Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew My Secret
I couldn't speak.
The voice on the phone belonged to someone I remembered.
But not clearly.
Like a dream I had forgotten.
"Who are you?""
A pause.
Then:
"You really don't remember.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
Richard motioned for me to put it on speaker.
I did.
"Tell us who you are.""
The woman laughed softly.
"Richard. Still protecting everyone except yourself.""
Richard's face changed.
He knew her.
"Where is Emma?""
Another pause.
"Closer than you think.""
The call ended.
We immediately tried tracing the number.
Nothing.
Blocked.
Hidden.
Like every other secret surrounding the mansion.
I turned to Richard.
"You knew that voice.""
He didn't answer.
"Richard.""
Finally, he sighed.
"Her name is Laura.""
"Who is Laura?""
"My former assistant.""
Elizabeth looked surprised.
"Laura?""
Richard nodded.
"She worked for me before Emma disappeared.""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't you mention her?""
"Because she vanished the same week Emma did.""
Another missing person.
Another unanswered question.
The pattern was becoming clear.
People who knew too much disappeared.
That evening, Richard took me to an old guest house on the property.
"I need to show you something.""
Inside was a room filled with boxes.
Photos.
Documents.
Records.
"Emma's investigation room.""
I looked around.
She had been collecting evidence here.
Not secretly.
Carefully.
On the wall was a timeline.
Names connected by lines.
Victor.
Vanessa.
Elizabeth.
And one name I didn't recognize.
"Who is Thomas Reed?""
Richard became silent.
"Richard?""
He walked toward the board.
"Thomas was my business partner.""
"Was?""
"He died five years ago.""
I frowned.
"Why is Emma investigating him?""
Richard removed a photo from the wall.
"Because she believed his death was connected to the company.""
"How?""
He hesitated.
Then said:
"Thomas discovered financial crimes.""
The room became colder.
"Whose crimes?""
Richard looked at me.
"My family's.""
Before I could ask more, we heard footsteps.
Someone was outside.
Richard turned off the lights.
We stood silently.
The door handle moved.
Slowly.
Someone entered.
I could hear breathing.
Then a voice.
"Claire?""
I recognized it.
Not Laura.
Not Elizabeth.
Victor.
Richard turned the lights on.
Victor stood there.
But he wasn't angry.
He looked scared.
"I need to talk to you.""
Richard stepped forward.
"You broke into this room.""
"No.""
Victor looked at me.
"I came because I know what happened to Emma.""
Everything stopped.
I stared at him.
"Where is she?""
Victor swallowed.
"Alive.""
The word felt impossible.
"Then where?""
He looked toward the door.
"Before I tell you, you need to understand something.""
"What?""
Victor looked at Richard.
"Emma wasn't running from this family.""
A pause.
"She was hiding from someone trying to destroy it.""
Nobody moved.
Richard's expression hardened.
"You're lying.""
Victor shook his head.
"I wish I was.""
He reached into his pocket.
Then placed a small key on the table.
"Emma gave me this before she disappeared.""
I stared at the key.
"Why would she trust you?""
Victor looked ashamed.
"Because I was trying to help her.""
I almost laughed.
"After everything?""
His eyes lowered.
"I was a coward.""
The honesty surprised me.
Then he said:
"The person who ordered everything wasn't Elizabeth.""
Richard looked at him.
"Then who?""
Victor looked at me.
And whispered:
"Claire's father.""
The room went silent.
I felt like the floor disappeared.
"My father is dead.""
Victor nodded.
"I know.""
"Then explain.""
May you like
He looked at the key.
"Because he wasn't working alone.""
