.*
May you like
A woman's voice came from the other side.
"Richard? It's Caroline.""
