Chapter 4 - GRANDMA’S SECRET
Madison pulled away from Evelyn.
It was small.
Just one step.
But Evelyn noticed.
Her face crumpled.
“Honey—”
“You were there?”
Evelyn began crying harder.
“I didn’t hurt your father.”
“Then why didn’t you tell us?”
No answer.
Claire gestured toward the chair.
“Sit down.”
Evelyn sat.
Her shoulders shook.
“I went to talk to him.”
“About Ryan?” I asked.
She nodded.
Ryan stood.
“Mom, stop.”
Claire turned on him.
“Sit.”
He stared at her.
“Now.”
For once, he obeyed.
Evelyn twisted a tissue between her fingers.
“Daniel called me that afternoon. He was angry.”
“About the missing money?”
“Yes.”
“He said he was going to the police?”
“He said he was going to the board first.”
Carter Structural had three board members.
Daniel.
Ryan.
And their longtime CFO, Trevor Grant.
The moment I thought of Trevor, something bothered me.
He had been at the funeral earlier.
He had hugged me.
Told me Daniel had been like a brother to him.
Then he left before Madison found the key.
“When did you get to our house?” I asked.
“Around ten-thirty.”
“You came inside?”
“Daniel let me in.”
“What happened?”
“We argued.”
“About?”
“Ryan.”
Ryan’s voice cracked.
“Mom.”
She ignored him.
“I begged Daniel not to destroy his brother.”
My grief suddenly turned into something uglier.
“You were worried about Ryan?”
“I was worried about both my sons.”
“One of your sons is dead.”
She flinched.
“I know.”
“Then tell the truth.”
Evelyn looked down.
“Daniel said Ryan had taken more money than I knew.”
“How much?”
“Almost nine hundred thousand dollars.”
The room went silent.
Ryan stared at the floor.
Madison whispered, “That’s a lot.”
“Yes,” I said.
Far too much.
Claire asked, “What happened next?”
“Daniel told me to leave.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“What time?”
“Maybe eleven.”
“Was Daniel alive?”
Evelyn lifted her head.
“Yes.”
“You saw him standing?”
“Yes.”
“Uninjured?”
“Yes.”
“Anyone else in the house?”
She hesitated.
“No.”
Ryan made a sound.
Not a word.
A sound.
Evelyn shot him a look.
Claire caught it this time.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Ryan?”
He stood again.
“I’m done.”
Claire stepped in front of him.
“Police are already on their way.”
“You can’t stop me from leaving.”
“I can advise you not to.”
Ryan smiled coldly.
“Advice received.”
He walked toward the door.
Madison suddenly spoke.
“Grandma’s lying.”
Everyone turned.
Evelyn stared at her granddaughter.
“What?”
Madison’s face was pale, but her voice stayed steady.
“You said nobody else was there.”
“I didn’t see anyone.”
“Yes, you did.”
“How would you know?”
Madison looked at me.
“Because I woke up.”
My stomach dropped.
She continued.
“I came downstairs for water.”
Evelyn’s lips parted.
“And I saw Grandma talking to a man in Daddy’s office.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
Claire said quietly:
“What man?”
Madison pointed toward the funeral-home hallway.
“The man who was here earlier.”
“Who?”
May you like
She answered without hesitation.
“Mr. Trevor.”
