Chapter 5 - The Photograph in the Safe
Police arrested Julian the following morning.
The video from Clara’s phone had captured enough of his behavior after the assault to undermine his claim of an accident.
His attorney secured release within hours.
A temporary protective order prevented him from contacting Clara.
By evening he violated it.
Not directly.
A courier delivered a box to Clara’s office.
Inside was the photograph Teresa had dumped from Clara’s purse.
Her mother.
Only now the photograph had been cut in half.
Across the back someone had written:
YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT PAYING.
Clara stared at the handwriting.
She had seen it before.
Not from Julian.
Teresa.
Clara called Detective Lena Ortiz, who documented the threat.
Then Clara returned to the one place Julian could no longer legally enter.
Their house.
With police present, she packed clothes and business records.
Inside Julian’s study, she noticed something strange.
A floorboard beneath his desk was newer than the others.
Clara knelt.
A detective watched.
“You see something?”
“That board was replaced.”
The detective photographed it.
They obtained approval to inspect further.
Beneath the board was a small safe.
Julian had never told Clara it existed.
Inside were three watches.
Twenty thousand dollars in cash.
Two passports.
One belonged to Julian.
The second displayed Julian’s photograph under another name.
JASON WELLS.
The detective immediately bagged it.
Then Clara saw the envelope.
It had her name on it.
CLARA.
Inside was a photograph.
She recognized the Harbor Point house.
Six people stood on the back terrace.
Julian.
Marcus.
Teresa.
Richard.
Daniel Mercer.
And a man Clara had never seen.
On the back was a date.
Eight years earlier.
One year before Clara met Julian.
Beneath the date:
HAWTHORNE RESTRUCTURING DINNER.
Clara’s heart pounded.
Daniel had claimed he and Julian were never friends.
Yet there he was at a private family property.
She called him.
He answered immediately.
“I’m in court.”
“You were at Harbor Point eight years ago.”
Silence.
“I found a photograph.”
Daniel’s voice became careful.
“Clara.”
“Who is the sixth man?”
“Where are you?”
“Answer me.”
Daniel exhaled.
“His name is Victor Shaw.”
“What does he do?”
“He used to manage private trusts.”
“For the Hawthorne Society?”
“For many people.”
“Did he create Julian’s account?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he create mine?”
Silence.
Clara froze.
“What do you mean, mine?”
Daniel said nothing.
“Daniel.”
“Do not discuss this over the phone.”
“You just said mine.”
“I’m coming to you.”
“No. You’re answering me now.”
Another silence.
Then Daniel spoke.
“Clara, the reason the audit found Julian’s account is because it was linked to another trust.”
“What trust?”
“One registered in your name.”
She felt the room shift.
“I don’t have a private trust.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes, you do.”
Her mouth became dry.
“How much?”
“We don’t know.”
“Who created it?”
May you like
Daniel’s answer came slowly.
“Your mother.”
