Chapter 5 - THE DEAD MAN'S VOICE
The cassette player came from building maintenance.
Claire found it in a storage room beside old conference equipment.
Nobody joked about how ridiculous the thing looked in Evelyn's thirty-million-dollar executive suite.
Rachel inserted Daniel's tape.
Her fingers shook.
Noah sat beside her.
Evelyn stood near the window.
Claire remained by the door.
She had worked for Evelyn for nine years.
She had never seen her boss cry.
She had seen her fire a vice president while eating yogurt.
She had seen her negotiate through a broken wrist.
She had once watched Evelyn learn of her mother's death, excuse herself for eight minutes, then return to finish a board meeting.
But when Daniel's voice came through that little speaker, Evelyn dropped into the nearest chair.
“Rachel.”
The tape crackled.
“If you're playing this, something went wrong.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
Noah stared at the machine.
His father had been dead before he could speak.
Yet suddenly his voice filled the room.
Warm.
Young.
A little nervous.
“I don't know how much time I have.”
Daniel laughed softly.
“I sound insane.”
Evelyn covered her mouth.
She remembered that laugh.
“Dad knows I found the accounts.”
The room went still.
“Cross Holdings has been moving money through fake consulting companies for years.”
Claire pulled out her phone.
Evelyn shook her head.
“No recording.”
Claire lowered it.
Daniel continued.
“Victor Shaw is helping him.”
Evelyn's jaw tightened.
“There's something else.”
Static.
Then Daniel's voice dropped.
“If anything happens to me, do not trust the accident report.”
Rachel's breath caught.
Noah grabbed her hand.
Daniel said, “The brakes on my car were messed with last month.”
Evelyn stood suddenly.
“No.”
Rachel's eyes filled.
Daniel continued.
“I told Evie I needed to talk.”
Evelyn stopped.
“She didn't call back.”
Her face crumpled.
Rachel stared at her.
Daniel's voice softened.
“I don't blame her.”
Evelyn whispered, “Daniel.”
“She spent her whole life trying to survive Dad.”
Rachel looked away.
“She probably thinks being perfect will finally make him love her.”
The words hit Evelyn harder than anger would have.
Because they were true.
Painfully true.
“I hope she figures out she doesn't need him.”
The tape hissed.
“If Noah ever hears this—”
Noah leaned closer.
Daniel's voice shook now.
“Hey, buddy.”
Noah's eyes filled instantly.
“I don't know if I'll get to meet you.”
Rachel covered her face.
“But your mom says you kick like crazy.”
A tiny laugh.
“So I'm guessing you'll be trouble.”
Noah let out a strange, broken sound between a laugh and a sob.
Daniel continued.
“I want you to know I wanted you.”
Evelyn looked down.
“No matter what anybody tells you, you were never a mistake.”
Rachel cried silently.
“I loved your mom.”
Daniel paused.
“And I love you already.”
The tape clicked.
They thought it had ended.
Then Daniel's voice returned.
“One more thing.”
Everyone froze.
“I put copies of the financial records somewhere Dad would never think to look.”
Evelyn leaned forward.
“The place Evie and I used to hide when we were kids.”
The tape ended.
Rachel looked at Evelyn.
“What place?”
Evelyn was already standing.
“The lake house.”
Claire frowned.
“Your family sold that property fifteen years ago.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.”
“My father told everyone he sold it.”
She moved toward her computer.
“He transferred it into a shell company.”
Rachel stared.
“How do you know?”
“Because I found it after he died.”
“Who owns it now?”
Evelyn looked up.
“I do.”
Noah wiped his face.
“So we go there.”
Rachel shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes,” Evelyn said.
Rachel turned.
“My son isn't walking into some twelve-year-old conspiracy.”
Noah stood.
“Mom.”
“No.”
“Dad left it.”
Rachel looked at him.
“He left it because he was scared.”
“Exactly.”
Noah swallowed.
“So maybe we should find out what scared him.”
Nobody spoke.
Then Claire's phone buzzed.
She looked down.
Her expression changed.
“Evelyn.”
“What?”
“Someone just accessed the lake house security system.”
Evelyn stared.
“No one has the code.”
Claire turned the screen toward her.
“One person apparently does.”
A security image filled the display.
An older man stood inside the lake house.
May you like
Holding a gasoline can.
Victor Shaw.
