Chapter 16 - Linda's ConfessionI couldn't believe her.
“You?”
Linda nodded.
“I was supposed to protect you.”
“Instead, you destroyed me.”
“I never wanted that.”
“You watched my husband die.”
“I tried to save him.”
“You lied about being dead.”
“I had to disappear.”
“You let me believe you were dead for twelve years.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because they were watching.”
I pointed at her.
“You knew about Stephanie.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about the money.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Thomas was manipulating her.”
“Yes.”
“Then you knew everything.”
Linda lowered her eyes.
“Not everything.”
“Who is above Thomas?”
She didn't answer.
“Tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the person is already here.”
I looked around.
“No one is here.”
Linda raised the gun.
“That's what you think.”
A door behind me opened.
I turned.
A man walked in.
Gray hair.
Dark suit.
Calm expression.
I knew him.
He had attended Donald's funeral.
He had sent flowers.
He had shaken my hand and said he was sorry for my loss.
My doctor.
Dr. Henry Moore.
I stared.
“No.”
He smiled.
“Hello, Margaret.”
My knees weakened.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You wouldn't remember me.”
“I remember.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You remember the doctor.”
He walked closer.
“You don't remember the banker.”
My heart pounded.
He was in the photograph.
The young man beside my father.
I finally understood.
Henry Moore wasn't a doctor by accident.
He had been part of the network all along.
“What did you do to Donald?”
“I kept him alive.”
“What?”
“He was dying.”
“You poisoned him.”
“Sedated him.”
“You helped fake his death.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he knew too much.”
“Where is he?”
Henry smiled.
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere Thomas can't reach.”
I stared at Linda.
“You work for him.”
She nodded.
“But not willingly.”
Henry laughed.
“Everyone says that eventually.”
He pulled out a phone.
A video played.
Stephanie.
She was alive.
Henry spoke.
“Your daughter is fine.”
“You want the ledger.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I want the access.”
“To the trust?”
“To the entire network.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because your husband built something extraordinary.”
“He built it to protect people.”
Henry smiled.
“He built it to destroy us.”
Linda stepped forward.
“Henry, enough.”
He looked at her.
“You were always sentimental.”
Then he raised his gun.
I lunged.
The shot fired.
Linda fell.
I screamed.
Henry ran.
I dropped beside my sister.
Blood spread across her coat.
“Linda.”
She opened her eyes.
“I knew this would happen.”
“No.”
“Listen.”
She grabbed my hand.
“The ledger isn't the key.”
“Then what is?”
She whispered,
“Stephanie.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Her bloodline.”
“What does that mean?”
“Thomas built the system around his daughter.”
“She can unlock it?”
“Yes.”
“Then why does he need me?”
“Because Donald changed the system.”
“Why?”
“To make it require both of you.”
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
“You are the guardian.”
“Stephanie is the access.”
“Together, you can control everything.”
Linda coughed.
“That's why they never killed either of you.”
I looked at the hallway.
Henry was gone.
Then I heard a phone ringing.
Linda pointed weakly toward the desk.
“Answer it.”
I grabbed the phone.
Thomas.
His voice came through.
“Your sister told you.”
“What?”
“The truth.”
“You shot her.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Thomas laughed.
“Dr. Moore.”
“Where is Stephanie?”
“Exactly where she needs to be.”
“Let her go.”
“I will.”
“When?”
“When you bring her to the vault.”
“What vault?”
“Your memory.”
I froze.
Thomas continued.
“You remembered the basement.”
“Then remember the rest.”
The line went dead.
Linda grabbed my hand.
“The bank.”
“What?”
“Go to the bank.”
“Why?”
“The night you saw the ledger…”
She struggled to breathe.
“You weren't alone.”
“Who was with me?”
Linda whispered,
“Stephanie.”
Her eyes closed.
I thought she had died.
Then she squeezed my hand once.
“The baby wasn't Stephanie.”
I froze.
“What?”
Linda opened her eyes.
“The baby in the photograph…”
May you like
She whispered,
“was you.”
