Evelyn’s fingers tightened around the doorframe.
“What was the missing ledger?” she asked.
I looked at her. “I don’t know.”
That was the truth, though it sounded impossible coming from me. I had grown up surrounded by Moretti business records, family stories, and whispered conversations that stopped whenever I entered a room. But after my father’s death, I had taken control of the organization in pieces, relying on people who had worked beside him longer than I had.
Daniel Vale had been one of those people.
“He handled the old accounts,” I continued. “Mostly legal transfers, property holdings, charitable trusts. My father trusted him.”
“Did you?”
“I trusted the fact that my father did.”
Marcus pulled out his phone. “I’ll look into Vale.”
“No,” I said. “Not through the usual channels.”
His
eyes lifted.
“If my mother was telling the truth, this ledger has already been used to frighten Evelyn. I don’t want anyone connected to the organization asking questions in Boston.”
Marcus understood immediately. “I’ll use an outside investigator.”
“And keep it quiet.”
“I will.”
Evelyn looked between us. “What does the ledger contain?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“But someone thought it mattered enough to send me away.”
“Perhaps.”
She gave me a tired smile. “That’s not reassuring.”
“No,” I admitted. “It isn’t.”
Julian appeared behind her. “Evelyn, Lily wants to know if the visitor is leaving.”
The words were simple, but they brought me back to the boundary I had nearly forgotten.
“I’m leaving,” I said. “I’m sorry for arriving without warning.”
Evelyn studied me for a moment. “You can come tomorrow.”
The permission was so unexpected that I almost misunderstood her.
“For the documents,” she added. “Clara is bringing
them.”
“I’ll be here.”
“You may meet the children,” she said. “If they’re comfortable.”
My heart moved painfully against my ribs.
“I’ll follow your lead.”
“That matters.”
I nodded.
Then I stepped away from the house.
Marcus waited until we were inside the car before speaking.
“What are you thinking?”
“That my father kept secrets from me. My mother intercepted letters. Clara followed orders she shouldn’t have followed. And Daniel Vale may have known about my children before I did.”Get Parenting Tips
“Those are facts.”
“I’m thinking about the part that isn’t.”
He glanced at me.
“Why would Vale warn Evelyn instead of using the information against me?”
Marcus looked back through the window at the brownstone.
