Chapter 3: What Emily Left Behind
The abandoned Bellamy & Cole office building had been empty for almost a year.
Nate remembered walking past it once with Emily.
She had pointed at the glass doors and laughed.
“I can’t believe people trust their money to a place that looks this depressing.””
He had teased her.
“You judge businesses by architecture?””
“I judge businesses by everything.””
She had smiled.
“That’s why I’m usually right.””
Now Nate stood in the same lobby, remembering the woman who always noticed details.
Rebecca Lane waited near the elevators.
She looked exhausted.
Mid-fifties.
Dark circles beneath her eyes.
A person who had spent too long carrying a secret.
“You’re Nate Whitmore.””
“Yes.””
“You look like Emily.””
The sentence immediately irritated him.
“I don’t want comparisons.””
Rebecca nodded.
“You’re right.””
She reached into her bag.
“I should have said you look like someone who loved her.””
Nate softened slightly.
“What do you know?””
Rebecca looked around.
“This isn’t the place.””
“Then why bring me here?””
“Because Emily trusted this building.””
She pressed the elevator button.
The doors opened.
Inside, she said:
“She knew someone was stealing.””
Nate stared.
“Madeline said that.””
Rebecca’s face changed.
“Madeline?””
“Yes.””
Rebecca looked uncomfortable.
“She was involved.””
Nate stepped closer.
“Involved how?””
“Not how you think.””
The elevator stopped.
They entered an old conference room.
Rebecca placed a folder on the table.
“Emily discovered your family foundation was being used as a temporary hiding place.””
Nate opened it.
Documents.
Bank transfers.
Dates.
Names.
His eyes moved quickly.
Then stopped.
Madeline’s name appeared.
His chest tightened.
“What is this?””
“Read the notes.””
He did.
Madeline’s signature.
Approval codes.
Transfer requests.
“She did this.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“No.””
“Her name is right there.””
“Because she processed them.””
“Then explain.””
Rebecca sat down.
“Emily knew Madeline wasn’t responsible.””
Nate looked up.
“How?””
“She investigated.””
“You mean she trusted her.””
“Yes.””
Rebecca’s voice lowered.
“Emily trusted people more than they deserved.””
The sentence hurt.
Because it sounded true.
“She found out my supervisor was forcing Madeline to approve documents.””
“Why didn’t she tell me?””
Rebecca looked away.
“Because Emily didn’t know who else was involved.””
Nate’s stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?””
“It means she suspected someone close to her.””
The room went silent.
“My family?””
“I didn’t say that.””
“You didn’t have to.””
Rebecca opened another folder.
“This is why the box matters.””
Inside were handwritten pages.
Emily’s handwriting.
Nate recognized it immediately.
His hands shook.
“She wrote these?””
“Yes.””
He read the first line.
If something happens to me, do not trust the first person who claims they know why.
Nate stopped breathing.
“What?””
Rebecca looked at him.
“Emily was afraid.””
“Of who?””
“I don’t know.””
“Then why tell me?””
“Because someone has been trying to find that box for three years.””
Nate thought of Madeline.
Of Sophie.
Of Grace.
“Why now?””
Rebecca hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Because whoever Emily was afraid of knows you have it.””
Nate looked at the papers again.
A small note was attached.
One sentence.
One name.
He read it.
And the blood drained from his face.
May you like
Because Emily hadn’t written Madeline’s name.
She had written his.
