Chapter 7: The Woman Behind the Photograph
The corporate archive occupied a restricted floor above the hotel's administrative offices.
By the time Daniel and Danielle reached it corporate archive occupied a restricted floor above the hotel's administrative offices.
By the time Daniel and Danielle reached it, two security officers had blocked the elevator and another was checking the corridor.
The door, two security officers had blocked the elevator and another was checking the corridor.
The door to the archive stood open by three inches.
A strip of pale light fell across to the archive stood open by three inches.
A strip of pale light fell across the carpet.
Leonard raised his hand, stopping Daniel before he could approach.
“Sir, please remain behind us the carpet.
Leonard raised his hand, stopping Daniel before he could approach.
“Sir, please remain behind us until the room has been cleared.””
Daniel nodded.
Danielle held Grace against her chest and waited until the room has been cleared.””
Daniel nodded.
Danielle held Grace against her chest and waited while two officers entered. They returned less than a minute later.
“The room is empty,” one while two officers entered. They returned less than a minute later.
“The room is empty,” one reported.
“Several file drawers are open. We haven't identified any missing items yet.””
Leonard looked inside.
“Don't reported.
“Several file drawers are open. We haven't identified any missing items yet.””
Leonard looked inside.
“Don't touch anything. Photograph the room as it is.””
Daniel turned to Margaret, who touch anything. Photograph the room as it is.””
Daniel turned to Margaret, who had arrived carrying a laptop and a thick folder.
“Peter's office?””
“Empty,” she had arrived carrying a laptop and a thick folder.
“Peter's office?””
“Empty,” she replied.
“His car is still in the parking garage, but his phone goes straight to voicemail.””
“Has anyone contacted replied.
“His car is still in the parking garage, but his phone goes straight to voicemail.””
“Has anyone contacted his family?””
“Not yet.””
“Do that through the appropriate channels. I don't want anyone making accusations before his family?””
“Not yet.””
“Do that through the appropriate channels. I don't want anyone making accusations before we know what's happened.””
Margaret opened her laptop.
“I've reviewed the document Danielle received. The transfer form we know what's happened.””
Margaret opened her laptop.
“I've reviewed the document Danielle received. The transfer form includes a reference number associated with a trust amendment from twelve years ago.””
Daniel frowned.
“That amendment includes a reference number associated with a trust amendment from twelve years ago.””
Daniel frowned.
“That amendment was canceled.””
“Exactly. But the number appears in the electronic register as active.””
Danielle glanced was canceled.””
“Exactly. But the number appears in the electronic register as active.””
Danielle glanced at the screen.
“So someone changed the records?””
“Possibly. We need the at the screen.
“So someone changed the records?””
“Possibly. We need the original paper register to confirm it.””
Margaret turned toward the archive.
“If Peter accessed original paper register to confirm it.””
Margaret turned toward the archive.
“If Peter accessed the room, he may have been looking for the original.””
A security officer emerged holding the room, he may have been looking for the original.””
A security officer emerged holding a small black notebook.
“We found this behind the lower filing cabinet.””
Leonard took it carefully a small black notebook.
“We found this behind the lower filing cabinet.””
Leonard took it carefully.
The cover bore Peter Lang's initials.
Inside were columns of dates, account references, and amounts..
The cover bore Peter Lang's initials.
Inside were columns of dates, account references, and amounts. Several entries had been underlined in red ink.
Margaret leaned closer.
“These Several entries had been underlined in red ink.
Margaret leaned closer.
“These are trust distribution records.””
Daniel studied the notebook.
“Can you identify the account are trust distribution records.””
Daniel studied the notebook.
“Can you identify the account numbers?””
“Some of them. The first three digits correspond to accounts held numbers?””
“Some of them. The first three digits correspond to accounts held by the original family company.””
She turned another page.
Then she stopped.
“Daniel, by the original family company.””
She turned another page.
Then she stopped.
“Daniel, look at this.””
A name appeared beside a transfer dated six months earlier.
Evelyn Shaw.
Danielle look at this.””
A name appeared beside a transfer dated six months earlier.
Evelyn Shaw.
Danielle's breath caught.
“What does it mean?””
Margaret examined the entry.
“There's a notation indicating's breath caught.
“What does it mean?””
Margaret examined the entry.
“There's a notation indicating that a payment was authorized by Evelyn as a former trustee. But the date is six months ago that a payment was authorized by Evelyn as a former trustee. But the date is six months ago.””
Daniel's voice hardened.
“Evelyn hasn't held that position for years.””
“Then.””
Daniel's voice hardened.
“Evelyn hasn't held that position for years.””
“Then either the record is false or someone used her credentials.””
Danielle remembered the photograph and the either the record is false or someone used her credentials.””
Danielle remembered the photograph and the messages on her phone.
“Could my aunt be involved?””
Daniel looked at her.
“I messages on her phone.
“Could my aunt be involved?””
Daniel looked at her.
