Chapter 12 - EVELYN’S SECOND LIFE
Alexander returned to the hospital before sunrise.
Evelyn was sitting up.
She saw his face and knew.
“Samuel told you.”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes.
Alexander shut the door.
“You weren’t just Dad’s wife.”
“No.”
“You worked with him.”
“Yes.”
“Doing what?”
“Accounting.”
“You were an accountant?”
“I was a forensic accountant.”
Alexander laughed once.
Of course.
His mother, who clipped coupons and kept paper receipts in labeled envelopes, had once tracked corporate fraud.
“Richard never knew?”
“At first, no.”
“You helped Dad investigate him.”
“Yes.”
“Why hide that?”
“Because after Daniel died, I needed Richard to believe I knew nothing.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“So you played stupid.”
“I played harmless.”
“For thirty years?”
“For as long as necessary.”
Alexander stared at her.
“You were investigating Richard this whole time.”
“Not the whole time.”
“When did you start again?”
“When you turned twenty-five.”
He looked stunned.
“Why then?”
“You joined the Reed board.”
“I thought you were proud.”
“I was terrified.”
“Why didn’t you stop me?”
“You wouldn’t have listened.”
“That doesn’t mean you lie.”
“No.”
He looked away.
“Did you know Marcus was Clara’s son?”
“Not until last year.”
“And Samuel?”
“I believed he was dead.”
“Victoria told you he wasn’t.”
“Yes.”
“What else did she tell you?”
Evelyn hesitated.
Alexander noticed.
“What?”
“She said Richard had changed.”
Alexander laughed bitterly.
“You believed her?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“She said Richard wasn’t the only one responsible for Daniel’s death.”
Alexander’s expression hardened.
“Who else?”
“She didn’t know.”
“Victoria always knows more than she says.”
“I agree.”
“Do you still have the recipe box?”
Evelyn looked at him sharply.
“Samuel told you about the key.”
“Yes.”
“It’s in my house.”
“We need it.”
Evelyn grabbed his wrist.
“Do not go alone.”
“I won’t.”
“And don’t trust Samuel.”
Alexander frowned.
“He saved us.”
“No.”
“He gave you the vault information.”
“Exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
Evelyn looked frightened.
“Samuel never wanted the vault opened.”
Alexander stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because Daniel discovered more than Richard’s theft.”
“What?”
Evelyn’s eyes moved toward the door.
She lowered her voice.
“There were accounts connected to politicians. Defense companies. Foreign money.”
Alexander’s face tightened.
“That sounds bigger than Richard.”
“It is.”
“How big?”
“I don’t know.”
Evelyn squeezed his hand.
“Daniel wanted to expose everything.”
“And Samuel?”
“Samuel begged him not to.”
Alexander’s phone buzzed.
Marcus.
He answered.
“What happened?”
Marcus’s voice was tight.
“Your mother’s house is burning.”
Alexander froze.
“What?”
“We got here two minutes ago. Someone beat us.”
“The recipe box?”
“No idea.”
Alexander looked at Evelyn.
She had heard him.
Her face went white.
Then Marcus said,
“Alexander, there’s something else.”
“What?”
“We found a body inside.”
Evelyn stopped breathing.
Alexander whispered,
“Who?”
May you like
Marcus answered,
“Victoria.”
