Chapter 4 - Box 317
Daniel was waiting in the private banking lobby when Adrian arrived.
"You look terrible."
"My daughter was pushed into a pool."
Daniel's expression changed.
"By Vanessa?"
"That's what Sophie says."
Daniel studied him.
"And what do you say?"
"I say I should have listened sooner."
They were escorted downstairs through two steel doors.
The vault attendant placed Box 317 on a table.
Adrian inserted the brass key.
His hand shook once.
Then the lock turned.
Inside were three things.
A flash drive.
A sealed envelope with Adrian's name.
And a photograph.
Adrian picked up the photo first.
Claire stood outside a downtown restaurant.
Beside her was Vanessa.
And beside Vanessa was Graham Steele, the chief financial officer of Cole Holdings.
The date printed on the back was six weeks before Claire died.
Daniel frowned.
"Why was Claire meeting Graham?"
"She hated him."
Adrian opened the envelope.
Claire's handwriting hit him like a voice from the grave.
Adrian,
If you are reading this, I either failed to stop them or I waited too long.
Vanessa Rowe and Graham Steele are stealing from the Sophie Cole Trust through shell vendors connected to the Claire Cole Foundation.
Do not confront them until you have copied everything.
And please, Adrian, do not let Vanessa near Sophie.
She knows I found out.
Adrian stopped reading.
The room felt too small.
Daniel took the letter and continued silently.
Adrian plugged the flash drive into the bank's offline terminal.
Folders appeared.
Invoices.
Bank transfers.
Audio files.
Security screenshots.
One folder was labeled:
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME.
Adrian clicked.
A video opened.
Claire appeared on screen, sitting in the same study where Vanessa now kept her wedding planner.
Her face was pale.
"If Adrian sees this, I need him to understand something. I am not suicidal. I am not confused. I am not imagining things."
Adrian's heart began hammering.
Claire looked directly into the camera.
"Vanessa has been inside our house without permission. Graham gave her access. I believe they are trying to move money before Sophie's trust becomes independently audited."
The video glitched.
Then Claire said:
"And if my car fails again, it will not be an accident."
Adrian stopped breathing.
Daniel whispered, "Again?"
The vault door opened behind them.
A security officer stepped in.
"Mr. Cole, there's a woman upstairs asking for access to Box 317."
Adrian stood.
"Who?"
The officer hesitated.
"She says she's your wife."
Adrian's face hardened.
"I'm not married."
The officer handed him a photocopy of the ID she had presented.
May you like
It had Vanessa's photograph.
And Adrian's last name.
