Chapter 14
Claire pressed the number.
It rang five times.
Then went to voicemail.
She ended the call without leaving a message.
A minute later, her phone vibrated.
Please don’t call me again.
Claire stared at the words.
Another message followed.
If Adrian asks, you have not heard from me.
Then a third.
The key opens a room, not a door.
Emily read over her shoulder.
“Maybe now you can stop thinking she’s trying to help.”
Claire’s gaze remained on the screen.
“Maybe she’s trying to survive.”
That evening, Margaret called.
Claire nearly let the call go unanswered. Instead, she picked up.
“Hello?”
“I was told you met with your attorney.”
“Who told you?”
“Adrian.”
“Why is he discussing my legal meetings with you?”
“He wanted to know whether you had found anything about Lake Briar.”
Claire felt a chill move through her.
“What did you tell him?”
“That I had no idea what you were doing.”
“Did he believe you?”
“No.”
Margaret’s voice was tired. “Claire, I need to explain something.”
“Does it involve the house?”
“Yes.”
Claire sat at the kitchen table. Emily, who was sorting through takeout containers, looked up.
Margaret continued, “Lake Briar belonged to Adrian’s grandfather. It was not simply a vacation house. During the late years of his life, he used it to store records from the family businesses.”
“Records that could cause trouble?”
“Some could. Mostly old contracts and correspondence. His grandfather was not a sentimental man, but he understood the importance of keeping evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
“Transactions. Partnerships. Disputes. Things that should have been destroyed but were not.”
Claire absorbed this.
“Why put the property in my name?”
“I asked Adrian the same question.”
“What did he say?”
“That you were the only person he trusted to preserve it.”
Claire let out a quiet, disbelieving breath.
“He never trusted me with the truth.”
“Perhaps he trusted the part of you he could not control.”
The honesty startled her.
Margaret continued, “When the restoration began, Adrian told me he wanted to create a place that did not belong to the business. He said you understood old buildings and would know how to protect the property from being absorbed into another development.”
“Then why didn’t he tell me?”
“I believe he intended to.”
“But he didn’t.”
“No.”
“Did Sophia know?”
There was a pause.
“Yes.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“How?”
“She helped Adrian organize some of the records.”