Inside were several envelopes, a leather notebook, a small silver pendant, and a bundle of documents tied together with a faded blue ribbon.
Elena reached for the pendant.
It was shaped like a little star.
She remembered it.
Her father had given it to her on her seventh birthday. She had worn it every day until the morning she was taken away from her mother.
"I thought I lost this," she whispered.
Sophie touched the pendant gently.
"He kept it."
"He kept everything."
Elena opened the first envelope.
It contained photographs.
There were pictures of Margaret holding Elena as a baby, Daniel carrying Sophie in his arms, and the family sitting together beneath a tree in their old garden.
On the back of one photograph, Daniel had written:
No matter how difficult life becomes, these are the people I will always fight for.
Elena placed the photographs carefully on the table.
Then Richard picked up the leather notebook.
"This may be more important than the photographs."
He opened it.
The first pages contained ordinary notes about family expenses and business meetings. But farther inside, the handwriting became hurried and uneven.
There were dates, account numbers, company names, and descriptions of conversations.
Richard read silently for several minutes.
Then he stopped.
"What is it?" Elena asked.
Richard turned the notebook toward her.
A sentence had been underlined twice.
Arthur has begun moving the trust funds through Bennett Holdings. He says the transfers are temporary, but he refuses to provide complete statements.
Below it was another entry.
Margaret does not know the full extent of what he has done. He has told her that I am responsible for the missing money.
Elena felt her stomach tighten.
"Arthur blamed Dad?"
Richard nodded.
"According to this entry, yes."
Sophie covered her mouth.
"He told me Dad had been irresponsible. He said he had to save the family after Dad died."
Elena turned another page.
There was a list of payments to three companies. Beside each one, Daniel had written a question mark.
Richard examined the names.
"These are the companies we need to investigate. One appears to have been dissolved years ago. Another is still active."
"Who owns it?" Elena asked.
Richard studied the registration details.
"The director is listed as a business associate of Arthur's. We will need the official records to establish the connection."
Then he reached the final pages.
There, Daniel had written something that made Richard sit back in his chair.
If Arthur continues, I fear he will eventually use the children against their own mother. He knows Margaret would do anything to protect them. He may use that love to make her surrender every right she has.
Elena felt a cold silence settle over the room.
It was not simply that Arthur had lied.
He had understood exactly what Margaret would sacrifice for her children.
And he had used that love as a weapon.
"There's another envelope," Sophie said.
At the bottom of the box was a sealed envelope addressed to Margaret.
Richard handed it to Elena.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
For Margaret, if I cannot return.
Elena held it for a long moment.
"Should we open it?" Sophie asked.
Elena shook her head.
"No. It's for Mom."
They returned to the hospital that afternoon.
Margaret was sitting upright in bed, looking through the photographs they had found. When Elena placed the envelope in front of her, she immediately recognized Daniel's handwriting.
Her fingers began to tremble.
"Where did you find this?"
"In Dad's safe-deposit box."
Margaret looked at the envelope as though it contained a voice from another lifetime.
"I thought there were no more letters."
"Would you like us to leave you alone?"
Margaret shook her head.
"Stay."
She carefully opened the envelope.
Inside was a single handwritten page.
She began reading silently, but after a few lines her lips started to move.
Then she read aloud.
My Margaret,
If you are holding this letter, then I am no longer there to stand beside you. I wish I could tell you that everything will be fine, but I would be lying.
I know how much you love our children. I know you would give up your own happiness to keep them safe. That is why I am afraid.
Arthur has discovered that your greatest strength is also the easiest thing to use against you. He knows you will accept blame if he tells you that it will protect Elena and Sophie.