Chapter 11 - Locker 214
The locker was still there, prepaid through an account tied to my father's estate.
Nine years of waiting. For me.
The brass key turned with a hard click. Inside sat one red folder and an old digital recorder.
Rosa had remembered the color correctly.
Monica opened the folder on a bench while Charles stood watch.
The first page was an audit memo.
Bennett Development had been paying inflated legal fees to Victor Sloan's firm for years. Some of the money had then moved into accounts tied to Diane.
Not Ryan.
Diane.
"This started before Ryan joined the company," I said.
Charles looked like he had aged ten years in ten seconds.
The second page listed property transfers.
One line was highlighted.
Bennett Estate - proposed transfer to Morgan Trust as collateral.
Beside it, my father had written:
DIANE OBJECTED. THREATENED TO DESTROY EMILY'S CLAIM IF CHARLES EVER TOLD HER.
I looked at Charles.
"She knew the house would become mine."
"Yes."
"How long?"
"Since the day your father signed the loan."
Twelve years.
Diane had welcomed me into the family already knowing the house beneath her feet would eventually belong to me.
I picked up the digital recorder.
The battery was dead, but the station office found an old cable.
The first file crackled to life.
My father's voice filled the room.
"This is David Morgan. If you're hearing this, Victor refused to return the money and Diane refused to tell Charles the truth."
Charles closed his eyes.
Dad continued.
"Emily must not be dragged into this unless they come after her property."
Then another voice entered the recording.
Diane.
"She married Ryan. That makes it family property."
My father's answer was immediate.
"No. It makes her your daughter-in-law. Not your bank."
The recording ended with a door slamming.
May you like
But there were three more files.
The date on the last one was the night my father died.
