INSIDE WERE BANK RECORDS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND A LETTER
The first line nearly stopped my heart.
Claire, if you’re reading this, then they finally got to me.
I froze.
Then:
Please do not trust Sophie.
I read it twice.
Then a third time.
Mark stood silently across from me.
The next line was worse.
Sophie has been taking money that was supposed to belong to you and the kids. Ryan knows I found out.
I stared at the page.
Ryan.
Sophie’s ex-husband.
The man she had told me was out of her life.
The man I hadn’t seen in years.
My hands started shaking.
THE MONEY WENT BACK TO OUR MOTHER’S ESTATE
Years earlier, after our mother died, Sophie had handled much of the paperwork.
She always said forms were easier for her.
Numbers.
Banks.
Accounts.
Tax documents.
I trusted her.
Why wouldn’t I?
She was my sister.
Part of my inheritance was eventually moved toward education savings for Ava and Ben.
At least—
that was what I believed.
But Adrian had found inconsistencies while helping me prepare taxes.
Little amounts missing at first.
Then larger ones.
According to his records, Sophie had been diverting money before it ever reached the children’s accounts.
Adrian had written:
I didn’t tell you until I had enough proof. I knew what accusing your sister would do to you.
I covered my mouth.
That was Adrian.
Even while investigating betrayal—
he had been worrying about how the truth would hurt me.
THEN I FOUND PHOTOGRAPHS OF SOPHIE AND RYAN
They had been taken behind Westbridge Financial Group.
Sophie meeting Ryan.
Talking.
Passing something between them.
According to Sophie, Ryan had been gone from her life for years.
Adrian’s notes said otherwise.
Ryan had returned after a failed business deal.
He owed money.
Serious money.
To people he was frightened of.
Sophie had begun giving him money.
Her explanation, according to Adrian?
She believed she was protecting their daughter Mia from whatever trouble Ryan had created.
Maybe that was how it started.
Maybe she told herself she was borrowing.
Maybe she genuinely planned to replace every dollar.
But then Adrian discovered it.
And apparently—
Ryan discovered that Adrian knew.
ONE WEEK BEFORE CEDARBROOK CURVE, ADRIAN RECEIVED A THREAT
Tucked among the papers was a photograph of a handwritten note.
Adrian had found it beneath his windshield wiper.
It said:
DROP IT. THINK OF YOUR WIFE.
I stared at those five words until my vision blurred.
Below the photograph, Adrian had written:
If Mark gives you this envelope, go to the storage unit. Old toolbox. Underside. Don’t tell Sophie.
I looked up at Mark.
“Did Adrian think Ryan might hurt him?”
Mark rubbed both hands over his face.
“He didn’t know.”
“But?”
“He was worried enough to make preparations.”
My stomach twisted.
I drove home barely aware of the road.
When I reached the house—
I saw Sophie through the kitchen window.
She was making pancakes with Ava and Ben.
Laughing.
Ben stood on a chair beside her.
Ava was trying to flip something in a pan.
For one awful second, I simply stared.
Then I walked inside smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.
