Chapter 6: My Father's Last Warning
I called Mr. Lawson from the parking lot.
He answered on the fourth ring.
"Nia?""
His voice sounded older than I remembered.
"Mr. Lawson, I need to see you.""
There was a pause.
"Is everything all right?""
"No.""
I glanced at Rachel, who was standing beside the passenger door.
"It's about my father. And Daniel.""
Another silence.
Then Mr. Lawson said something that made me grip the phone.
"Have you received the letter?""
"What letter?""
"The one your father instructed me to give you if your marriage ever became legally contested.""
I stopped breathing.
"There's a letter?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your father gave me very specific instructions. He wanted it delivered only under certain circumstances.""
"What circumstances?""
He lowered his voice.
"Your husband attempting to separate you from your inherited assets.""
I closed my eyes.
"Then the time has come.""
Mr. Lawson exhaled.
"Come to my office at four. And Nia?""
"Yes?""
"Don't tell Daniel you're coming.""
I looked at Rachel.
"I won't.""
The call ended.
Claire was waiting at her apartment when we returned.
She had spent the morning researching Daniel's company filings and had printed several documents.
When she saw my expression, she stood.
"What happened?""
I put the papers on the kitchen counter.
"Daniel married me for my inheritance.""
Claire's mouth opened.
For a moment, she looked as though she might say something.
Then she walked around the counter and hugged me.
"Oh, Nia.""
I held on to her.
"I don't know how I missed it.""
"You loved him.""
"That's not an excuse.""
"No," Claire said softly.
"It's not. But it's the reason he was able to do it.""
I stepped away.
"I need to get my things from the house.""
Claire shook her head.
"We'll arrange that with a lawyer.""
"I need my father's photographs. His watch. The letters he left me.""
"Then we'll get them.""
I looked at the clock.
Three hours until my meeting with Mr. Lawson.
For the first time since discovering the affair, I wasn't thinking about Daniel's mistress.
I wasn't thinking about the bracelet.
I was thinking about my father.
And the possibility that he'd known something was wrong before he died.
At four o'clock, Rachel and I entered Mr. Lawson's office.
It was on the third floor of an old brick building downtown. The hallway smelled of paper and furniture polish.
Mr. Lawson stood when he saw me.
He was seventy-two, with silver hair and a narrow face. He had been my father's attorney for more than twenty years.
"Nia.""
He embraced me briefly.
Then he looked at Rachel.
"Ms. Morgan.""
"You know each other?"" I asked.
Mr. Lawson nodded.
"Your father introduced us several years ago.""
I frowned.
"My father knew Rachel?""
"He knew about Daniel's business dealings before you married him.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"What?""
Mr. Lawson gestured toward the chairs.
"Please sit.""
I remained standing.
"I'd rather you explain.""
He sighed.
"Your father was concerned about Daniel's financial history. He had discovered irregularities in a company Daniel had previously operated with his first wife.""
"Evelyn.""
Mr. Lawson nodded.
"Yes.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't he tell me?""
"Because he didn't have conclusive evidence at the time. And because he believed you were happy.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone believed I was happy.""
Mr. Lawson looked down.
"Your father also worried that if he confronted Daniel directly, Daniel might pressure you to cut contact with him.""
I thought about the arguments we'd had during my father's final year.
Daniel had complained that my father interfered too much.
He'd told me that my father didn't respect our marriage.
He'd suggested we limit our visits.
I'd listened.
I'd defended Daniel.
I'd even told my father that he needed to stop treating me like a child.
The memory made my throat ache.
Mr. Lawson opened a locked cabinet.
He removed a small wooden box and placed it on the desk.
"This was left in my custody shortly before your father died.""
I stared at it.
The wood was dark walnut.
My father had owned a similar box for years.
"What's inside?""
"A letter. A copy of the original trust documents. And an envelope containing a key.""
I frowned.
"A key to what?""
"I was instructed not to explain until you'd read the letter.""
He opened the box.
Inside was a handwritten envelope.
My name was on the front.
I recognized my father's handwriting immediately.
My hands began to shake.
I opened it carefully.
The letter was dated six months before his death.
My dearest Nia,
If you're reading this, something has happened that I hoped I would never have to discuss with you.
I have concerns about Daniel. I don't know whether those concerns will prove correct, and I pray they won't. But I have learned that he was involved in a financial arrangement that caused serious harm to his previous wife.
I asked questions. I examined records. I spoke to people who knew him before he met you.
I believe he is interested in your inheritance.
I stopped.
My eyes blurred.
I continued reading.
