Naomi continued reading.
Then she found something unexpected.
A page dated twenty-seven years ago.
October 3.
The night Eleanor disappeared.
There was one line.
I trusted Victoria.
She betrayed me.
Naomi looked at Evan.
His face went pale.
"Mom."
Richard shook his head.
"Keep reading."
The next line changed everything.
She betrayed me because I asked her to.
Naomi stopped.
"What?"
Evan looked over her shoulder.
Richard leaned closer.
Naomi read the rest.
If Victoria tells them she betrayed me, believe her.
It was the only way to make Jonathan think I was afraid of her.
Naomi stared at the page.
"She didn't betray her."
Richard nodded.
"It was an act."
Victoria had been working with Eleanor all along.
Naomi continued reading.
The real traitor is someone Jonathan trusts completely.
The person who has access to every financial record.
Someone who will still be close to the Carrington family when I am gone.
Naomi looked at Evan.
"Who?"
Nobody answered.
Then Daniel said quietly:
"Martin."
Naomi closed the notebook.
"We need to find Victoria."
Evan nodded.
They left the supply room.
But as they stepped into the hallway, Naomi noticed something.
A security camera was pointed directly at them.
The red light was blinking.
Someone was watching.
Evan looked up.
"Let's move."
They hurried toward the elevator.
Behind them, inside the security room, someone watched the monitor.
The person picked up a phone.
"They found it."
A voice answered.
"Then don't let them leave the building."
The security operator smiled.
"Understood."
Chapter 11
The elevator doors opened on the fifty-second floor.
Naomi stepped out.
The hallway was empty.
Too empty.
Evan followed.
Daniel stayed close behind.
Richard moved slowly, one hand against the wall.
Naomi looked toward the old clock.
It was still stopped at eleven forty-seven.
She walked toward it.
"There has to be something else."
Evan examined the wooden frame.
"Maybe another compartment."
Naomi shook her head.
"No."
She touched the clock.
"My grandmother wouldn't hide everything in one place."
She looked around.
"She knew someone might search this."
Daniel pointed toward the floor.
"What about the office?"
Naomi frowned.
"Whose?"
"Eleanor's old office."
Evan stared at him.
"My grandfather turned it into a storage room years ago."
"Where is it?"
"Across the hall."
They entered the room.
Dust covered everything.
Old furniture.
Boxes.
Broken computers.
Naomi walked slowly.
She noticed a framed certificate on the wall.
Brooks Systems.
Founder: Eleanor Brooks.
She touched the frame.
Something moved.
The frame opened.
Behind it was another envelope.
Naomi pulled it out.
This one was addressed to Richard.
He opened it.
His face changed.
"What?"
He handed the letter to Naomi.
It was Eleanor's handwriting.
Richard,
If Naomi ever finds this, you must tell her the complete truth.
Do not protect the Carrington family.
Do not protect me.
Protect her.
Naomi read the next paragraph.
There is one person I never told you about.
Someone I loved.
Someone who knew everything.
Someone who could have stopped Jonathan.
Naomi's heart raced.
"Who?"
The answer was written beneath.
Thomas Mercer.
Daniel froze.
"My father?"
Richard nodded.
Eleanor's letter continued.
Thomas did not betray me because he hated me.
He betrayed me because Jonathan threatened his son.
Daniel looked away.
Naomi stared at him.
"Your father protected you."
Daniel swallowed.
"He never told me."
"Because he wanted you to hate him?"
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"He always told me he was a bad man."
Richard spoke quietly.
"Sometimes people choose to be hated because they believe hatred is safer than the truth."
Daniel sat down.
For the first time, Naomi saw him not as a dangerous businessman but as a son who had spent his life misunderstanding his father.
The letter contained one final instruction.
The final evidence is not in the building.
It is in the person who carries my name.
Naomi looked at herself.
"My name."
Richard nodded.
"Brooks."
She touched the pendant.
"Maybe the evidence is the pendant."
Evan looked at it.
"There's something inside."
Naomi removed the chain.
She examined the pendant carefully.
It had a tiny seam around its edge.
Daniel pulled out a small tool.
"May I?"
She handed it to him.
He carefully opened the pendant.
Inside was a tiny memory chip.
Naomi stared.
Evan laughed quietly.
"Your grandmother was ahead of everyone."
Daniel looked at the chip.
"There's enough storage here for the original recordings."
Richard's expression became serious.
"We need a computer that isn't connected to the company network."
Evan nodded.
"My private laptop."
"Not enough," Daniel said.
"Why?"
"Martin could be monitoring your devices."
Evan frowned.
"Then what do we use?"
Naomi thought.
She remembered something.
"The old public library."
Daniel looked confused.
"The library?"
"My grandmother used to take me there."
Richard smiled.
"She trusted public institutions."
They left the office.
But before they reached the elevator, a voice came over the speakers.
"Naomi Brooks."
She stopped.
The entire hallway seemed to freeze.
The voice continued.
"Leave the building."
Evan looked at the ceiling.
"Martin."
"No," Daniel said.
"Then who?"
The voice continued.
"Bring the evidence to the lobby."
Naomi looked at Evan.
"How do they know we have it?"
Evan's expression changed.
"Someone told them."
Everyone looked at each other.
Richard whispered:
"There is another person."
A door opened behind them.
Victoria stepped out.
She looked exhausted.
"Yes."
Naomi turned.
"Who?"
Victoria looked at Evan.
"Someone you trust."
Evan frowned.
"Who?"
Victoria hesitated.
Then she said:
"Your assistant."
Evan's face changed.
"Sarah?"
Victoria nodded.
"She has been working with Martin for months."
Naomi remembered Sarah.
She had always been polite.
Friendly.
Helpful.
But she had also been the person who arranged the gala seating.
The person who knew Naomi would be there.
The person who could access Evan's schedule.
Evan shook his head.
"No."
Victoria looked at him.
"She has access to your files."
"She wouldn't."
"She already has."