Chapter 5: What Daniel Did Before Our Daughter Was Born
The photograph lay on my coffee table.
Daniel stood beside my father's grave, wearing the charcoal suit I had bought him for our third wedding anniversary.
I remembered that day.
He had told me he was attending a business conference in Chicago.
He had even sent me a photograph of the hotel lobby.
Apparently, he had been visiting my father's grave instead.
"Where did you get this?"" I asked Vanessa.
She stared at Daniel.
"From his office.""
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Give me that.""
"No.""
"Vanessa.""
"You said the ledger was hidden there. You said we needed it before Mara found out about the trust.""
I felt the room tilt slightly.
Eleanor took the photograph from my hand.
"Did you go to the cemetery?""
Daniel said nothing.
"Mr. Whitmore," Eleanor pressed, "did you remove anything from the grave?""
His eyes narrowed.
"You're making assumptions.""
"Then answer the question.""
He looked at the officers.
"I'm done answering questions.""
Martin moved toward him.
"Daniel, we need to leave.""
The officer stepped between them.
"Nobody is leaving until we finish documenting the documents and statements.""
Martin's face reddened.
"This is harassment.""
Eleanor remained calm.
"Then you should have no problem cooperating.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Why are you telling me this now?""
She lowered her eyes.
"Because Daniel told me he was going to marry me.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"He said the divorce was already arranged. He told me you would sign because you didn't want a public fight.""
I glanced at the papers on the table.
"Apparently, he was right about the signature.""
Vanessa nodded.
"He said once the divorce was final, he would transfer his shares and we'd start over.""
"With what money?""
She looked at the floor.
"The money from the consulting company.""
I let out a slow breath.
"So you knew about the transfers.""
"I knew about some of them.""
"How much?""
She didn't answer.
"Vanessa.""
"Almost a million dollars.""
Daniel turned toward her.
"Stop talking!""
She flinched.
Eleanor immediately intervened.
"Mr. Whitmore, do not intimidate a potential witness.""
Vanessa began to cry again.
I felt no satisfaction.
There was something almost unbearable about watching two people who had helped betray me turn on each other.
But I couldn't afford to feel sorry for either of them.
"Did Daniel tell you what was in the second ledger?"" I asked.
She shook her head.
"He said it contained proof that your father had transferred ownership of the trust to him.""
"And you believed that?""
"He showed me a document.""
"The forged agreement?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
I studied her face.
"Did you know he was planning to leave me while I was pregnant?""
She hesitated.
Then she nodded again.
The answer landed harder than I expected.
"How long?""
"Since last summer.""
I looked toward the window.
Outside, the afternoon sunlight was fading.
Last summer.
I remembered being seven months pregnant, sitting in the nursery with Daniel while we assembled Lily's crib.
He had laughed when I couldn't figure out which side of the wooden frame went where.
He had kissed my forehead and promised he would never let me feel alone.
I had believed him.
"Did you ever see him with another woman before you?"" I asked.
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
"No.""
I turned toward Daniel.
He was staring at the floor.
"Did you tell her I was incapable of managing the family assets?""
He said nothing.
"Did you tell her my father had given you control?""
Silence.
"Did you tell her I would lose everything if I didn't sign your divorce agreement?""
Daniel finally looked up.
"You're twisting this.""
I shook my head.
"No. I'm finally hearing it without your version in the middle.""
Eleanor touched my arm.
"Mara, we need to go to the study.""
I nodded.
She collected the photograph and folder.
Then she spoke to the officers about securing the remaining documents.
Daniel called after me.
"Mara!""
I stopped.
He looked almost desperate.
"We need to talk alone.""
I turned around.
"We had three months of opportunities to talk alone. You chose to bring Vanessa into my home instead.""
"I made mistakes.""
"You made plans.""
He swallowed.
"Please. Don't do something you'll regret.""
I looked at him for a long moment.
"That's what you should have thought about before you signed those transfers.""
Then I walked away.