I know how much you love him. I also know you are an adult, and I cannot make your decisions for you.
But I want you to understand one thing.
Love should never require you to surrender your independence.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
Claire quietly placed a hand on my shoulder.
I kept reading.
I have arranged for a portion of your inheritance to remain protected in a separate trust. Daniel cannot access it without your authorization.
I looked up.
"How much?""
Mr. Lawson answered.
"Approximately $1.4 million, including several property interests.""
I stared at him.
"But Daniel told me everything had been transferred.""
"Not everything.""
My father had protected part of my inheritance.
He had seen the danger coming.
I looked back at the letter.
There is something else you need to know. The key in this box opens a safety deposit box at the First National Bank. Inside are documents that may explain why Daniel became interested in our family in the first place.
I stopped reading.
"Why my family?""
Mr. Lawson looked uncomfortable.
"Your father believed Daniel had known about the Westbridge investment before you inherited it.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
"That is what he was trying to establish.""
I continued reading.
If Daniel has attempted to take your property, contact the bank and retrieve the documents. Do not tell him what you find until you understand the full situation.
There is one name you should remember.
Arthur Whitmore.
I looked up.
"Who is Arthur Whitmore?""
Mr. Lawson's expression changed.
"Your father's former business partner.""
I frowned.
"I thought Thomas Reed was his partner.""
"Thomas managed the property development side. Arthur handled the original investment structure.""
"Is he still alive?""
Mr. Lawson nodded.
"Yes. But he has been missing from public business records for several years.""
Rachel leaned forward.
"Why?""
Mr. Lawson looked at her.
"Because he was accused of stealing money from Westbridge.""
I stared at the letter.
My father had mentioned Arthur only once when I was younger.
He'd said Arthur was a brilliant businessman who made one terrible mistake.
I looked at Mr. Lawson.
"Did Daniel know him?""
"Very well.""
The answer came too quickly.
I felt a chill.
"How well?""
Mr. Lawson opened another file.
"Arthur Whitmore was Daniel's original financial mentor.""
The room went quiet.
I looked down at the key in the wooden box.
Suddenly, the inheritance didn't feel like a gift.
It felt like the final piece of a puzzle my father had spent years trying to solve.
Mr. Lawson continued.
"Your father believed Arthur introduced Daniel to the methods he later used against Evelyn.""
Rachel shook her head.
"That makes sense.""
I turned toward her.
"What does?""
She hesitated.
"Daniel didn't invent the holding company structure. Arthur taught him how to move assets between entities without making the transfers immediately obvious.""
I looked at the key.
"Then the safety deposit box might contain proof.""
Mr. Lawson nodded.
"It might.""
I placed the letter carefully on the desk.
"Can we go to the bank now?""
He checked his watch.
"Tomorrow morning. The branch is closed for the day.""
I nodded.
Then my phone vibrated.
An incoming call.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke.
"Is this Nia Carter?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Arthur Whitmore.""
I froze.
Mr. Lawson stood.
Rachel's eyes widened.
The voice continued.
"I understand you've been asking questions about your father's estate.""
I couldn't speak.
Arthur paused.
Then he said:
"Your father was right to leave you that letter.""
I swallowed.
"How did you get my number?""
"I've been trying to reach you for several months.""
"Why?""
His voice became quieter.
"Because Daniel has been looking for something your father hid before he died.""
I gripped the phone.
"What?""
"The original Westbridge ownership ledger.""
Mr. Lawson moved closer.
Arthur continued.
"Without it, Daniel can still claim that the transfers were legitimate.""
"And with it?""
"With it, we can prove who actually owns the missing properties.""
I felt a flicker of hope.
"Then where is it?""
Arthur was silent for a moment.
Then he said:
"That's the problem, Nia. Your father didn't leave it at the bank.""
I looked at the wooden box.
"Where did he leave it?""
Arthur's answer came slowly.
"Inside your marital home.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
"Your father hid it in the house you and Daniel live in. He told me he placed it somewhere Daniel would never think to look.""
I closed my eyes.
Then Arthur delivered the final blow.
"There's one more thing. Daniel already knows where it is.""
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Mr. Lawson looked at me.
"Who was that?""
I slowly raised my eyes.
"Arthur Whitmore.""
Rachel stepped backward.
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
Her face had lost all color.
"Because Arthur died three weeks ago.""
I looked at the phone again.
Then another message appeared.
A photograph.
It showed the front entrance of my house.
Taken from across the street.
May you like
Beneath it were seven words.
*Don't go home. Daniel is waiting inside.*
