Chapter 4 - The EnvelopeThe next morning, I waited until Ben left for work.
Then I searched the house.
I wasn't looking for proof that he loved me.
I was looking for proof that he had lied.
His office was locked.
I'd never seen it locked before.
I tried the key.
Nothing.
I called my father.
“Don't break in,” he said.
“I wasn't going to.”
Dad laughed softly.
“You're a terrible liar.”
I stared at the door.
“What should I do?”
“Find the person who wants you to know.”
The unknown number.
I checked my phone.
Nothing.
At noon, another message arrived.
Second drawer. Under the printer.
I went downstairs.
I opened the second drawer.
Nothing.
Then I saw a false bottom.
My hands trembled as I lifted it.
There was an envelope.
Brown.
Unmarked.
Inside were photocopies.
Bank statements.
A property transfer.
And a photograph.
I knew the photograph.
It showed our family at Christmas.
But someone had circled Ben.
And Linda.
I read the first document.
Three months ago, Ben had transferred a large amount of money to a company I'd never heard of.
The recipient wasn't Linda.
It wasn't Gary.
It was a corporation.
Meridian Family Holdings.
I searched the second document.
A property deed.
A house in my name.
My heart skipped.
Why had Ben transferred ownership of a property I didn't know existed?
Then I found a handwritten note.
One line.
When she finds out, make sure she looks guilty.
I dropped the paper.
A floorboard creaked.
I turned.
Ben was standing in the doorway.
He looked at the envelope.
Then at me.
“What are you doing?”
I couldn't answer.
He stepped forward.
“Where did you get that?”
I held up the note.
“Why does it say I should look guilty?”
Ben's face drained of color.
“I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
He shut the door.
“Listen to me.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“You knew.”
His breathing changed.
“You knew something would happen.”
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
I took a step backward.
“Did you know Linda would hurt Ellie?”
“No.”
“Did you know something would happen?”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
The room seemed to tilt.
“What?”
“She was angry.”
“That's not an answer.”
Ben looked at the floor.
“For months, Mom has been trying to force you out.”
My stomach turned.
“Why?”
He swallowed.
“Because of the house.”
“What house?”
“The one your father transferred to you.”
I stared at him.
“I don't own another house.”
“You do.”
He looked at me.
“And it's worth more than you think.”
Before I could speak, someone knocked on the front door.
Three slow knocks.
Ben went still.
“Who is that?”
A fourth knock.
Then my father's voice came through the door.
“Open it.”
Ben looked terrified.
Dad entered.
He looked at the envelope in my hand.
Then at Ben.
“You told her?”
Ben said nothing.
Dad sighed.
“I was hoping you'd have the courage.”
“Courage for what?” I demanded.
Dad looked at me.
“The property wasn't the reason they wanted you gone.”
“Then what was?”
He took out his phone.
On the screen was a photograph of the same unknown man from the parking garage.
Dad's voice was quiet.
“That man has been asking about your family for over a year.”
I stared.
“Who is he?”
Dad hesitated.
Then he gave me a name.
May you like
And I realized I'd heard it before.
Because that name belonged to the one person I had spent years trying to forget.
