Chapter 9: The Attorney's Hidden File
I didn't accuse Samantha immediately.
I wanted to.
The thought arrived so violently that I had to put my phone down.
For three weeks, she had been the one person I believed was trying to help me. She had answered my call while I lay on the porch. She had challenged my father, protected my rights, and arranged for investigators to recover Lucas's documents.
But Daniel had warned me not to trust the person who claimed to be protecting my father.
And when he was about to reveal the recipient of the third payment, his interview had abruptly ended.
I looked at Samantha.
She was standing by the window, speaking quietly to Detective Brooks.
When she turned toward me, I forced myself to remain calm.
"Did they tell you why Daniel's interview was interrupted?""
"The detective says a supervisor ordered a pause while they verify the status of an evidence transfer.""
"What evidence transfer?""
"She didn't have the details.""
"Did you know they were going to move him?""
Samantha frowned.
"Move him where?""
I watched her face.
If she was lying, she was very good at it.
If she was innocent, my suspicion was a terrible betrayal of the one person who had stood beside me.
"I don't know," I said.
She came closer.
"Emily, what's wrong?""
I wanted to tell her about Daniel's final warning.
Instead, I asked, "How long have you represented Lucas?""
"Six years.""
"Did you know about the first payment?""
"No. I learned about it when Rachel contacted us.""
"The second payment?""
"No.""
"The third?""
She went completely still.
For one second, neither of us moved.
Then she asked, "What third payment?""
I searched her face.
Daniel had mentioned it. Lucas had written about it in the notebook. Someone had threatened me over it.
And Samantha, the attorney handling the estate, appeared to have never heard of it.
"Daniel said Lucas had proof of a third payment.""
Samantha slowly sat down.
"Did he tell you who received it?""
"No. The interview was interrupted before he could finish.""
She looked toward the door.
"Emily, I'm going to contact Detective Brooks again. If someone interfered with that interview, we need to know why.""
"Before you do that, I need you to answer something honestly.""
"Of course.""
"Have you ever represented Charles Bennett?""
Her expression changed.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
She lowered her eyes to her briefcase.
"Yes.""
The room seemed to become very quiet.
"When?""
"Several years ago. Before I began representing Lucas.""
"What did you do for him?""
"I handled a business contract dispute.""
"Was it related to Northbridge?""
Samantha hesitated.
"Yes.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"What kind of dispute?""
"A contractual disagreement involving a development project. I represented Charles's company for approximately four months.""
"And you never told Lucas?""
"He knew I had represented Charles in the past. He did not know the details of the dispute because the matter was confidential.""
"Did you represent my father when he was accused of moving money through shell companies?""
"No.""
"Did you know about the payments?""
"Not at the time.""
I watched her carefully.
"Then why did you tell me you had never seen those documents before?""
"Because I hadn't.""
Her answer came quickly.
But I was no longer willing to accept quick answers as proof.
I looked toward the window.
"Daniel said not to trust the person who claimed to be protecting my father.""
Samantha's face went pale.
"Did he say that before the call ended?""
"Yes.""
She closed her eyes briefly.
"Emily, I understand why you're suspicious. But I need you to know that attorney-client confidentiality prevents me from discussing certain details of my former representation. That doesn't mean I'm involved in the financial scheme.""
"Can you prove it?""
She opened her eyes.
"I can provide the engagement records and disclose the conflict to the appropriate authorities. If necessary, I will withdraw from any matter that could compromise your interests.""
I stared at her.
For the first time, she looked less like an invincible lawyer and more like a person who understood that the situation had become dangerous.
"Why didn't you tell me about the former representation when you first saw the documents?""
"Because I did not believe it was relevant to the estate work. I represented Charles on a separate contract dispute years ago. I did not handle his finances, and I had no involvement with Northbridge's payment arrangements.""
"Then help me understand why Daniel mentioned someone protecting my father.""
"I will. But I can't guess what he meant.""
She stood.