“I don't know.””
It was the first time he had said those words without trying to soften them.
don't know.””
It was the first time he had said those words without trying to soften them.
Before anyone could continue, Margaret's phone rang.
She answered, listened,Before anyone could continue, Margaret's phone rang.
She answered, listened, and turned toward Daniel.
“It's Evelyn.””
Daniel took the phone.
“Where are you?””
“Somewhere safe,” Evelyn and turned toward Daniel.
“It's Evelyn.””
Daniel took the phone.
“Where are you?””
“Somewhere safe,” Evelyn replied.
“Are you alone?””
“No.””
“Is Danielle with you?””
“Yes.””
replied.
“Are you alone?””
“No.””
“Is Danielle with you?””
“Yes.””
“Then listen carefully. You need to bring her to the old family office. There“Then listen carefully.
You need to bring her to the old family office. There are documents there that were never transferred to the corporate archive.””
Daniel's expression tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me about them before?””
“Because I didn't know whether are documents there that were never transferred to the corporate archive.””
Daniel's expression tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me about them before?””
“Because I didn't know whether I could trust the people around you.””
“You were a trustee, Evelyn. If you suspected fraud I could trust the people around you.””
“You were a trustee, Evelyn. If you suspected fraud, you should have reported it.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“, you should have reported it.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Three months ago. I sent you a letter.””
Daniel looked toward Margaret.
She immediately opened her laptop.
“Nothing came throughThree months ago. I sent you a letter.””
Daniel looked toward Margaret.
She immediately opened her laptop.
“Nothing came through the corporate correspondence system,” Margaret said.
Evelyn heard her.
“Of course it didn't. the corporate correspondence system,” Margaret said.
Evelyn heard her.
“Of course it didn't. I I sent it to Daniel's private address.””
Daniel went still.
He rarely used that address, and only a handful of people knew it.
“I never received a letter.””
“Then someone intercepted it.””
Danielle looked at her father.
“Dad sent it to Daniel's private address.””
Daniel went still.
He rarely used that address, and only a handful of people knew it.
“I never received a letter.””
“Then someone intercepted it.””
Danielle looked at her father.
“Dad, we need to meet her.””
Daniel hesitated.
The woman on the other end of the phone had been absent from their lives for years. Danielle remembered, we need to meet her.””
Daniel hesitated.
The woman on the other end of the phone had been absent from their lives for years. Danielle remembered only fragments of her childhood: a woman with dark hair, a green coat, and a laugh that sounded surprisingly like her mother's.
Then Evelyn had disappeared only fragments of her childhood: a woman with dark hair, a green coat, and a laugh that sounded surprisingly like her mother's.
Then Evelyn had disappeared from family gatherings.
Her father had never explained why.
“Where is the old office?”” Danielle asked.
Daniel looked at Margaret.
She answered quietly.
“It's from family gatherings.
Her father had never explained why.
“Where is the old office?”” Danielle asked.
Daniel looked at Margaret.
She answered quietly.
“It's in the original inn your parents purchased. The property is still in the original inn your parents purchased. The property is still owned by the family company, but it hasn't operated as a hotel in more than a decade.””
Daniel ended the call after arranging a meeting.
Before owned by the family company, but it hasn't operated as a hotel in more than a decade.””
Daniel ended the call after arranging a meeting.
Before leaving, he instructed Leonard to preserve the notebook and secure the archive. Margaret leaving, he instructed Leonard to preserve the notebook and secure the archive. Margaret remained behind to coordinate the records review.
The old inn stood on a tree-lined road outside the city. remained behind to coordinate the records review.
The old inn stood on a tree-lined road outside the city. Its faded sign was partly obscured by ivy, and the gravel driveway crunched beneath the tires as Its faded sign was partly obscured by ivy, and the gravel driveway crunched beneath the tires as Daniel's SUV pulled to a stop.
Danielle recognized the building from her father's stories.
“This Daniel's SUV pulled to a stop.
Danielle recognized the building from her father's stories.
“This is where you and Mom started?””
“Yes,” Daniel said.
“Why did is where you and Mom started?””
“Yes,” Daniel said.
“Why did you let it sit empty?””
“Your mother loved this place. After she died, I couldn't bear you let it sit empty?””
“Your mother loved this place. After she died, I couldn't bear to turn it into something else.””
He opened the front door with an old brass key.
The air to turn it into something else.””
He opened the front door with an old brass key.
The air smelled of dust, cedar, and rain-soaked wood. Afternoon sunlight entered through tall windows, illuminating an smelled of dust, cedar, and rain-soaked wood. Afternoon sunlight entered through tall windows, illuminating an abandoned reception desk and a row of framed photographs.
Danielle walked toward one abandoned reception desk and a row of framed photographs.
Danielle walked toward one of them.
Her mother stood in front of the inn, younger than Danielle was now, holding a of them.
Her mother stood in front of the inn, younger than Danielle was now, holding a paintbrush and laughing at something outside the frame.
