Chapter 2
The police lights disappeared down the street, but I didn’t move.
Lily had fallen asleep against my shoulder.
Her tiny hand still gripped my shirt.
I wanted to believe the nightmare was finished.
Then the tablet buzzed again.
Unknown Number: Ryan failed. Diane failed. Do it without them.
My hands turned cold.
I showed the message to Officer Martinez, who had remained behind to take photographs.
“Can you trace this?”
“We’ll document it.”
“That person knows they were arrested.”
Martinez looked toward the windows.
“Do you know anyone else who had access to information about Lily’s trust?”
“My attorney. The bank. Ryan.”
“Family?”
I hesitated.
My younger brother, Aaron.
But Aaron lived three states away.
And he hated Ryan.
“No one who would help them.”
Martinez nodded.
“Change your locks tonight. Don’t stay alone if you can avoid it.”
I looked at sleeping Lily.
“I’m not leaving this house.”
It had belonged to my father.
Ryan had moved in after we married.
I wasn’t running from my own home.
After the officer left, I locked every door.
Then I called my attorney, Rebecca Cole.
She answered immediately.
“Emily?”
“Ryan and Diane were arrested.”
Silence.
“What happened?”
I told her.
When I mentioned the messages about the trust fund, Rebecca’s voice changed.
“Send me screenshots now.”
“I already forwarded them.”
“Do not access the trust account.”
“Why?”
“Because someone tried to change the authorized trustee this morning.”
I stopped breathing.
“What?”
“I received an automated notification because I helped establish the account.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Ryan?”
“The request carried your digital signature.”
I stared at the tablet.
“I didn’t sign anything.”
“I know.”
The fear inside me changed shape.
This wasn’t only Ryan manipulating arguments.
Someone had forged my signature.
Someone had started moving before Ryan and Diane were arrested.
Rebecca continued.
“The request named a replacement trustee.”
“Who?”
She hesitated.
“Your brother.”
My knees nearly gave out.
“Aaron?”
“Yes.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Emily, call him.”
I did.
He didn’t answer.
I called again.
Voicemail.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a text appeared.
Aaron: Don’t trust Rebecca.
I immediately called him.
This time, he answered.
“Emily?”
“Why is your name on Lily’s trust?”
“What?”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not.”
“You texted me not to trust Rebecca.”
“I didn’t text you anything.”
My blood went cold.
“Aaron…”
“I lost my phone yesterday.”
I looked at the message on my screen.
Someone had his phone.
Someone knew about Rebecca.
“Where are you?”
“At home. Why?”
“Do not go anywhere.”
“Emily, you’re scaring me.”
“You should be scared.”
I explained everything.
Aaron went silent.
Then he said something that made the room feel smaller.
“Dad warned me.”
“About what?”
“Before he died.”
I gripped the phone.
“Our father?”
“He said if anyone ever tried to take Lily’s trust, I should check the old office safe.”
“What safe?”
“The one behind the bookshelf in his study.”
I turned slowly toward the hallway.
My father’s study had remained untouched since his death.
Ryan hated the room.
He always wanted to renovate it.
I had never allowed him.
I carried Lily upstairs, placed her in her crib, then opened the baby monitor on my phone.
I went downstairs.
The study smelled like dust and old books.
I pulled the bookshelf away from the wall.
Behind it was a small steel panel.
A safe.
I stared at the keypad.
I had no combination.
Then I remembered something Dad used to say.
“Nothing matters more than family.”
Lily’s birthday.
214.
The lock clicked.
Inside was a folder.
A flash drive.
And an envelope with my name.
I opened the envelope first.
Emily,
If you’re reading this, someone has come for Lily’s money.
Do not trust anyone simply because they call themselves family.
My hands trembled.
Below that was one final sentence.
Especially not Rebecca Cole.
I stared at the letter.
My attorney.
The woman currently controlling every legal document connected to Lily’s trust.
Then my phone rang.
Rebecca.
I answered without speaking.
“Emily,” she said quickly. “I need you to listen carefully.”
I looked at my father’s warning.
“What?”
May you like
“Someone just entered your house.”
A floorboard creaked behind me.
