Margaret's face filled the screen.<\/p>\n
I stared at the photograph.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe hasn't changed much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew her twenty years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer zoomed in.<\/p>\n
Margaret was wearing a dark coat.<\/p>\n
Beside her stood the former accountant.<\/p>\n
They were walking toward a black vehicle.<\/p>\n
I watched the footage again.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wasn't forcing him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why would he go with her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe he trusted her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at the screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr maybe she convinced him she could protect him.\u201d<\/p>\n
I thought of the note.<\/p>\n
Your wife is already being watched.<\/p>\n
Maybe it hadn't referred to me.<\/p>\n
Maybe it had referred to Margaret.<\/p>\n
The officer asked whether I had ever met Margaret alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter David died.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow often?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first time, she asked whether David had left me anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the second?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe asked whether I still had the original insurance papers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never told me that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI had forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou forgot someone asking about the original policy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought she was helping with the estate.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer wrote something down.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she seem concerned?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout the documents?\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was very interested in them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah pulled out the estate file.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere's something here.\u201d<\/p>\n
She turned several pages.<\/p>\n
Then stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel Price represented David during the insurance settlement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Margaret worked as his assistant.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at the page.<\/p>\n
That was the first time I remembered.<\/p>\n
Margaret had been present during meetings.<\/p>\n
She knew the policy.<\/p>\n
She knew the account numbers.<\/p>\n
She knew where the documents had been stored.<\/p>\n
And after David died, she knew exactly what to ask.<\/p>\n
The officer looked at Sarah.<\/p>\n
\u201cCould she have accessed the estate records?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel had access.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Margaret?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe worked in his office.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pieces shifted again.<\/p>\n
Victor Hale may have been involved.<\/p>\n
But Daniel Price had been closer to David's estate.<\/p>\n
Margaret had been closer still.<\/p>\n
And Robert had known them both.<\/p>\n
I looked at Ellen.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did Robert meet Margaret?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did he ask you to introduce them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he needed help finding Dad's old investment records.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout seven years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared.<\/p>\n
Seven years.<\/p>\n
That was long before Robert began talking about my money.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened afterward?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe met her several times.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he tell you why?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said she knew things about Dad's estate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you ever meet her with him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSix months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe day you heard them arguing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did Margaret say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said Robert had promised to find the documents.\u201d<\/p>\n
My chest tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich documents?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe original policy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah closed her eyes briefly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Robert wasn't the person who started looking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Ellen whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was recruited.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
She swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Margaret.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer immediately called another investigator.<\/p>\n
\u201cFind everything on Margaret Price.\u201d<\/p>\n
He paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Daniel Price.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he ended the call.<\/p>\n
Sarah sat beside me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to think about the message.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat message?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one saying your husband left instructions.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at my phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe it came from Margaret.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would she warn you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe she wants you to find something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOr maybe she wants me to go somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer looked at us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
I remembered the old house.<\/p>\n
The basement.<\/p>\n
The loose brick.<\/p>\n
The hidden policy documents.<\/p>\n
I suddenly understood.<\/p>\n
If someone wanted me to retrieve them, they needed me to go there.<\/p>\n
And if Victor Hale had been watching for twenty years, he might already know where they were.<\/p>\n
I said, \u201cWe shouldn't go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgreed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer asked, \u201cThen how do we find out what David left?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at the photograph.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe we don't need to go there.\u201d<\/p>\n
I remembered the key from the metal box.<\/p>\n
A small brass key.<\/p>\n
David had labeled it with a number.<\/p>\n
I had assumed it belonged to an old filing cabinet.<\/p>\n
Sarah examined it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere's an engraving.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does it say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c314.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared.<\/p>\n
The officer asked, \u201cDoes that mean anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head.<\/p>\n
Then Ellen spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoom 314.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad had a storage unit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the bakery expanded.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
She thought for a moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe old commercial building.\u201d<\/p>\n
I remembered it.<\/p>\n
David had rented a storage unit there before we bought the bakery.<\/p>\n
I had forgotten completely.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know the address?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cRobert might.\u201d<\/p>\n
We looked toward the hallway.<\/p>\n
Robert was still with the officer.<\/p>\n
Sarah asked, \u201cWhy would your father use a storage unit?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen answered quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe kept things there that he didn't want me to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt a chill.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you ever see inside?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Robert?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer returned.<\/p>\n
\u201cRobert's lawyer has arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan we ask him about the storage unit?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe may refuse to answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen ask.\u201d<\/p>\n
The lawyer entered several minutes later.<\/p>\n
He was composed.<\/p>\n
Too composed.<\/p>\n
He introduced himself as Mark Collins.<\/p>\n
He looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Miller, my client won't answer questions without legal advice.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat's fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Sarah.<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk him one thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah turned toward Robert.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know anything about storage unit 314?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert's expression changed.<\/p>\n
It lasted less than a second.<\/p>\n
But I saw it.<\/p>\n
The lawyer noticed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Miller?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked at him.<\/p>\n
Then at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I said nothing.<\/p>\n
Sarah asked, \u201cAre you certain?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer stepped forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you won't object if we search it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert's face went pale.<\/p>\n
His lawyer immediately said, \u201cI need to understand the legal basis.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer replied, \u201cWe can obtain the necessary authorization.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked down.<\/p>\n
Ellen whispered, \u201cYou know what's there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert didn't answer.<\/p>\n
She stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat's there?\u201d<\/p>\n
He finally looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father's records.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoney.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why are you afraid?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Victor told me never to open the box.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room went silent.<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou've seen Victor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRecently?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the storage unit.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart began pounding.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree days ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert's voice dropped.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wanted the key.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at the brass key in Sarah's hand.<\/p>\n
314.<\/p>\n
The room seemed to close around us.<\/p>\n
Victor hadn't disappeared.<\/p>\n
He had been waiting.<\/p>\n
And Robert had already given him access.<\/p>\n
The officer asked, \u201cDid you give him the key?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I realized what was inside.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEvidence of what?\u201d<\/p>\n
He swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour husband's death.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn't breathe.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy husband died of a heart attack.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is what the doctors said.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked at the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor told me it wasn't that simple.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said David knew he was going to die.\u201d<\/p>\n
My hands became cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said someone made sure of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret's face filled the screen. I stared at the photograph. \u201cShe hasn't changed much.\u201d Sarah looked at me. \u201cYou know her.\u201d \u201cI knew her twenty years ago.\u201d The officer zoomed … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3850,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-readmore"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3861"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3861\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3876,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3861\/revisions\/3876"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}