Chapter 5 - The Account in My NameI couldn't move.
Someone had been using my identity.
For eighteen months.
Samantha emailed me the records.
I opened them.
Every transfer appeared under my legal name.
Every transaction carried my electronic signature.
Every authorization code had apparently been verified.
But I had never opened the account.
Derek watched me.
He knew.
I could see it.
“You did this.”
He shook his head.
“Claire…”
“You used my identity.”
“I had to.”
“Why?”
“To protect us.”
I laughed.
“Protect us?”
He stepped forward.
“You don't understand the pressure I was under.”
“Then explain.”
He lowered his voice.
“My father was threatening me.”
Harold slammed his hand against the counter.
“You're lying.”
Derek spun around.
“You've been hiding in her basement for years!”
“I hid because you tried to kill me.”
The kitchen went silent.
I looked at Harold.
“What?”
Derek's face collapsed.
“Dad…”
Harold pointed at him.
“He tried to poison me.”
Margaret suddenly screamed.
“Enough!”
I turned toward her.
“What did you know?”
She shook her head.
“Nothing.”
“Stop lying.”
“Claire!”
“You knew Harold was alive.”
“I knew.”
“And you let me believe he was dead.”
“He wanted it that way.”
“Why?”
Margaret said nothing.
Harold answered.
“Because Derek told everyone I had died.”
I stared at Derek.
“That wasn't true.”
“I needed you to disappear,” Derek said.
“Why?”
“Because you were going to expose me.”
Harold laughed.
“You were already exposed.”
I turned toward him.
“Expose what?”
Harold looked at the children.
Then at Jenna.
“Not here.”
I understood.
“Everybody leaves.”
Margaret immediately protested.
“The children have nowhere to go.”
“They have a mother.”
Jenna glared at me.
“You can't throw us out.”
“Yes, I can.”
“This is my family's home.”
“No.”
I pointed at the door.
“This is my home.”
One by one, they left.
Jenna dragged the children outside.
Margaret followed.
But before she reached the door, she turned.
“Claire.”
I waited.
She said quietly,
“Your grandmother wasn't trying to save you from Derek.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“She was trying to save you from someone else.”
Then she left.
I closed the door.
Harold looked at me.
“You need to leave this house tonight.”
“What?”
“Trust me.”
“Why?”
“Because Derek isn't your biggest problem.”
I stared at him.
“Who is?”
He looked toward the window.
A black SUV was parked across the street.
“The people who own that car.”
I stepped closer.
“Who are they?”
Harold's face tightened.
“Men who have been waiting for your grandmother's trust to activate.”
A chill ran through me.
“What happens when it does?”
Harold answered.
“They come for you.”
At that exact moment, someone knocked on the front door.
Three times.
Just like downstairs.
May you like
Harold whispered,
“They found you.”
