Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT MELISSA STOPPED SMILING
Margaret did not go outside.
She called Ryan.
No answer.
She called Thomas.
No answer.
Then someone knocked on the door.
Three slow knocks.
Margaret stood still.
Another knock.
She looked through the window.
Melissa stood on the porch.
Alone.
Margaret opened the door.
Melissa smiled.
"You've been busy."
Margaret did not invite her inside.
"What do you want?"
"To talk."
"About what?"
"The documents."
Margaret's eyes narrowed.
"You know."
"I know everything."
Melissa stepped closer.
"You think you've uncovered something."
"I have."
"No."
Melissa's smile faded.
"You've uncovered exactly what I wanted you to find."
Margaret felt a chill.
"What does that mean?"
Melissa looked behind her.
"Ryan told you about his father's account."
Margaret said nothing.
Melissa laughed softly.
"He always was terrible at keeping secrets."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Using my money."
Melissa's expression hardened.
"Because your family has been hiding money from mine for years."
Margaret stared.
"What are you talking about?"
Melissa leaned closer.
"Ask yourself why Daniel was afraid of my mother."
Margaret's heart stopped.
"You knew."
"Of course."
"Then why marry Ryan?"
Melissa's answer was almost casual.
"Because Ryan was the only person who could get me inside the family."
Margaret felt the world tilt.
"You used my son."
Melissa shrugged.
"I needed access."
"To what?"
Melissa smiled again.
"The house."
Then she turned toward the driveway.
A black SUV waited there.
Before getting inside, Melissa looked back.
"Tomorrow's mortgage payment is due."
Margaret watched the vehicle disappear.
Then she noticed an envelope tucked beneath her doormat.
She picked it up.
There was no name.
Inside was a photograph.
Margaret turned it over.
Written on the back were six words.
Daniel knew what she was planning.
May you like
And beneath those words was a date.
The date of Daniel's death.
