Chapter 6 - Box 417
Westbridge Private Bank opened at ten.
By ten-fifteen, I was in a windowless conference room with Charles, a bank manager, and two forms of identification.
Lily stayed at the estate with Anna and extra security.
The manager returned carrying a narrow gray box.
“Box 417,” she said.
My throat tightened.
Inside were three things.
A sealed envelope addressed to Lily.
A flash drive.
And a small brass key.
The key had a strip of blue tape around the top.
Blue safe.
Victoria’s list suddenly made sense.
Charles pointed at the envelope. “The instructions say Lily receives it at eighteen unless you determine earlier disclosure is necessary for her protection.”
“Is this necessary?”
“After what happened last night? Yes.”
I opened it.
Claire’s handwriting filled four pages.
Most of the letter was for Lily—memories, advice, silly details about how she kicked during pregnancy. Then, near the end, Claire wrote something I had never known.
I have placed the original trust instructions and certain company records in the blue safe at the old Harbor Point office. If anyone ever pressures Mark to change Lily’s ownership, the originals matter more than promises.
I read the sentence twice.
“What company records?” I asked.
Charles looked uneasy. “Claire discovered irregular transfers before she died. She thought someone inside Hale Maritime was moving money through shell vendors.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“She asked me not to unless it became relevant to Lily’s security.”
“Relevant?” I snapped. “Someone forged my signature.”
“I agree. Which is why we go to Harbor Point now.”
My phone buzzed.
Anna.
I answered immediately.
“Mark,” she whispered, “don’t panic.”
I was already standing.
“What happened?”
“Someone just tried to pick Lily up from the house.”
“Who?”
“A woman claiming you sent her.”
I gripped the phone.
“What woman?”
May you like
Anna’s next words made the room tilt.
“The notary. Evelyn Shore.”