"I'm going to speak with the detective now. You should remain here with the hospital staff. I'll return as soon as I have information.""
I watched her leave.
Then I called Uncle Robert.
He answered immediately.
"Emily?""
"I need your help.""
I told him about Daniel's interrupted interview, the third payment, and Samantha's former connection to my father.
Robert listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he said, "Don't accuse Samantha without evidence. But don't ignore the possibility that her former work gave her access to information other people didn't have.""
"How do I find out?""
"Ask Lucas.""
I stared at the phone.
"What?""
"Your husband kept records of his meetings. If he discovered that Samantha had represented Charles, he may have documented it. Check the files Michael recovered.""
"Most of them are with the investigators.""
"Then ask Samantha to provide the inventory. And ask whether Lucas left any correspondence about his legal representation.""
I swallowed.
"What if she refuses?""
"Then you'll have learned something important.""
After the call, I asked the hospital's patient advocate to help me contact Detective Brooks.
The detective arrived within half an hour.
I explained my concerns and told her exactly what Daniel had said.
She listened carefully.
"Did you witness Samantha interfering with the interview?""
"No.""
"Did you see her communicate with the supervisor?""
"No. She was with me when the call ended.""
"Then we have no reason to conclude she was involved. But I can confirm that Daniel is safe. The interview was paused because a document was delivered that required immediate verification.""
"What document?""
"I'm not authorized to disclose the details yet.""
"Did someone order him to stop talking?""
"Not according to the information I have.""
I exhaled slowly.
At least Daniel was alive.
The detective continued.
"We are investigating the threats, the alleged assault, the forged authorization, and the financial records. Your suspicions are useful leads, but we need evidence before drawing conclusions.""
"I understand.""
She stood.
"One more thing. We've obtained a copy of the original accident report. There is nothing in it that currently establishes foul play. However, because new information has emerged about Lucas's financial activities, investigators will review whether any additional evidence warrants further examination.""
I nodded.
After she left, I returned to the files on my phone.
I found the photograph of Lucas's white envelope.
The message inside had been short.
If you're reading this, it means someone has already tried to take what belongs to you.
Below it was Uncle Robert's name.
But what if Lucas had left another message?
What if the missing black notebook wasn't the only record he had hidden?
I opened the photograph Michael had taken of Lucas's office.
I enlarged the image until the desk filled the screen.
The lower drawer was open. Papers lay across the carpet. A small picture frame had been knocked face down beside the wastebasket.
I zoomed in.
The frame contained a photograph of Lucas and me on our wedding day.
Behind it, taped to the wooden backing, was a small white card.
I called Michael.
"Did you examine the picture frame on Lucas's desk?""
He paused.
"Which frame?""
"The one with our wedding photograph. It was lying beside the wastebasket.""
"I don't remember seeing a card behind it.""
"Can you check?""
"I'll ask the evidence team.""
He called back fifteen minutes later.
"There was a card. It had been partially torn, but the writing is still legible.""
My heart raced.
"What does it say?""
"Lucas wrote, 'If the first three people fail you, call the one who never asked for money.''"
I closed my eyes.
"Who was he talking about?""
"There's a phone number on the reverse side. It belongs to a woman named Evelyn Shaw.""
I didn't recognize the name.
"Who is she?""
"Michael says she was a former financial auditor who worked with Lucas on a separate consulting project. She's now retired and lives in Connecticut.""
"Can you contact her?""
"Already have. She agreed to speak with you.""
I looked toward the hospital door.
The first three people.
Charles.
Daniel.
And perhaps Samantha.
Lucas had apparently anticipated that the people closest to him might fail me.
He had left a path toward someone else.
Someone who hadn't asked for money.
Someone who might know about the third payment.
That evening, Samantha returned.
She looked exhausted.
"I've spoken with Detective Brooks," she said.
"Daniel is safe, and the interview will resume tomorrow. The interruption was administrative, not a request to silence him.""
I nodded, but didn't tell her about Evelyn.
