Chapter 13 - THE SECOND ACCOUNT
Jared arrived at the location alone.
A quiet diner near the river.
Thomas sat in the back.
He looked older than Jared remembered.
His hair was gray.
His face was thinner.
But his eyes were sharp.
"You came."
"Tell me everything."
Thomas smiled.
"You're still impatient."
"You've been watching my family."
"Protecting your family."
"By stealing from my father?"
"I didn't steal anything."
"Then who did?"
Thomas looked around.
"Your wife."
Jared's expression hardened.
"Lauren?"
"Not exactly."
"What does that mean?"
Thomas leaned forward.
"Lauren has been moving money because someone gave her instructions."
"Who?"
Thomas pushed an envelope across the table.
Inside was a photograph.
Lauren stood beside a man Jared didn't recognize.
Thomas said, "She met him twelve years ago."
Jared looked at the date.
Two years before his mother died.
"Who is he?"
Thomas lowered his voice.
"Your mother's brother."
Jared stared.
"My mother didn't have a brother."
"She did."
"What was his name?"
Thomas looked toward the window.
"Daniel."
Jared felt the room spin.
He had never heard that name.
Thomas continued.
"Daniel disappeared before you were born."
"Why?"
"Because he knew what Margaret's family had done."
"What did they do?"
Thomas didn't answer.
Instead, he gave Jared another envelope.
Inside was a bank statement.
The second account.
The account that received the money after Lauren's account.
Jared read the name.
His hands began shaking.
The account belonged to Daniel Blake.
But Daniel was supposed to have died forty years ago.
Jared looked up.
"He's alive."
Thomas nodded.
"And he's been receiving money?"
"Not directly."
"Then who controls it?"
Thomas looked at him.
"That's what I've been trying to find out."
A shadow appeared outside the diner.
Thomas saw it.
His expression changed.
"They found us."
"Who?"
Thomas stood.
"Don't trust anyone."
The diner door opened.
A woman walked in.
Helen Carter.
Margaret's former assistant.
She looked directly at Jared.
Then she smiled.
"Your mother would be proud."
Thomas grabbed Jared's arm.
"Don't let her speak."
Helen's smile disappeared.
"You've been lied to for fourteen years."
Jared pulled free.
"Then tell me the truth."
Helen stepped closer.
"Your mother didn't die because she discovered the money."
May you like
She paused.
"She died because she discovered who was supposed to inherit it."
