Chapter 5 - The Widow Who Knew Nothing
They spent the night inside the Maine house.
Daniel revealed another secret.
Ethan had contacted him three years earlier.
Ethan had discovered irregularities in Whitmore's financial records.
He had traced twenty million dollars.
The money had been moved through a company called Whitmore Development Partners.
Daniel said Ethan had been terrified.
“He told me someone was watching Marissa.”
“Why didn't he tell her?” Adrian asked.
“Because he believed knowing the truth would make her a target.”
Marissa closed her eyes.
“He died because of this.”
Daniel didn't answer.
That silence told her enough.
In a locked room they found a metal box.
Inside were financial records, a computer drive, and another photograph.
Thomas stood with Elizabeth.
Between them was a newborn.
On the back:
“First child protected.”
Marissa stared at the photograph.
“That’s me?”
Daniel nodded.
Then Richard found a letter.
It was from Thomas.
“My daughter,
If you're reading this, I failed to protect you myself.
But remember this:
The person who knows the truth is your mother.”
Marissa looked up.
“My mother?”
Richard nodded.
“Elizabeth.”
May you like
Then Daniel added quietly:
“She isn't dead.”