Beside her stood Evelyn Shaw.
The resemblance paintbrush and laughing at something outside the frame.
Beside her stood Evelyn Shaw.
The resemblance between the sisters was unmistakable.
Same dark eyes. Same high cheekbones. Same stubborn between the sisters was unmistakable.
Same dark eyes. Same high cheekbones. Same stubborn line to the mouth.
Danielle touched the glass.
“Why did they stop speaking line to the mouth.
Danielle touched the glass.
“Why did they stop speaking?””
Daniel stood beside her.
“Your mother believed Evelyn was trying to force a sale of the company. Evelyn believed your?””
Daniel stood beside her.
“Your mother believed Evelyn was trying to force a sale of the company. Evelyn believed your mother was concealing financial problems. They argued for months.””
“Who was right?””
“I mother was concealing financial problems. They argued for months.””
“Who was right?””
“I thought your mother was.””
“And now?””
Daniel looked at the photograph.
“Now I think they thought your mother was.””
“And now?””
Daniel looked at the photograph.
“Now I think they were both protecting something, and neither trusted the other enough to explain what it were both protecting something, and neither trusted the other enough to explain what it was.””
A floorboard creaked upstairs.
Daniel immediately turned.
“Evelyn?””
A woman's voice answered from the landing.
“I'm was.””
A floorboard creaked upstairs.
Daniel immediately turned.
“Evelyn?””
A woman's voice answered from the landing.
“I'm here.””
An older woman descended the staircase slowly, one here.””
An older woman descended the staircase slowly, one hand resting on the banister. Her silver-streaked hair was tied back, and she wore a dark green hand resting on the banister. Her silver-streaked hair was tied back, and she wore a dark green coat despite the warmth inside the building.
When she reached the bottom step, she looked at Danielle.
For coat despite the warmth inside the building.
When she reached the bottom step, she looked at Danielle.
For a long moment, neither woman spoke.
Then Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“You have your mother's face a long moment, neither woman spoke.
Then Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“You have your mother's face,” she whispered.
Danielle held Grace closer.
“And you have a lot of explaining,” she whispered.
Danielle held Grace closer.
“And you have a lot of explaining to do.””
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes. I do.””
She led them into the old office and unlocked to do.””
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes. I do.””
She led them into the old office and unlocked a wooden cabinet. Inside lay a bundle of letters, several sealed envelopes, and a leather-bound ledger a wooden cabinet. Inside lay a bundle of letters, several sealed envelopes, and a leather-bound ledger.
“I kept copies of everything your mother gave me,” Evelyn said.
“Her original trust.
“I kept copies of everything your mother gave me,” Evelyn said.
“Her original trust instructions, the early company agreements, and the letters she wrote when she discovered instructions, the early company agreements, and the letters she wrote when she discovered that money was disappearing from the business.””
Daniel stared at the ledger.
“You told me there was that money was disappearing from the business.””
Daniel stared at the ledger.
“You told me there was no evidence.””
“I told you I couldn't prove who was responsible.””
She placed a letter on the desk.
The handwriting was unmistakably no evidence.””
“I told you I couldn't prove who was responsible.””
She placed a letter on the desk.
The handwriting was unmistakably Danielle's mother's.
Evelyn looked directly at Daniel.
“Your wife discovered the Danielle's mother's.
Evelyn looked directly at Daniel.
“Your wife discovered the fraud before she died. She knew someone was moving money through accounts connected fraud before she died. She knew someone was moving money through accounts connected to the company.””
Danielle felt her chest tighten.
“Did Mom know who was doing to the company.””
Danielle felt her chest tighten.
“Did Mom know who was doing it?””
Evelyn slid the letter toward her.
“She suspected someone close to the family.””
Danielle opened the envelope with it?””
Evelyn slid the letter toward her.
“She suspected someone close to the family.””
Danielle opened the envelope with trembling fingers.
The first line read:
*If anything happens to me, make trembling fingers.
The first line read:
If anything happens to me, make sure Danielle receives the shares I set aside for her.
Below it was a second sentence, written in darker ink.
And never let Peter Lang become sure Danielle receives the shares I set aside for her.
Below it was a second sentence, written in darker ink.
And never let Peter Lang become the sole custodian of her inheritance.
Daniel's face went rigid.
Evelyn looked at him.
“Your the sole custodian of her inheritance.*
Daniel's face went rigid.
Evelyn looked at him.
“Your wife knew Peter was dangerous.””
Danielle turned the page.
At the bottom of the letter was a handwritten name.
Not Peter's.
Not Evelyn's.
It wife knew Peter was dangerous.””
Danielle turned the page.
At the bottom of the letter was a handwritten name.
Not Peter's.
Not Evelyn's.
It was the name of the person who had signed her mother's final trust amendment.
*Daniel Brooks.*
May you like
was the name of the person who had signed her mother's final trust amendment.
*Daniel Brooks.*
