Chapter 7: The Locked Room
I didn't open the door.
Evelyn knocked once.
Then twice.
“Emily.””
I stayed silent.
My phone was still connected to Detective Brooks.
“Are you alone?”” he whispered.
“No.””
“Can you leave through another exit?””
I looked toward the window.
Second floor.
Below it was the backyard.
Possible.
Dangerous.
I glanced at the nursery.
Lily was sleeping.
“I have my daughter.””
“Then don't take risks.””
Another knock.
“Emily,” Evelyn called, “I'm not here to hurt you.””
I almost laughed.
“Then why are you here?””
“To tell you the truth.””
“You've had sixteen years.””
Silence.
Then:
“Your mother asked me for help.””
My breath caught.
“Help with what?””
“Your father.””
I moved closer to the door.
“What did my father do?””
“He was going to expose her.””
“For what?””
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“She was planning to disappear.””
“So?””
“She was taking money.””
“Her money?””
“Money from the company.””
I looked at the phone.
Detective Brooks whispered, “Keep her talking.””
I unlocked the voice recorder.
“Why would my mother need eight million dollars?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
“Evelyn?””
“She was being threatened.””
“By whom?””
“People your father owed.””
“What people?””
“I don't know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“No.””
Her voice became quieter.
“I expect you to understand that your father wasn't innocent.””
I opened the bedroom door slightly.
Evelyn stood in the hallway.
She was holding an old photograph.
I recognized it immediately.
My mother.
Young.
Beautiful.
Standing beside my father.
And beside them was Evelyn.
But that wasn't what frightened me.
There was a fourth person in the photograph.
A man I'd never seen before.
I opened the door.
“Who is he?””
Evelyn looked at the photograph.
“My brother.””
I stared at her.
“You had a brother?””
“Yes.””
“What happened to him?””
“He disappeared.””
“When?””
“Two days after your mother died.””
My skin prickled.
“Why?””
Evelyn looked directly into my eyes.
“Because he was the last person who saw her alive.””
Detective Brooks said through my phone, “Emily, ask her where.””
I repeated it.
“Where did he see her?””
Evelyn's face changed.
“At the lake house.””
“My father had a lake house?””
“No.””
“Then whose?””
“Your mother's.””
I felt dizzy.
“My mother owned a lake house?””
“Yes.””
“Where is it?””
Evelyn smiled sadly.
“You've been there.””
I frowned.
“No.””
“You were twelve.””
“I don't remember.””
“You were unconscious.””
The words stopped me.
“What?””
Evelyn looked away.
“After your mother died, you were found in the house.””
My pulse raced.
“I was told I was at the hospital.””
“You were.””
“Why?””
“You fell down the stairs.””
I stared at her.
“That isn't what my father told me.””
“He told you what he needed you to believe.””
I couldn't speak.
Then something clicked in my memory.
A red carpet.
A broken glass.
My mother's perfume.
Someone shouting.
Then darkness.
I pressed my hand against my forehead.
A fragment.
Just a fragment.
I remembered waking up.
My father sitting beside me.
His hands shaking.
He told me:
*“Mommy had an accident.””*
I looked at Evelyn.
“Was my mother alive when I saw her?””
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.””
My heart stopped.
“How long?””
“Not long.””
“Did she speak?””
Evelyn nodded.
“What did she say?””
“She asked where you were.””
I felt something break inside me.
“She was looking for me?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
“Tell me.””
“She gave me something.””
“What?””
“A key.””
I stared.
“What key?””
Evelyn reached into her coat pocket.
She pulled out a small brass key.
My heart hammered.
“Where does it go?””
“Your father's study.””
“My father never had a study in the lake house.””
“He did.””
I looked at the key.
Then at the countdown.
*03:49.*
Detective Brooks whispered, “Emily, don't let her leave.””
I nodded.
“What's inside the study?””
“Records.””
“What records?””
“Your mother's.””
“Why didn't you destroy them?””
Evelyn's eyes met mine.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Of your father.””
My voice shook.
“Did my father kill my mother?””
Evelyn looked down.
“No.””
I breathed again.
Then she added:
“But he helped cover up what happened.””
I couldn't process it.
“Who killed her?””
Evelyn said nothing.
“Who?””
Her lips trembled.
“Someone who thought she had stolen something.””
“What?””
“An account.””
“Which account?””
Evelyn stepped closer.
“The one your father never told you about.””
The laptop chimed.
*01:00.*
I looked at the screen.
Evelyn did too.
“You're going to release it.””
“Yes.””
“You'll destroy everyone.””
“Maybe they should have thought about that before they destroyed my family.””
She shook her head.
“You still don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
“Your mother didn't leave you a fortune.””
“What?””
“She left you a warning.””
The countdown hit:
*00:10.*
Evelyn grabbed my arm.
“Emily, listen to me.””
“Let go.””
“Your father wasn't protecting you from the Carters.””
I froze.
“He was protecting you from your mother.””
The countdown reached zero.
My laptop screen flashed.
*DISCLOSURE RELEASED.*
At that exact moment, every document in the trust was transmitted to regulators, banks, investigators, and attorneys.
The truth was no longer mine to control.
Evelyn stared at the screen.
Then her phone began ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Then Daniel shouted from downstairs.
“Mom!””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“What did you do?”” I asked.
She whispered:
“Nothing.””
“Then why are you afraid?””
She looked at me.
“Because now they know the account exists.””
“What account?””
She reached into her pocket.
There was a second key.
And on it was engraved a number.
*0816.*
My birthday.
I stared at it.
“What's behind that key?””
Evelyn whispered:
May you like
“Your mother's final inheritance.””
Then every light in the house went out.
