Daniel's expression changed.
"Don't."
"He made poor decisions."
"Don't speak about him that way."
"He would have destroyed the company."
Daniel stood.
"My father built that company. You stole his work and then convinced me he left nothing behind."
Margaret looked up.
For the first time, she seemed unable to find an answer.
Daniel picked up the folder.
"I am giving you one opportunity to cooperate with the investigation."
Margaret's voice became cold.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then the truth will come out without your help."
He turned to leave.
But Margaret spoke again.
"Daniel."
He stopped.
She looked at him.
"You think Emily loves you?"
Daniel turned slowly.
"What?"
"She knew about the inheritance for three years. She knew how much money was involved. Perhaps you should ask yourself why she married you."
Daniel stared at his mother.
Then he answered quietly.
"Emily was the only person who protected my father's memory when everyone else tried to erase it."
He walked out.
Margaret remained seated.
Her hands were shaking.
CHAPTER 20 β THE FINAL PIECE
That night, Emily was sitting beside Noah's bed.
He had asked her whether his grandmother would ever visit again.
Emily gently brushed his hair.
"Maybe one day."
"Will she be nice?"
Emily paused.
"I hope so."
Noah thought for a moment.
"Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"Did Grandma stop loving Daddy?"
Emily felt her heart break.
She kissed his forehead.
"Sometimes people forget how to show love properly. But that is never your fault."
Noah nodded.
Then he closed his eyes.
Emily stayed beside him until he fell asleep.
When she returned downstairs, Daniel was waiting.
He looked exhausted.
"How did it go?" she asked.
"She admitted the shares belonged to me."
Emily sat beside him.
"That's important."
"But she still refuses to cooperate."
Daniel looked toward the fireplace.
"I don't know whether I can ever forgive her."
Emily took his hand.
"You don't have to decide that tonight."
He turned toward her.
"I need to ask you something."
"Anything."
"When you first received the documents from your father, did you see everything?"
Emily shook her head.
"No. I only opened the envelope that contained the trust agreement and the letter."
"Was there anything else?"
"I don't think so."
Daniel looked thoughtful.
"Richard said Thomas mentioned another copy."
Emily stood.
"Maybe I should check the original box again."
They went upstairs.
Emily opened the safe.
She removed the old envelope and examined it carefully.
Then she noticed something unusual.
The envelope was thicker than it should have been.
A small section of the inner lining had been stitched together.
She took a pair of scissors and carefully opened it.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
Daniel leaned closer.
Emily unfolded it.
It was a handwritten note from her father.
My beloved Emily,
If you have found this, then the time has come.
I need you to know that Robert was not the only person who left evidence.
I kept the original documents because I knew someone would eventually try to destroy them.
But there is one final recording.
It is hidden in the place where your mother and I celebrated our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Remember the photograph of the old lighthouse.
The key is beneath it.
Trust Richard.
And never allow fear to decide what is right.
Love,
Dad.
Emily began crying.
Daniel wrapped his arms around her.
"What place is he talking about?"
Emily looked at the note.
Then she remembered.
Her parents had celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary at a small coastal inn near Cape May.
There was an old lighthouse nearby.
Her father had loved that place.
"He hid something there."
Daniel looked at the photograph on the dresser.
It showed Thomas and Linda standing beside a lighthouse.
Emily picked it up.
Beneath the wooden frame, she found a small brass key.
Daniel looked at her.
"Are you ready?"
Emily nodded.
"Yes."
Outside, the rain began falling.
Neither of them noticed the headlights of a black vehicle stopping at the end of their driveway.
A man sat behind the steering wheel.
He watched the house for several minutes.
Then he picked up his phone.
"She found the key," he whispered.
A voice answered.
"Then we have very little time."
The man started the engine.
And disappeared into the darkness.
END OF PART 1