Chapter 7: The Notebook in Derek's Hands
"Don't you dare go anywhere near that house.""
My father's voice cut through the hospital room as Derek's image disappeared from my phone.
I was still staring at the black screen.
My mother's notebook.
Sixteen years of unanswered questions.
And now Derek was holding the one thing my father had spent years searching for.
Renee closed the laptop.
"Charles, we need to contact the police immediately.""
Dad nodded.
"Already doing it.""
He stepped into the hallway and began speaking to the security officer. His voice was controlled, but I could see the tension in his shoulders.
Evelyn remained beside my bed.
She looked as if someone had taken all the strength out of her.
"How did he get it?"" I asked.
She didn't answer.
"Mrs. Bennett, how did Derek get my mother's notebook?""
She finally looked up.
"Because I told him where to look.""
The room went silent.
My father turned around.
"What?""
Evelyn's hands began trembling.
"Three weeks ago, Derek came to see me. He said he'd found evidence that Martin was stealing money from the company. He told me he wanted to protect the family.""
Dad stepped toward her.
"And you believed him?""
"I wanted to believe him.""
"So you told him about the notebook?""
"I told him your mother had kept a record of the transactions. I didn't tell him where it was.""
"Then how did he find it?""
Evelyn swallowed.
"Because he searched Charles's old house.""
I looked at my father.
"Your house?""
Dad nodded slowly.
"He broke into my study last month.""
I remembered Dad mentioning that someone had damaged the lock on his back door.
He had said it was probably a neighborhood kid.
He hadn't told me anything else.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't want to frighten you while you were pregnant.""
I let out a bitter laugh.
"Everyone keeps deciding what I can handle.""
Dad looked at me.
"You're right.""
His answer surprised me.
He pulled a chair beside my bed.
"I thought protecting you meant keeping the frightening parts away from you. Your mother did the same thing. Maybe that's why we both made mistakes.""
I looked at Lily.
She was sleeping peacefully.
I didn't want her growing up surrounded by secrets.
I didn't want her learning that silence was the price of safety.
"Then tell me everything," I said.
Dad nodded.
He explained that after my mother's death, he'd spent months trying to locate her financial records. He had contacted banks, former colleagues, and even the attorney who handled her estate.
Nothing.
The safety deposit box was the only lead he'd ever had.
But he'd never found the right bank.
The number on the key had meant nothing until Evelyn identified it.
Renee interrupted.
"There's another problem. If Derek has the notebook, he may attempt to destroy it.""
"Then we recover it," Dad replied.
"Not by going to the house," I said.
Everyone looked at me.
I pointed toward the phone.
"He wants me there. That's why he showed me the notebook.""
Renee nodded.
"He's trying to control the situation.""
"And he knows I won't come willingly.""
Dad leaned forward.
"You're not going anywhere near him.""
"I wasn't suggesting that.""
I took a breath.
"He thinks I'm still the woman who apologizes whenever he gets angry. He thinks showing me something connected to my mother will make me panic and run back to him.""
Renee considered this.
"That's possible.""
"What if we let him think he's succeeded?""
Dad frowned.
"No.""
"Listen to me. He wants something from me. Maybe he thinks I know where the rest of the documents are. Maybe he thinks I can access something he can't.""
Evelyn suddenly spoke.
"There's something else in that notebook.""
"What?""
"Your mother told me once that the notebook wasn't the only record. She had made a second copy and hidden it somewhere Derek would never think to look.""
Dad sat forward.
"Where?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"She never told me.""
I looked at the brass key on the table.
"Then we open the safety deposit box.""
Renee checked her phone.
"I've contacted the bank. They're verifying the account, but we'll need the proper legal authorization and identification before accessing it.""
"How long?""
"Possibly tomorrow morning.""
My phone vibrated again.
Another message from Derek.
*You have until midnight. Come alone, or the notebook disappears.*
Dad took the phone.
"No.""
I looked at him.
"He's bluffing.""
"Maybe. But we're not risking your life to find out.""
A knock sounded.
The security officer entered.
"Mr. Bennett, the police have arrived. They want to speak with Mrs. Bennett about the attempted contact and the threatening messages.""
Renee stood.
"I'll accompany her.""
As they left, Evelyn caught my hand.
"There's something I haven't told you.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Your mother wasn't the only person who disappeared from that family.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
Evelyn looked toward the door.
"My son. Derek's father.""
Dad went completely still.
"Robert Bennett?""
"No," Evelyn whispered.
"My older son, Daniel.""
I stared at her.
"Who was Daniel?""
She lowered her voice.
"He was the person who helped your mother investigate the company. And the last person who saw her alive.""
Before I could ask another question, Dad's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then slowly lowered it.
"What happened?"" I asked.
He looked at Evelyn.
"The police found Martin's car outside the hospital.""
"That's good, isn't it?""
Dad shook his head.
"Martin isn't in it.""
"Then where is he?""
Dad glanced at the officer standing outside.
May you like
"He's inside the hospital.""
And somewhere on another floor, a man who had been connected to my mother's death for sixteen years was looking for my daughter.
