Chapter 4 - DEREK’S FATHER LEFT A SECOND EMPIRE
Derek did not speak for almost a minute.
Maya had never seen him look afraid.
Annoyed, yes.
Suspicious, often.
Violent when necessary.
But afraid?
Never.
He stared at the photograph like it had reached through the phone and grabbed him by the throat.
“My father died five years ago.”
Julian said quietly:
“We saw the body.”
“I know.”
“Then the photograph can still be real.”
Derek looked up sharply.
“You think Marco was working with Bellini after telling Dominic he was dead?”
Julian said nothing.
That was answer enough.
They drove back to the penthouse.
Security had doubled.
The service hall where Maya usually carried groceries now had armed men every twenty feet.
She hated it.
Not because she feared them.
Because she finally understood how much danger had always existed behind the polished walls.
Derek took them to the secure room.
Maya had cleaned near it dozens of times without knowing what lay behind the reinforced panel.
The safe door stood open.
No damage.
No forced entry.
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“Who knew the code?”
“Four people,” Derek said.
“You.”
“Me.”
“Who else?”
“Marco did.”
“He’s dead.”
“Exactly.”
Maya noticed Julian’s expression.
“And the fourth?”
Derek hesitated.
“Mrs. Calder.”
Maya blinked.
“Housekeeper Calder?”
Evelyn Calder.
Sixty-two.
Worked in the Croft household since Julian was a teenager.
She managed schedules, staff, kitchens, guest floors.
Maya trusted her more than almost anyone.
“She knows the code?”
Julian nodded.
“She knew my father’s systems.”
“Where is she?”
Derek looked at a guard.
“Home. Supposedly.”
Maya thought about something.
That afternoon, Evelyn had left early.
Migraine.
At least that was what she said.
“Check her location.”
Derek made the call.
No answer.
Then another.
No answer.
Maya felt dread settle into her stomach.
Julian turned toward the empty safe.
“The ledger wasn’t just taken.”
“What do you mean?”
He pointed.
Inside the safe, one object remained.
A cassette tape.
Old.
Unlabeled.
Derek stared.
“That wasn’t there.”
Julian picked it up.
“Whoever stole the ledger left us something.”
They found an old recorder in storage.
Maya sat across from Julian while Derek inserted the tape.
Static.
Then a man’s voice.
Dominic Croft.
Julian’s father.
Older recording.
“If you’re hearing this, Marco made his choice.”
Derek froze.
Julian did too.
Dominic continued:
“I suspected Bellini survived.”
Derek whispered:
“Jesus.”
“Marco told me the problem was resolved. It was not.”
Static cracked.
“Victor is not the danger. Victor is the courier.”
Maya looked at Julian.
Courier for what?
Dominic continued.
“If Marco is involved, then the ledger must never reach Calder.”
Maya’s heart stopped.
Calder.
Evelyn?
Julian leaned forward.
Dominic’s voice sharpened.
“Evelyn knows where the second book is.”
The tape clicked.
Silence.
Maya frowned.
“Second book?”
Derek looked at Julian.
Julian looked equally surprised.
“You didn’t know?”
“No.”
That frightened Maya more than anything.
Dominic had left secrets even Julian had never seen.
Derek rewound.
Nothing else.
Then Maya’s phone rang.
Mrs. Calder.
Everyone froze.
Maya answered.
“Evelyn?”
A woman breathed heavily.
“Maya.”
Her voice sounded weak.
“Where are you?”
“Don’t tell Julian.”
Too late.
Julian was standing three feet away.
Maya put the call on speaker.
“Are you hurt?”
“Listen carefully.”
Something crashed in the background.
“Victor doesn’t want money.”
“I know.”
“He wants Dominic’s second ledger.”
“Where is it?”
Pause.
“In Maya’s room.”
Everyone stopped.
Maya stared at Julian.
“What?”
Evelyn continued.
“Dominic hid it years before Maya ever came to the penthouse.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if you know who her mother is.”
Maya went still.
“My mother?”
Evelyn whispered:
May you like
“Elena Torres was never supposed to survive Chicago.”
Then the call disconnected.