Instead, I asked, "Did Lucas ever mention Evelyn Shaw to you?""
Samantha's expression changed.
"Yes.""
"What did he say?""
"She helped him review some financial records. He trusted her judgment.""
"Did she know about the development contract?""
"I believe so.""
"Why didn't you tell me about her?""
"Because I didn't know she was involved in the current dispute.""
I studied her.
"Did Lucas ever leave you documents about the third payment?""
"No.""
"Did he ever tell you that he suspected someone close to him was betraying him?""
Samantha sat down.
"Yes.""
My heart thudded.
"When?""
"Two days before the accident. He called me and asked whether I would preserve a document if he sent it to me without explanation. I told him I would, but he never sent it.""
"Why didn't you tell me that earlier?""
"Because I didn't know what the document concerned. I didn't want to burden you with an incomplete story while you were grieving.""
I stared at her.
"Everyone keeps deciding what I can handle.""
She looked down.
"You're right. I should have told you.""
For the first time, I saw genuine regret in her face.
She reached into her briefcase and removed a sealed envelope.
"This was in Lucas's digital correspondence archive. Michael recovered it from a backup. It was addressed to me but never sent.""
I took it.
The envelope contained a printed email.
The subject line read:
*URGENT — CONFLICT OF INTEREST*
Lucas had written:
Samantha, I have reason to believe that someone connected to the Northbridge project has been using your former representation of Charles Bennett to obtain information about our estate planning. I don't know whether you are aware of it, but I need you to confirm that no one has accessed our records through your office.
I read it twice.
Then I looked up.
"Did you know someone might have accessed your office?""
"No," Samantha said.
"But I will have the system logs reviewed immediately.""
"Who could have done it?""
"Anyone with authorized access, if the records were not properly secured. I won't speculate until we have the logs.""
I turned the page.
At the bottom, Lucas had added one final line.
If I cannot reach you, the person who received the third payment is the only one who can explain why the policy changed.
I felt my breath catch.
"The third payment is connected to the insurance policy.""
"Apparently," Samantha replied.
I looked at the email again.
Lucas had suspected that someone had used Samantha's former representation to gain access to confidential information.
But he hadn't accused her of doing it.
He had asked her to investigate.
And he had never sent the email.
Why?
My phone rang.
Uncle Robert.
I answered.
"Emily, I've found something.""
"What?""
"I reviewed the copies of the old accounting records. The third payment wasn't transferred to a company. It was sent directly to an individual through a trust account.""
"Whose trust account?""
"An account associated with a law firm.""
My heart stopped.
"Which firm?""
Robert read the name.
It was Samantha's former firm.
I looked at Samantha.
She heard him through the speaker.
Her face went completely white.
"That's impossible," she whispered.
Robert continued.
"The transfer was authorized three days before Lucas died. The record lists a beneficiary, but the name was redacted in the copy I have.""
"Can you recover the full record?"" Samantha asked.
"I'm trying.""
Then Robert said something that made the room go silent.
"The payment was marked as compensation for arranging a change to the beneficiary designation on Lucas's life insurance policy.""
I couldn't breathe.
Samantha stood abruptly.
"I need to contact my former firm.""
"Wait," I said.
She stopped.
"Did you know about this payment?""
"No.""
"Did you authorize the policy change?""
"Absolutely not.""
"Then help us find out who did.""
She nodded.
"I will.""
But before she could leave, my phone vibrated.
An email had arrived from Evelyn Shaw.
The subject line read:
*LUCAS'S LAST WARNING — PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU TRUST ANYONE.*
I opened it.
The message contained a single sentence.
Emily, the third payment was made to the person who arranged the insurance change, but that person was not working for your father.
Below it was an attachment.
A scanned authorization form.
I recognized the signature immediately.
It wasn't mine.
It wasn't Charles's.
It wasn't Daniel's.
May you like
It belonged to someone who had spent the last three weeks telling me the truth was on my side.
Samantha Reed.
