Chapter 2 - The Envelope
Claire forgot about the water dripping from her hair.
“My father?”
Daniel nodded.
“That’s impossible.”
Her father, Thomas Bennett, had died eleven months earlier.
A sudden heart attack.
At least that was what Claire had been told.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“This is ridiculous.”
Daniel finally looked at her.
“Then you shouldn’t be worried.”
Vanessa said nothing.
Claire picked up the envelope.
Her name was written across the front.
Not printed.
Written.
She recognized the handwriting instantly.
CLAIRE.
Her knees nearly gave out.
“That’s his handwriting.”
Daniel pulled out a chair.
“You should sit.”
Claire did.
Her fingers shook as she opened the envelope.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
Claire,
If Daniel Mercer gives you this letter, then I was right to be afraid.
Do not trust the people who tell you I left nothing behind.
Do not sign anything.
And most importantly, do not believe that my death ended the investigation.
Daniel knows where the rest is.
I’m sorry I waited so long to tell you.
Dad.
Claire read it twice.
Then a third time.
Vanessa reached for the letter.
Claire pulled it away.
“What investigation?”
Vanessa looked toward Daniel.
“You need to leave.”
Daniel almost smiled.
“I own the building.”
Vanessa blinked.
Daniel continued.
“Not the restaurant.”
He glanced toward the ceiling.
“The building.”
Several diners exchanged looks.
Vanessa’s confidence collapsed another inch.
Claire stood.
“What was my father investigating?”
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
“Not here.”
Vanessa suddenly grabbed her purse.
“I’m done with this.”
Daniel didn’t stop her.
But as Vanessa passed him, he spoke quietly.
“Tell your father the meeting tomorrow is canceled.”
Vanessa stopped.
“What meeting?”
“The one where he expected Mercer Capital to approve the forty-million-dollar restructuring package.”
Vanessa’s face drained of color.
Daniel continued.
“We’re reviewing the Bennett files first.”
Claire stared at him.
Vanessa turned slowly.
“You wouldn’t.”
Daniel’s expression became cold.
“I already did.”
Vanessa left without another word.
The restaurant remained silent until the door closed behind her.
Then conversations slowly returned.
Claire barely noticed.
She looked at Daniel.
“Who are you really?”
“A man who owed your father a debt.”
“What kind of debt?”
Daniel studied her.
“The kind you repay even after someone dies.”
He placed another envelope on the table.
This one was thicker.
Claire didn’t touch it.
“What’s inside?”
“Copies of documents your father gave me six days before his death.”
Claire’s heartbeat quickened.
“Documents about what?”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Vanessa’s family.”
Claire felt cold.
For almost four years, she had worked for Cole Development.
Vanessa’s father, Richard Cole, had treated Claire like family.
Until Thomas died.
Then everything changed.
Claire was removed from projects.
Her access disappeared.
Rumors started.
Money was supposedly missing.
Vanessa accused her of leaking confidential information.
Within three months, Claire lost her job.
Then her professional reputation.
Now Daniel was telling her that her father had been investigating them.
“Why didn’t you come to me earlier?”
“I tried.”
Claire frowned.
“No, you didn’t.”
“I called.”
“My number changed.”
“I emailed.”
“My company account was shut down.”
“I went to your apartment.”
Claire stared at him.
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
Claire’s stomach tightened.
Three weeks ago, someone had broken into her apartment.
Nothing valuable had been taken.
But every drawer in her father’s old desk had been opened.
Daniel saw the recognition in her face.
“What happened?”
Claire slowly sat back down.
“Someone was there before you.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“What did they take?”
“I thought nothing.”
“Thought?”
Claire remembered something.
Her father’s old brass key.
She had kept it inside a small wooden box.
After the break-in, the box had been empty.
Claire looked at Daniel.
“A key.”
Daniel became completely still.
“What kind?”
“Small.”
“Brass?”
Claire nodded.
Daniel exhaled.
“That’s what they were looking for.”
“What does it open?”
Daniel looked toward the restaurant entrance.
Then back at Claire.
“A safe-deposit box your father never put in his own name.”
Claire felt her pulse pounding.
“Whose name did he use?”
May you like
Daniel answered quietly.
“Yours.”
