Chapter 5 - THE NECKLACE THAT HELD A FORTUNE
I had carved the amber star when I was eighteen.
Back then, I didn't know much about jewelry.
I used a small hand drill.
A pocketknife.
And hours of patience.
The star was crooked.
One point was shorter than the others.
Nora loved it anyway.
She said perfect things were boring.
Now I held the pendant beneath a hospital lamp.
I noticed something I'd forgotten.
The gold setting contained a tiny removable screw.
I'd designed it so Nora could replace the chain without damaging the stone.
Nora watched me.
“Andrew found the compartment.”
I stared.
“What compartment?”
She smiled faintly.
“You were clever even when you were eighteen.”
I examined the setting.
There was a narrow cavity behind the amber.
Just large enough for a tiny storage chip.
I carefully removed the backing.
Inside was a microSD card.
My heart pounded.
Nora looked at me.
“Andrew copied records before he died.”
I stared at the card.
“Why hide them here?”
“Because Victor searched our apartment after the funeral.”
I felt cold.
“He searched your home?”
She nodded.
“He said he was helping me settle Andrew's affairs.”
Her voice trembled.
“But things disappeared.”
I swallowed.
“Did he threaten you?”
Nora looked away.
“Not directly.”
I waited.
“He told me accidents happen to people who misunderstand complicated financial matters.”
My jaw tightened.
I contacted Rachel.
“Find an independent forensic accountant and an attorney who has no connection to Cole Industries.”
She nodded.
“Understood.”
“And arrange secure preservation of this evidence.”
Rachel looked at the pendant.
“Ethan, what is this?”
I swallowed.
“Something that may explain why a good man died.”
That evening, Maisie visited Nora.
She climbed carefully onto the hospital bed.
“Mommy?”
Nora smiled.
“Hello, my sunshine.”
Maisie hugged her.
“I made money.”
Nora's eyes filled.
“I heard.”
“Mr. Ethan helped.”
Nora looked toward me.
I smiled faintly.
Maisie continued.
“He knows your song.”
Nora's face changed.
She looked at me.
“You sang it?”
I shook my head.
“She did.”
Maisie grinned.
“And he cried.”
Nora laughed softly.
For one brief moment, the hospital room felt warm.
Normal.
Almost happy.
Then Maisie asked:
“Mommy, is Mr. Ethan the boy in your picture?”
Nora went still.
I looked at her.
She swallowed.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Maisie turned toward me.
Her eyes widened.
“You're the boy?”
I smiled.
“A much older version.”
She studied me.
Then said:
“Mommy said you were her favorite person.”
Nora covered her face.
I felt tears sting my eyes.
Maisie looked confused.
“Did I say something bad?”
I knelt beside her.
“No, sweetheart.”
I smiled through tears.
“You said something beautiful.”
Later that night, Rachel called.
Her voice was tense.
“Ethan, the preliminary files are disturbing.”
I stood.
“What did you find?”
She swallowed.
“Victor Hale has been diverting money from employee benefit accounts.”
My blood went cold.
“How much?”
“Potentially tens of millions.”
I stared at the hospital window.
Then Rachel added:
“And Nora's medical coverage may have been affected by the same scheme.”
I closed my eyes.
The money that should have helped sick employees.
The money that should have protected families.
May you like
Had been stolen.
And Maisie had been standing in the snow trying to collect one dollar at a time.