My father's study was at the end of the upstairs hallway.
I hadn't entered it since the week after his funeral.
The room still smelled faintly of cedarwood and old books.
His dark leather chair sat behind the desk.
A framed photograph of him and my mother stood beside a brass clock.
I placed Lily in the portable crib Eleanor had brought upstairs.
Then I began searching.
"Where would he keep antique keys?"" I asked.
Eleanor examined the shelves.
"Your father was meticulous. He probably kept them somewhere predictable.""
I opened the desk drawers.
Pens.
Old business cards.
A collection of fountain pens.
A small velvet box containing my mother's wedding ring.
Nothing blue.
Then I remembered something.
When I was a child, my father had a habit of hiding birthday presents in the false bottom of his desk drawer.
I pulled out the lowest drawer.
It stopped halfway.
I removed everything inside and examined the wooden base.
There was a small indentation near the back.
I pressed it.
A thin panel lifted.
Beneath it lay a blue metal key.
My hands went cold.
"Eleanor.""
She came around the desk.
"Is that it?""
I picked up the key.
A small silver tag hung from its ring.
Three numbers were engraved on it.
*714.*
Eleanor read them.
"That could be a storage unit.""
"Or a safe deposit box.""
I turned the key over.
On the back was a tiny engraving.
*R.W.*
My father's initials.
Eleanor took a photograph of it.
"I'll have the security records checked.""
"No.""
She looked at me.
"I want to go.""
"Mara, we need to be careful.""
"I know.""
"You have a newborn. You've barely recovered from surgery.""
I looked at Lily.
She was sleeping peacefully.
"I know that too.""
Eleanor softened.
"We can arrange everything tomorrow.""
I nodded.
Then I noticed a small envelope beneath the false panel.
It contained another handwritten note.
This one was shorter.
If Daniel reaches the cemetery before you reach the vault, the truth may already be compromised.
My chest tightened.
I showed Eleanor.
She read it twice.
"That's not good.""
"What does it mean?""
"It means we need to find out whether the grave was disturbed.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Daniel had been standing there months earlier.
And the note suggested my father had anticipated exactly that possibility.
I called the cemetery.
The manager, a woman named Patricia, answered.
I explained who I was and asked whether anyone had recently requested access to my father's burial plot.
She placed me on hold.
I heard keyboard clicks.
Then her voice returned.
"Mrs. Whitmore, there was an inquiry about your father's grave last week.""
My heart began racing.
"From whom?""
"An attorney representing a private client.""
"Did they request an exhumation?""
"No. They asked about the maintenance records and whether the grave had ever been opened after the burial.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you give them the information?""
"We provided standard records.""
"Who made the request?""
Patricia paused.
"Martin Hale.""
I looked at Eleanor.
She was already taking notes.
"Thank you," I whispered.
I ended the call.
Then I checked my phone.
There was a new email from an address I didn't recognize.
The subject line read:
*YOUR FATHER'S LAST RECORDING.*
I opened it.
A single audio file was attached.
I pressed play.
At first, there was only static.
Then my father's voice filled the room.
"Mara, if you're hearing this, Daniel has probably found the first ledger.""
I stopped breathing.
The recording continued.
"Listen carefully. The money he thinks he stole was never the real secret. The real secret is the company he believes he owns.""
There was a pause.
Then my father's voice became quieter.
"Your husband has been working with Martin for years. But Martin isn't the person who planned this.""
I leaned closer to the phone.
"There's someone inside our family who has been helping them.""
The recording ended.
I stared at the screen.
Eleanor slowly turned toward me.
"Did he say someone inside your family?""
I nodded.
Before she could respond, my phone rang.
The caller ID displayed a name I hadn't seen in months.
My younger brother.
*Ethan Whitmore.*
I answered.
"Ethan?""
His voice sounded strained.
"Mara, don't go to the vault.""
"Why?""
"Because Daniel isn't the only one looking for the second ledger.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Who else is?""
He was silent for several seconds.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"Me.""
