Chapter 4 - THE SECRET BURIED WITH HIS MOTHER
Adrien's mother, Helena Voss, had been dead for eleven years.
She was buried in a private cemetery outside Chicago, beneath a white marble headstone that Adrien visited twice a year.
He never brought flowers.
His mother had hated cut flowers.
Instead, he brought books.
Small paperbacks.
Poetry.
Mysteries.
Stories she'd loved.
He would sit beside her grave and read a few pages aloud.
It was the one habit nobody in his organization knew about.
Except Isabella.
She'd discovered it by accident six months after starting work at the estate.
Adrien had returned from the cemetery carrying a rain-soaked paperback.
She'd offered to dry it.
He'd refused.
Then, unexpectedly, told her why he carried books there.
Isabella had never forgotten.
Now, sitting across from him at the police station, she explained.
"Your mother left a donation box at the cemetery chapel."
Adrien nodded.
"I know."
"There's a maintenance cabinet behind it."
He frowned.
"How do you know that?"
"I helped the caretaker organize the chapel last spring."
Adrien stared.
She continued.
"I put a waterproof envelope inside an old electrical inspection folder."
He looked at her.
"Why there?"
"Because Daniel knows every bank account, every storage facility, every safe-deposit box connected to your family."
She swallowed.
"But he doesn't know you visit your mother's grave to read."
Adrien sat back.
For the first time, he understood how carefully Isabella had watched him.
Not to betray him.
To find a place safe from the people who might.
The following morning, Detective Hayes arranged for investigators to retrieve the envelope.
Adrien and Isabella were not permitted to handle the evidence.
They waited in a nearby office while the search took place.
Inside the envelope were photocopies of financial records, a flash drive, and a handwritten note from Samuel Bennett.
The note was dated two days before his death.
If anything happens to me, follow the payments through Mercer Transportation Holdings. Bellwether is being drained from the inside. Adrien Voss may not know.
Adrien read the words twice.
Then a third time.
He looked at Isabella.
"Your father thought I might be innocent."
She nodded.
"He wasn't sure."
Adrien's expression tightened.
"Neither were you."
She looked down.
"No."
He sat beside her.
"That's fair."
She looked up.
He continued.
"My family has given people plenty of reasons to distrust us."
Isabella's eyes filled.
"I didn't want to hurt you."
Adrien looked at her.
"You didn't."
She shook her head.
"I lied about why I came here."
"Yes."
"I searched for information."
"Yes."
"And I left without telling you."
Adrien was quiet.
Then said:
"You were trying to protect your brother."
She began crying.
He didn't touch her.
He simply stayed.
That afternoon, the investigators confirmed that Noah was safe.
He had been moved temporarily to a secure location after reporting that an unfamiliar vehicle had followed him near campus.
Isabella spoke to him by telephone.
When she heard his voice, she broke down.
"Isa?"
"Hey, Noah."
"Are you okay?"
She laughed through tears.
"That's supposed to be my question."
He was quiet.
Then whispered:
"Please don't disappear like Dad."
Isabella covered her mouth.
Adrien turned away to give her privacy.
After the call, she sat silently.
Adrien approached.
"Isabella."
She looked up.
"You don't have to come back to the estate."
Her expression changed.
He continued.
"I'll help you find somewhere safe. Independent security. Legal counsel. Whatever you need."
She stared.
"You're not asking me to stay?"
Adrien smiled sadly.
"I already asked you to leave once."
He looked down.
"I won't make that mistake by trying to control where you go next."
Isabella reached for his hand.
For a moment, he looked surprised.
Then his fingers closed gently around hers.
May you like
Outside, Chicago rain began falling again.
And for the first time since her father died, Isabella felt she might not have to face the truth alone.
