Chapter 7 - THE FUNERAL PHOTOGRAPH
The police officially reopened Daniel and Emily Reed’s death investigation that afternoon.
Mark spent hours speaking with detectives.
Sarah stayed with Noah.
Around four o’clock, Mrs. Patterson arrived at the safe house under security escort.
She carried a small wooden box.
“I should have given this to you months ago.”
Mark looked at her.
“What is it?”
“Something Daniel left.”
The box was sealed with a strip of old wax.
Mark recognized his brother’s handwriting.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, GIVE THIS TO MARK.
Mark looked at Mrs. Patterson.
“How long have you had this?”
“Since three days before the accident.”
Mark’s voice sharpened.
“Why did you not give it to me?”
“Victoria found me with it after the funeral.”
Mrs. Patterson began to cry.
“She told me Daniel had become paranoid before he died.”
Mark stared at her.
“She said opening it would only hurt you.”
“And you believed her?”
“I wanted to.”
Mark turned away.
Sarah touched his arm.
“Open it.”
Inside the box was a small voice recorder.
A photograph.
And a handwritten letter.
The photograph showed Daniel standing outside a restaurant.
Across the street, Victoria sat inside a parked car with Charles Vance.
The date printed on the back was ten months before Daniel died.
Four months before Victoria married Mark.
Mark read Daniel’s letter.
Mark,
If you are reading this, I was right to be worried.
Victoria is not who she says she is.
I followed her after she lied about visiting her mother.
She met Charles Vance three times.
I confronted Charles.
He told me to stop looking into Father’s trust.
He knows things about our company that he should not know.
I think someone inside Reed Capital is helping him.
Do not confront Victoria until you know who.
Protect Noah.
Protect Emily.
And whatever happens, do not sign anything Charles places in front of you.
Mark lowered the letter.
Sarah watched him carefully.
“Play the recorder.”
Mark pressed the button.
Daniel’s voice filled the room.
“If this recording reaches Mark, then I failed to solve this myself.”
Mark closed his eyes.
Daniel continued.
“Charles is trying to gain controlling authority over the family trust.”
“I do not know why Victoria is helping him.”
“But I know she is feeding him information.”
“I also found payments from an internal Reed account to a shell company called Everstone Consulting.”
“Robert Keller approved them.”
Mark opened his eyes.
The recording lasted eight minutes.
The final words were the worst.
“I am taking the car to Samuel Price tomorrow because the brakes feel strange.”
“If anyone listens to this and I am already dead, do not assume the crash was an accident.”
The recording ended.
No one spoke for several seconds.
Then Mark looked at Detective Ortiz.
“I want everyone responsible found.”
Ortiz nodded.
“We are already moving.”
Sarah glanced at the photograph again.
Something caught her eye.
In the restaurant window behind Victoria and Charles, another man appeared in reflection.
Sarah pointed.
“Who is that?”
Mark looked.
May you like
His face went pale.
“That is my uncle.”
