Chapter 3: The Locked Suitcase
The brass key sat in Daniel's palm.
He stared at it for several seconds.
Then he looked at Evelyn.
She had stopped crying.
That frightened him more than her tears.
“What's in the suitcase?”” Daniel asked.
Evelyn didn't answer.
“Evelyn.””
She looked toward the floor.
“I don't know.””
Marcus gave a humorless laugh.
“You know exactly what's in it.””
Daniel turned to him.
“Enough.””
Marcus raised both hands.
“I'm only saying what everyone else is thinking.””
Daniel looked at the security guard.
“Bring it here.””
The guard hesitated.
“Sir, it's already been secured.””
“Bring it here.””
Two guards left.
Noah watched Evelyn carefully.
She sat with her hands folded in her lap.
Too still.
Almost unnaturally still.
Daniel approached her.
“Did you plan to kill me?””
Evelyn looked up.
“No.””
“Then why was there powder in my drink?””
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“I swear.””
Daniel's voice rose.
“You watched me almost drink it.””
“I panicked.””
“You refused to drink it yourself.””
“I was sick.””
“Then why did you try to run?””
She said nothing.
Daniel leaned closer.
“Give me one honest answer.””
Evelyn's eyes filled again.
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
She whispered, “Of losing everything.””
Daniel stared at her.
“You already had everything.””
Her expression cracked.
“You don't understand.””
“No,” he said quietly.
“I don't.””
The guards returned carrying a black suitcase.
They placed it on the dining table.
The guests had gathered farther away, but nobody had left.
Daniel inserted the key.
It turned.
Click.
The lock opened.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Daniel lifted the lid.
Inside were folders.
Bank statements.
Insurance contracts.
Property documents.
A second phone.
Several envelopes.
And a thick manila file with Daniel's full legal name printed across the front.
He picked it up.
His hands were steady.
“What's this?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
Daniel opened the file.
The first page was a life insurance policy.
Eight million dollars.
His name was listed as the insured.
His wife's name was listed as the sole beneficiary.
Daniel turned the page.
Another policy.
Five million.
Another.
Three million.
His face became expressionless.
Marcus stood behind him.
“I told you.””
Daniel continued searching.
Then he found a document dated eleven months earlier.
It was a change-of-beneficiary form.
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
He read it twice.
Then looked at Evelyn.
“You changed my policy.””
She swallowed.
“I needed security.””
“You made yourself the only beneficiary.””
“I was your wife.””
“That isn't an answer.””
She stood.
“I spent years building this life with you.””
“You spent years planning what would happen after I died.””
“No.””
Daniel held up the document.
“Then explain this.””
Evelyn couldn't.
Noah watched as Daniel placed the paper down.
Then Daniel picked up the second phone.
“Whose is this?””
Evelyn's voice was barely audible.
“Mine.””
“Why have a second phone?””
“I wanted privacy.””
Daniel turned it on.
The screen required a password.
He looked at Evelyn.
“Password.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Password.””
“I won't.””
Daniel handed the phone to the police officer who had just arrived.
The officer took it.
“We'll handle it.””
Evelyn's head snapped up.
“You can't.””
The officer looked at her.
“Mrs. Vale, given what we've been told, we're going to preserve everything in this room.””
“I haven't done anything.””
The officer looked toward the pitcher.
“You're welcome to explain that.””
Noah stood quietly near the wall.
One of the guests approached him.
“You really saw her put something in it?””
Noah nodded.
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Through the dining room window.””
Another guest whispered, “Why didn't you stop her?””
Noah looked down.
“Because I knew nobody would believe me.””
Daniel heard him.
He turned.
“Noah.””
The gardener looked up.
Daniel walked toward him.
“I believe you.””
Noah's eyes dropped.
“Thank you.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No. I should have believed you before I had proof.””
Evelyn suddenly spoke.
“Daniel, please.””
He turned toward her.
She was crying again.
“You don't know the whole story.””
“Then tell me.””
“I was desperate.””
“For what?””
She looked at the guests.
Then at Marcus.
Finally, at Noah.
Her voice dropped.
“I owed someone money.””
Daniel frowned.
“How much?””
“More than I had.””
“Who?””
She said nothing.
Marcus answered.
“Victor.””
Evelyn's face went white.
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“Who is Victor?””
Marcus hesitated.
“Victor Shaw.””
The name meant something.
Daniel's expression changed.
“That's impossible.””
Marcus nodded.
“That's what I thought too.””
Daniel walked toward him.
“Victor Shaw died four years ago.””
“Yes.””
“Then why are you saying his name?””
Marcus opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, Evelyn's phone rang.
Everyone looked at her.
She didn't move.
The phone rang again.
Daniel picked it up from the table.
The screen displayed a number with no caller ID.
He answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a man's voice came through.
“Daniel Vale.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“Who is this?””
“You should have listened to your wife.””
Daniel glanced at Evelyn.
The caller continued.
“She wasn't trying to steal your money.””
Daniel said nothing.
“She was trying to pay a debt.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Put it on speaker.””
Daniel did.
The voice returned.
“And now that you've found the suitcase, you know too much.””
Evelyn began shaking.
Daniel asked, “Who are you?””
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
“You've already heard my name.””
Daniel's eyes moved to Marcus.
“Victor?””
The line went silent.
Then the caller said:
“Ask your wife what happened in the basement four years ago.””
The call ended.
No one moved.
Daniel slowly lowered the phone.
“What happened in the basement?””
Evelyn stared at him.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
May you like
Then she whispered four words that made Marcus step backward.
“He never died.””
