Chapter 10 - ELIZABETH’S SECRET
Elizabeth dropped the glass in her hand.
It shattered.
Andrew turned toward her.
“Your daughter?”
Elizabeth couldn’t speak.
Sarah stared at her.
“You have a daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Elizabeth’s hands shook.
“At college.”
“What college?”
“North Ridge.”
Sarah grabbed her phone.
“Name?”
“Mia Dawson.”
Andrew looked stunned.
“You never told us.”
Elizabeth swallowed.
“I’m your housekeeper. My personal life wasn’t important.”
“It’s important now.”
Sarah moved aside, speaking quickly to dispatch.
Andrew lowered his voice.
“Why would David take Mia?”
Elizabeth looked at him.
“I don’t know.”
But Andrew saw it.
She did.
“Elizabeth.”
She closed her eyes.
“When Caroline died, I found something.”
“What?”
“A flash drive.”
Andrew went still.
“Where?”
“In the laundry.”
She wiped tears from her face.
“It was inside Caroline’s coat pocket.”
“And you kept it?”
“I was scared.”
“Why didn’t you give it to police?”
“Because Lucinda found me holding it.”
Andrew stared.
Elizabeth continued.
“She told me Caroline had been stealing from you. She said the drive contained evidence that could destroy your company and leave Alex with nothing.”
“And you believed her?”
“For about five minutes.”
“What happened?”
“Then David came in.”
Andrew’s face hardened.
“He offered me money.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred thousand.”
“To give him the drive?”
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
Elizabeth looked toward Alex.
“I hid it.”
Sarah returned.
“Mia’s phone is off. Campus security says her roommate hasn’t seen her since this afternoon.”
Elizabeth covered her mouth.
Sarah said, “Where’s the drive?”
Elizabeth didn’t answer.
“Elizabeth.”
She looked at Alex’s rabbit.
Andrew followed her gaze.
“No.”
Elizabeth walked toward the toy.
Alex hugged it tighter.
She crouched.
“Sweetheart, remember when I fixed Mr. Hops after his arm ripped?”
Alex nodded.
“I put something inside him.”
Andrew stared.
“You hid a flash drive inside my son’s rabbit?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“It was the only thing Lucinda never touched.”
Alex looked at the severed ribbon.
“Until tonight.”
Elizabeth carefully opened a seam beneath the rabbit’s arm.
Inside was a tiny black flash drive.
Andrew laughed once in disbelief.
“This whole time?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“Caroline died trying to protect whatever is on this.”
Sarah held out an evidence bag.
“We need it.”
Alex didn’t let go.
“What if they take Mom again?”
Andrew sat beside him.
“Nobody can take Mom from us.”
Alex stared at the drive.
Then handed it to Sarah.
Within twenty minutes, a digital crimes officer opened the files.
Most were financial records.
Fake companies.
Stolen funds.
Payments to Marcus Vale.
But one folder was labeled simply:
A.M.
Sarah opened it.
Photos appeared.
David meeting with businessmen.
Judges.
A state senator.
Then an audio file.
Sarah clicked PLAY.
David’s voice filled the room.
“If Andrew dies before the trust is amended, Lucinda inherits control through Caroline’s family clause.”
Andrew stared at the screen.
Elizabeth whispered, “He wasn’t just planning to steal from you.”
Sarah looked at Andrew.
“No.”
“He was planning to kill you too.”
Then Elizabeth’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Mia?”
May you like
David’s voice came through.
“Bring me the drive, or your daughter goes into the river.”
