Chapter 5 - THE NIGHT EVERYTHING CHANGED
I walked downstairs.
My father stood in the foyer.
"You're trespassing."
He smiled.
"Not anymore."
He held up the folder.
"The bank has started foreclosure proceedings."
I stared at him.
"On what?"
"The house."
"You can't."
"I can."
I looked at the three men.
"Who are they?"
"Representatives."
"Of whom?"
He didn't answer.
I called Margaret.
No response.
I called Victor.
Nothing.
My father smiled.
"You're finally realizing how alone you are."
I looked at him.
"No."
I realized something else.
He was desperate.
Desperate people make mistakes.
I opened the folder.
The documents looked official.
But something was wrong.
I flipped through them.
"Where's the original deed?"
"Not necessary."
"It is."
He stepped closer.
"You don't understand legal matters."
"I understand numbers."
I pointed.
"This account number is wrong."
He froze.
"What?"
"This bank account doesn't exist."
The men exchanged glances.
My father snatched the folder.
"Who told you that?"
"No one."
I smiled.
"You underestimated me."
His face darkened.
"You're coming with me."
"No."
He grabbed my wrist.
I pulled away.
"Touch me again and I call the police."
He laughed.
"You think anyone will believe you?"
I held up my phone.
"I already recorded you."
His smile disappeared.
The men behind him stepped back.
My father looked at them.
"Leave."
They left.
He remained.
"You've become difficult."
"No."
I stared at him.
"I've become awake."
He left.
The next morning, Victor called.
"Your father tried to wire money."
"How much?"
"Seven million."
"Where?"
"An offshore account."
I closed my eyes.
"Can we stop it?"
"We already did."
Then Victor said:
"There is another problem."
"What?"
"Someone inside the company is helping him."
"Who?"
He didn't answer immediately.
"Me."
I froze.
"What?"
"I've been working for your father."
Silence.
"Victor?"
"I'm sorry."
My heart sank.
"How long?"
"Two years."
"Why tell me now?"
"Because Daniel found out."
I couldn't breathe.
"What happened?"
"Your husband confronted me."
"And?"
"I told him I'd stop."
"Did you?"
Victor's voice cracked.
"Yes."
"Then why did he die?"
Silence.
My blood turned cold.
"Victor."
"I don't know."
"Tell me."
"I don't know."
He hung up.
I stared at the phone.
Daniel's death had been ruled accidental.
Highway collision.
Rain.
A truck crossing lanes.
But now I had questions.
Too many questions.
I called Detective Alvarez.
"Detective?"
"Yes?"
"I need you to reopen something."
"Your husband's accident?"
"Yes."
There was silence.
Then:
May you like
"Why?"
"Because I think someone wanted him dead."
