Chapter 15: The Friend Who Knew Too Much
I read Riley’s message over and over.
Why did you send them to Michael Carter?
I didn’t.
I couldn’t have.
I had never even met Michael.
My fingers felt numb as I called her.
She answered immediately.
“Paige?””
“What are you talking about?””
“I knew something was wrong.””
“Riley, I didn’t send anything.””
“I know.””
The relief lasted only a second.
“Then why did you ask me?””
“Because someone used your account.””
I stood up.
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
“Yesterday?””
“Yes.””
My mind raced.
Yesterday was the day everything started.
The day my phone exploded with calls.
The day my father warned me.
The day Robert came.
“How do you know it was Michael?””
“Because the documents were sent to an address.””
“What address?””
She hesitated.
Then said:
“Michael Carter.””
I closed my eyes.
Someone wanted Michael to know what I found.
But why?
“Riley, who else has access to my email?””
“Nobody.””
I knew that wasn’t true.
There was one person.
Someone who had helped me set up my accounts years ago.
Someone who knew all my passwords.
I whispered:
“Trevor.””
Riley went quiet.
“Paige…”
“No.””
I immediately defended him.
Then I stopped.
Because that was exactly what my parents had always done.
Protected people before knowing the truth.
“I don’t know.””
A knock came at my apartment door.
I froze.
“Riley.””
“What?””
“Someone is here.””
“Don’t open it.””
The knock came again.
Three slow knocks.
I looked through the window.
Nobody.
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
“Open the door.””
My blood ran cold.
“How do they know I’m here?””
The message continued.
“Your father told me.””
I stepped away.
My father?
Then another message.
“I know what Michael did.””
I grabbed the door handle.
Then stopped.
“Paige?”” Riley asked.
“I’m going to open it.””
“No.””
“I need answers.””
I unlocked the door.
Standing outside was a woman.
Around my father’s age.
Dark hair.
A serious expression.
I had never seen her before.
But she knew my name.
“Paige Carter?””
I didn’t answer.
She held up a folder.
“My name is Victoria Lane.””
My heart dropped.
The woman from the hospital photograph.
The woman who had been beside Michael the night my grandmother died.
I stepped back.
“What do you want?””
Her eyes moved past me into the house.
“Your grandmother was right.””
I froze.
“About what?””
“About everything.””
I didn’t move.
“You were with Michael.””
Her face changed.
Pain.
Regret.
“Yes.””
“Did you help him?””
She looked down.
“I made a mistake.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She looked at me.
“No.””
Her voice shook.
“I didn’t help him hurt your grandmother.””
“Then why were you there?””
Victoria handed me the folder.
“Because Michael asked me to help him steal your inheritance.””
My fingers tightened around the folder.
“But I refused.””
“Why?””
“Because I realized what he was planning.””
I looked at her.
“What was he planning?””
She took a breath.
“He wasn’t trying to take your grandmother’s money.””
I frowned.
“Then what?””
Victoria’s eyes filled with fear.
“He was trying to erase the person who could stop him.””
I felt a chill.
“Who?””
She looked directly at me.
“Your grandmother.””
The street behind her was empty.
The house was silent.
And then Victoria said the words that changed everything:
“Paige, your grandmother didn’t leave you an inheritance.””
She opened the folder.
“She left you proof.””
I looked down.
Inside were documents.
Photos.
And one final piece of evidence.
A recording.
Victoria whispered:
“This is the conversation Michael had the night your grandmother died.””
I stared at the device.
“Why are you giving this to me now?””
Her answer was quiet.
“Because Michael knows I have it.””
I looked at her.
“And?””
She stepped backward.
“And he’s coming for it.””
The next second, a car stopped at the end of my street.
Victoria’s face turned pale.
“Paige…”
I looked toward the road.
A familiar figure stepped out.
May you like
Michael Carter.
And he was walking toward my house.
