Chapter 14 - THE ROOM BEHIND THE WALL
The family searched the house.
Thomas examined old records.
Ryan searched Daniel's former office.
Margaret went upstairs.
She remembered something.
Daniel had always kept one room locked.
After his death, Margaret assumed it contained personal belongings.
She had never opened it.
Now she stood before the door.
The key was still in the old desk.
She unlocked it.
Inside was almost nothing.
An empty bookshelf.
A wooden desk.
One chair.
A framed photograph.
Margaret walked toward the photograph.
It showed Daniel and Ryan when Ryan was twelve.
Behind them was the house.
Margaret lifted the frame.
There was a small compartment.
Inside was a key.
She stared at it.
Thomas came into the room.
"Margaret?"
She held up the key.
He examined it.
"Do you recognize it?"
"No."
Ryan entered.
"What did you find?"
Margaret showed him.
Ryan immediately shook his head.
"I've never seen that."
Thomas noticed a small marking.
A set of numbers.
He looked toward the wall.
"That may be a room number."
They searched the house.
Nothing.
Then Margaret remembered the basement.
Behind the old shelves was a narrow door.
The key fit.
The door opened.
Inside was a small storage room.
There were boxes.
Documents.
Photographs.
And a locked metal case.
Margaret's hands trembled.
Thomas opened it.
Inside was a single envelope.
Daniel's handwriting was on it.
Margaret.
Only open this when you know who betrayed you.
She looked at Ryan.
Then at Thomas.
Then back at the envelope.
She opened it.
The letter was short.
Daniel explained that he had discovered a financial scheme involving people close to the family.
He had moved assets into a trust.
He had hidden evidence.
And he had suspected that someone would eventually approach Ryan.
But one sentence made Margaret stop.
I do not believe the person you fear is the person who started this.
Margaret read it again.
Then she turned toward Ryan.
"Who started it?"
Ryan shook his head.
"I don't know."
Margaret looked at the documents.
Then the door behind them slowly opened.
Melissa stood there.
May you like
She was holding another envelope.
"I do."
