Chapter 4: Four C
Captain Reed looked at me.
Daniel did not.
The key sat between them on the fold-down tray.
Small.
Brass.
Old enough that the edges had gone dark.
My father used to keep a key exactly like that on his desk.
I remembered it because, when I was a child, I once asked him what it opened.
He had smiled.
“That,” he said, “is something you’ll know when you’re older.””
I had laughed.
He had tucked it into his pocket.
Twenty years later, I was staring at it on an airplane.
Captain Reed stood when I approached.
“Sit down,” he said.
I remained standing.
“Where did you get that?””
He glanced at Daniel.
“This was found near the cockpit.””
Daniel finally looked at me.
“I told you someone took it.””
“You told me you lost it.””
“I didn’t lose it.””
Captain Reed’s voice was controlled.
“We found it under a service panel.””
“That makes no sense,” I said.
“No,” he agreed.
Daniel stood.
“Rachel, let’s talk privately.””
“No.””
“Please.””
“No.””
His face tightened.
Captain Reed looked between us.
“I need both of you to understand something.””
“What?”” I asked.
“This key wasn’t dropped.””
I frowned.
“How do you know?””
“Because that panel is locked.””
Daniel went pale.
“Captain…”
Captain Reed held up a hand.
“Someone opened it.””
The aircraft suddenly seemed colder.
I looked at the key.
“What does it open?””
Neither man answered.
“Daniel?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Your father’s archive.””
I stared at him.
“What archive?””
“He kept a private records room beneath the old headquarters.””
“The headquarters was sold.””
“Yes.””
“Then the room is gone.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Not all of it.””
I looked at Captain Reed.
“How do you know?””
He met my eyes.
“Because I was there the night your father asked me to help him.””
My breath caught.
“You knew my father?””
Captain Reed nodded.
“Better than I admitted.””
Daniel looked furious.
“You promised me you wouldn’t involve her until the investigation was finished.””
Captain Reed turned toward him.
“The investigation ended when they killed Thomas Bennett.””
There it was.
The first time anyone had said it without hesitation.
Killed.
Not died.
Killed.
I sat down.
“My father was murdered?””
Captain Reed pulled the empty seat beside me out.
“Rachel.””
“No.””
I looked at Daniel.
“No more half-truths.””
Daniel sat.
Captain Reed remained standing.
“Your father discovered that forty-two million dollars had been moved through accounts linked to the company.””
“I know.””
“He also discovered that the transfers were being approved using credentials belonging to people who were supposed to be dead.””
My stomach twisted.
“My mother?””
Captain Reed nodded.
“Your mother’s identity was used.””
“By whom?””
He looked directly at me.
“We never proved it.””
Daniel interrupted.
“But your father believed he knew.””
“Who?””
Daniel’s mouth tightened.
“Someone close to him.””
I stood again.
“Who?””
Silence.
Then Captain Reed said, “Your mother’s accountant.””
I remembered the note.
My pulse quickened.
“Who is he?””
“Elliot Shaw.””
The name meant nothing.
Daniel stared at the floor.
“He disappeared two days before your father died.””
“Disappeared?””
“He left town.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew he was next.””
The captain’s phone vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?””
“Problem?”” I asked.
He slipped the phone into his pocket.
“No.””
“That was a lie.””
“Yes.””
He looked toward the front of the aircraft.
“We have a ground security alert waiting for us.””
My chest tightened.
“For me?””
“Possibly.””
“Who requested it?””
“I don’t know.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“I do.””
We both looked at him.
“They know she has the key.””
I stared at him.
“How?””
Daniel reached into his jacket again.
This time he pulled out a photograph.
He placed it on the tray.
It showed my father standing outside the old headquarters.
Beside him was a woman.
My mother.
I had seen that photograph before.
But Daniel turned it over.
There was writing on the back.
My father’s handwriting again.
*Rachel must never know what happened in Room 17.*
I whispered, “Room 17?””
Daniel nodded.
“It was where your father stored the original financial records.””
“Why didn’t he tell me?””
“Because he believed someone in your own household was reporting everything you did.””
“Someone in my household?””
“Yes.””
I felt suddenly dizzy.
My parents had been dead for years.
There was no one left.
No one except—
I stopped.
My older brother, Julian.
He had handled my father’s estate.
He had taken over the company after I was forced out.
He had insisted the books were clean.
He had been the person who told me not to “destroy the family further” by asking questions.
My voice came out barely above a whisper.
“Julian.””
Daniel didn’t respond.
He didn’t have to.
Captain Reed moved closer.
“Rachel, when we land, do not leave with the first person who approaches you.””
“Why?””
“Because there will be someone waiting.””
“Who?””
He looked at Daniel.
Then at the key.
Then back at me.
“The person who sent you the messages.””
My phone buzzed.
I looked down.
One new message.
*Get off the plane alone.*
Then another.
*And whatever Captain Reed tells you, do not trust him.*
A third followed before I could breathe.
*He was the one who helped your father hide Room 17.*
I slowly lifted my eyes.
Captain Reed was watching me.
He said, “What did they send you?””
I didn’t answer.
Because for the first time since this began, I wondered whether Captain Reed had been protecting me.
Or controlling me.
The wheels touched the runway.
The cabin filled with the sound of brakes and rushing air.
When the plane stopped at the gate, every passenger reached for their belongings.
I stayed seated.
Captain Reed opened the cockpit door.
“Rachel.””
I looked at him.
“You need to come with me.””
Daniel stood behind him.
“Don’t,” he said.
Captain Reed turned.
“Daniel, sit down.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
His eyes locked on mine.
“Rachel, ask him one question.””
“What question?””
Daniel pointed at Captain Reed.
May you like
“Ask him why he was the last person to see your father alive.””
Captain Reed went completely still.