Chapter 4 - The Safe Deposit Box
Elena drove back to the hospital parking lot under the cover of darkness.
Nurse Jenkins sneaked out through the emergency exit and handed Elena a tiny, brass key.
"Be careful, Elena," Jenkins warned quietly.
"Greg has hired private security guards to stand outside Margaret's room."
Elena thanked her and sped away before anyone could see her vehicle.
The next morning, as soon as the downtown bank opened, Elena walked through the glass doors.
She recognized the logo on the brass key from a prominent wealth management bank.
She presented her identification and the key to the vault manager.
He led her into a sterile, windowless room lined with steel boxes.
He unlocked box number 402 and left her entirely alone.
Elena opened the heavy metal lid with trembling fingers.
Inside sat a thick manila folder and a sealed envelope.
She opened the folder first and gasped.
It contained detailed financial ledgers proving Greg and Vanessa had been embezzling millions from the family charity.
This was the exact proof Margaret had gathered to destroy them.
Then Elena reached for the sealed envelope.
It was labeled with her late husband's name, David Whitmore.
David had died in a horrific car crash three years ago, leaving Elena completely broken and drowning in medical debt.
She tore open the envelope.
Inside was a photograph dated just two weeks ago.
It showed David walking down a street in Europe, looking perfectly healthy.
Attached to the photo was a handwritten note from Margaret.
"Elena, David did not die in that crash."
Elena felt the room spin violently around her.
"He faked his death to protect you, but now the cartel he was investigating has found him."
Elena dropped the photograph onto the floor as a terrifying realization hit her.
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The heavy steel door to the vault room suddenly clicked open.
Greg stood in the doorway, holding a suppressed pistol aimed directly at her chest.
