Chapter 9 - THE DEAD MAN'S ACCOUNT
Daniel spent the entire night reviewing his father's financial records.
Millions had moved through the account.
The transfers were carefully structured.
Small enough to avoid immediate suspicion.
Large enough to finance an entire criminal operation.
The beneficiary names changed constantly.
But one company appeared repeatedly.
Carter Holdings.
Daniel realized someone had been using his family's name.
He called his attorney.
“Freeze every account connected to my father's estate.”
“Immediately?”
“Yes.”
“And your personal accounts?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Freeze those too.”
His attorney sounded alarmed.
“Daniel, what's happening?”
“I don't know yet.”
Then Daniel received another message.
Your father knew the truth.
He stared at the screen.
Amelia saw his expression.
“What happened?”
Daniel showed her.
She read the message.
“What did your father know?”
“I don't know.”
He remembered something.
A locked study in his father's old house.
His father had forbidden everyone from entering it.
Daniel had never understood why.
Now he knew where he needed to go.
That evening, he and Amelia traveled there with security.
The old house was dark.
Dust covered the furniture.
Daniel unlocked the study.
Inside, everything remained untouched.
He searched the desk.
Nothing.
Then Amelia noticed a painting.
“Daniel.”
“What?”
“Look at the frame.”
There was a small compartment behind it.
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a notebook.
His father's handwriting covered every page.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
Threats.
And one sentence circled repeatedly.
Victoria knows what happened to Elena Carter.
Daniel stopped breathing.
Elena.
His mother.
Not Amelia's mother.
His own.
He looked at Amelia.
“Why would Victoria know about my mother?”
Amelia shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Then they heard a noise downstairs.
Someone had entered the house.
Daniel immediately turned off the lights.
Footsteps moved through the hallway.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Someone was searching for them.
Daniel whispered:
“Stay behind me.”
The footsteps stopped outside the study.
The door handle moved.
May you like
Then the door opened.
Victoria stood there.
