Chapter 2 - The Name They Buried
The darkness lasted only four seconds.
But four seconds were enough.
When the emergency lights came on, the envelope was gone.
Claire immediately looked toward the table.
The five lawyers were still there.
Patricia stood frozen beside the fireplace.
Ray was near the hallway.
Tyler was staring at the floor.
The stranger was nowhere to be seen.
Claire's voice cut through the room.
"Nobody move."
Nobody obeyed.
Ray stepped toward the doorway.
Claire moved in front of him.
"Where are you going?"
"To check the house."
"You can check it after you explain why you locked the door."
Ray stopped.
"I didn't."
Claire looked toward the lawyers.
One of them quietly raised both hands.
"I locked it."
"Why?"
"Because someone was inside."
Tyler laughed nervously.
"Someone was inside this house?"
The lawyer looked at him.
"Yes."
Tyler's laughter disappeared.
Claire turned toward Patricia.
"Who?"
Patricia stared at her daughter.
"I don't know."
Claire shook her head.
"You do."
"I said I don't."
"You knew about the seal."
Patricia remained silent.
"You knew about the letter."
Silence.
"And you knew that photograph existed."
Patricia finally whispered, "Your grandfather was obsessed with secrets."
Claire stepped closer.
"No. He was obsessed with protecting me."
Patricia looked away.
The oldest lawyer at the table slowly stood.
"Captain Parker."
Claire turned.
"My name is Howard Bennett. I represented your grandfather for twenty-eight years."
Claire studied him.
"Then tell me the truth."
Howard hesitated.
"I cannot."
"Why?"
"Because I signed a confidentiality agreement."
Claire almost smiled.
"Five lawyers."
She looked around the room.
"Five lawyers threatening me."
Then she looked directly at Howard.
"And all of you are terrified of one missing person."
Howard's expression changed.
Claire noticed.
"Who is he?"
Howard lowered his voice.
"His name was Daniel Parker."
Claire froze.
"Daniel?"
Patricia whispered, "Stop."
Howard continued.
"Your grandfather's eldest son."
Claire stared at Patricia.
"You told me he died."
Patricia's eyes filled with something Claire could not identify.
"I was protecting you."
"From what?"
"From him."
Claire's jaw tightened.
"Why?"
Nobody answered.
Then Tyler spoke.
"Because Dad said Daniel tried to destroy the family."
Claire looked at Ray.
Ray's expression hardened.
"Your uncle was dangerous."
"Was?"
Ray went silent.
Claire caught the word.
"You said was."
Ray looked away.
"That was a mistake."
Claire stepped backward.
"No."
Her voice was barely audible.
"That wasn't a mistake."
She looked toward the empty doorway.
"You all think Daniel is dead."
Howard whispered, "He was supposed to be."
Claire's blood ran cold.
"Supposed to be?"
Howard realized too late that he had said too much.
Claire moved toward him.
"Tell me everything."
Howard shook his head.
"I can't."
Claire placed her grandfather's photograph on the table.
"Then I will find someone who can."
She turned toward the door.
Patricia grabbed her arm.
"Claire, listen to me."
Claire looked down at Patricia's hand.
Patricia immediately released her.
"Your grandfather's will was not the real inheritance."
Claire frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Patricia's voice trembled.
"It means the money was never the most important thing."
Claire stared at her.
"Then what was?"
Patricia looked toward the five lawyers.
"The company."
Claire waited.
Patricia whispered, "And control of it."
Howard suddenly said, "No."
Everyone turned.
Howard looked terrified.
"The company was transferred years ago."
"To whom?"
Howard's lips parted.
Before he could answer, every phone in the room began ringing at the same time.
Five lawyers reached for their phones.
Ray looked at his.
Tyler looked at his.
Patricia's phone remained silent.
Claire's phone rang last.
She answered.
Nobody spoke.
Then a man's voice whispered through the receiver.
"You should have taken the envelope."
Claire's eyes widened.
"Who is this?"
The voice answered.
"The person your family killed on paper."
The call ended.
Claire slowly lowered the phone.
Howard stared at her.
"Did he say anything?"
Claire looked at him.
"He said you killed him."
Howard's face collapsed.
May you like
Patricia whispered one word.
"Daniel."
