Chapter 8: The Recording Nobody Was Supposed to Hear
Nobody touched the USB drive.
My father stared at it as if it had suddenly become dangerous.
“Where did you get this?”” he asked again.
Victoria sat down.
“From my husband's private office.””
“Why would Andrew have a recording of my wife?””
“Because your wife was asking questions.””
My father moved closer.
“Explain.””
Victoria looked toward me.
“Your mother discovered that money was being transferred through several shell companies. She believed Daniel Foster was using Bennett Capital to move funds into private investment accounts.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“What happened after she discovered it?””
“Daniel arranged a meeting with her. He told her he wanted to explain the transactions.””
My father leaned forward.
“Why wasn't I told?””
Victoria gave a humorless smile.
“Because Daniel told her not to involve you. He said he needed time to protect your family from the consequences.””
My father shook his head.
“That doesn't sound like Daniel.””
Victoria shrugged.
“Then perhaps you never knew him as well as you thought.””
I looked at the USB drive.
“What exactly is on it?””
“A recording from the meeting. My husband obtained it from Daniel several years ago. He kept it as insurance.””
“Insurance against what?””
“Against Daniel turning on him.””
My father looked disgusted.
“So Andrew has been blackmailing him?””
“Not exactly. They have been protecting each other.””
I studied Victoria's face.
“You knew about this all along?””
She hesitated.
“Yes.””
“Then why didn't you tell anyone?””
Her eyes lowered.
“Because I was afraid.””
I almost laughed.
“You had no problem slapping me in public.””
Her cheeks reddened.
“That was different.””
“How?””
“I was angry.””
“So was I. But I didn't hit you.””
She looked away.
My father picked up the USB drive.
“We're taking this to our forensic team.””
Victoria shook her head.
“You can't.””
“Why not?””
“Because there is another copy.””
He stopped.
“Where?””
“Andrew has it.””
My father looked at her.
“Where is your husband now?””
She hesitated.
“He was supposed to meet Daniel Foster this morning.””
“Where?””
“Boston.””
Amelia, who had just returned, immediately began typing on her phone.
“Richard, I can arrange for our legal team to contact authorities.””
My father nodded.
“Do it.””
Victoria leaned forward.
“There is one more thing you should know.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“Your husband—”
She stopped and corrected herself.
“Your father's former chief financial officer has been watching your family for years.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why would he watch me?””
Victoria's voice dropped.
“Because he believes you have something your mother took before she died.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“A document.””
My father frowned.
“What document?””
Victoria shook her head.
“I don't know exactly. Andrew said your mother copied something before the accident. Something that could prove where the missing money went.””
I felt my mouth go dry.
My mother had been careful with documents.
She used to keep notebooks in her bedroom desk, organized by year. After she died, my father had packed many of her belongings into storage.
I remembered one small wooden box.
It had been missing when we moved houses.
“Dad,” I said slowly.
“Do you remember Mom's blue notebook?””
He looked at me.
“The one with the leather cover?””
I nodded.
“I used to see her writing in it.””
He frowned.
“I thought it was with her personal belongings.””
“It wasn't in the house when we moved.””
Victoria looked between us.
“Then perhaps that's what Daniel Foster has been searching for.””
My father turned toward her.
“Why would you know that?””
“Because Andrew once asked me whether Danielle had inherited anything from her mother.””
I felt my heart pounding.
“When?””
“About six months ago.””
“Why didn't you mention it earlier?””
Victoria lowered her eyes.
“Because I didn't realize how important it was.””
I stepped closer.
“Victoria, listen to me. If you know anything about my mother's death, I need you to tell me.””
For the first time, she looked genuinely uncomfortable.
“I don't know who caused the accident.””
“But?””
She swallowed.
“But Andrew received a phone call the night before it happened.””
My father went completely still.
“What did he say?””
Victoria looked down at her hands.
“He told someone that the problem would be taken care of.””
The words seemed to drain the air from the room.
My father stepped toward her.
“Who was he speaking to?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you hear a name?””
Victoria hesitated.
Then she whispered:
“Daniel.””
My father closed his eyes.
I felt Grace stir against my chest.
I rocked her gently, trying to keep my hands steady.
“Did Andrew know my mother was in danger?””
Victoria didn't answer.
That silence was enough to frighten me.
Amelia returned from the hallway.
“Richard, our security team has arrived.””
My father nodded.
“Good. We're going home.””
I looked at him.
“What about the recording?””
“It's going to the forensic team. Nobody opens it on an unsecured device.””
Victoria suddenly stood.
“Wait.””
We turned.
She reached into her handbag again and removed a small folded photograph.
“I found this inside Andrew's desk.””
She placed it on the table.
I picked it up.
It showed my mother standing outside a restaurant, holding a blue leather notebook.
Beside her was a man.
He was younger, but I recognized his face immediately.
Daniel Foster.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten date.
It was three days before my mother's accident.
Beneath the date were six words.
She knows about the second account.
My father stared at the photograph.
Then he looked at Victoria.
“What second account?””
Victoria shook her head.
“I don't know.””
My father turned to Amelia.
“Find out.””
She nodded.
But as we were leaving, Victoria called after me.
“Danielle?””
I turned.
Her expression had changed.
She no longer looked angry.
She looked frightened.
“Your mother wasn't the only person who disappeared after asking questions.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
Victoria whispered a name.
“Sarah Miller.””
I recognized it.
Sarah had been my mother's personal assistant.
She had vanished shortly after the accident.
The police had assumed she had moved overseas.
Victoria looked at me.
“Andrew told me she had been paid to leave.””
I felt a chill.
“Where is she now?””
Victoria shook her head.
“I don't know.””
May you like
Then she added something that made my father stop walking.
“But Daniel Foster knows.””
