Chapter 4 - The Safe
Owen killed the house Wi-Fi in under thirty seconds.
The safe stopped blinking.
"Nobody leaves," he said.
Vanessa folded her arms. "You can't detain me."
Alexander looked at her. "Watch me."
Maria had never heard him use that tone.
It wasn't loud.
It was worse than loud.
The wall safe required a six-digit code and a fingerprint. Alexander tried his thumb.
Denied.
"Julia installed this," he said. "It must be hers."
Mrs. Bell touched the desk. "Mrs. Blackwood used to come up here after Ethan was asleep."
Alexander turned. "You knew?"
"I knew she had a private room. I didn't know where."
Vanessa laughed softly. "How convenient."
Maria ignored her and examined the desk.
There were letters, invoices, photographs, and one small silver music box.
Ethan reached for it.
"Mommy's song."
He turned the key.
A slow lullaby filled the room.
Alexander closed his eyes.
Julia used to hum that melody while bathing Ethan.
Then Maria noticed six numbers etched under the lid.
041217.
Alexander stared.
"Our wedding date."
He entered the code.
The safe unlocked.
Inside were three flash drives, a sealed envelope marked ALEXANDER, a second marked ETHAN, and a thin black ledger.
Vanessa moved.
Just one step.
But Owen blocked her.
Alexander picked up the envelope with his name.
His fingers shook when he opened it.
Julia's handwriting covered four pages.
He read silently for nearly a minute.
Then he sat down.
Maria had never seen a powerful man look suddenly old.
"What does it say?" Owen asked.
Alexander swallowed.
"She believed someone inside Blackwood Holdings was stealing from the family trust."
Vanessa's eyes flicked toward the ledger.
Alexander kept reading.
"She believed Ethan was the leverage."
Maria stepped closer. "And Vanessa?"
Alexander looked up.
"Julia wrote one name."
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
Alexander turned the page.
"Not Vanessa's."
Everyone froze.
"Whose?" Maria asked.
Alexander stared at the name again.
May you like
Then at Owen.
"Your father's."
