CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Grace's sister had kept several of Samuel's old belongings after his death.
That afternoon, Aisha and Daniel drove to her house, hoping the missing diary would be among them.
They searched through boxes filled with books, old clothes and family photographs until Aisha discovered a dusty suitcase tucked beneath a wooden shelf.
Inside were Samuel's notebooks.
Her heart raced as she opened the first one.
Most of the pages contained ordinary memories: work, family celebrations and little notes about Aisha's childhood.
Then she reached an entry dated shortly after her birth.
Richard came to see me today. He looked troubled, and I suspect Robert Cole has been making life difficult for him again. I told Richard that Grace and I wanted no part in their business dispute.
Aisha read the entry aloud.
Daniel leaned closer.
"Keep going."
She turned the page.
Richard believes Robert has been falsifying records to gain control of their company. He says he has evidence, but the original files are missing. Grace's name has somehow become connected to the accusations.
Aisha's stomach tightened.
The next entry was dated several months later.
I have decided to keep copies of the information Richard gave me. If anything happens to him or to Grace, someone must be able to prove what really happened.
Aisha looked at Daniel.
"Dad had copies of the documents."
"Do you think he hid them here?"
They searched the suitcase again. Beneath the lining, Daniel discovered a small key taped to a piece of cardboard.
Aisha examined it.
"What does it open?"
"I don't know. But your father must have kept it for a reason."
They searched the remaining boxes until Aisha found a small metal cash box. The key fitted its lock.
Inside was a sealed envelope and a folded piece of paper.
The paper contained a short message in Samuel's handwriting.
The truth is safest where nobody thinks to look. If you are reading this, speak to the person who kept the original records.
Aisha frowned.
"Who is that supposed to mean?"
Daniel examined the envelope.
It contained a list of names, dates and financial transactions. Several entries mentioned Robert Cole, while others referred to a company Richard had once owned.
"This could be important evidence," Daniel said.
"But it isn't the original file."
"No. It's a record of what your father knew."
Aisha carefully placed everything back into the box.
For years, she had thought her father's story ended when he died.
Now she was discovering that he had been part of a secret that had survived him.
As they left the house, Daniel reached for her hand.
"Your father was trying to protect you."
Aisha looked at the box in her arms.
"Then I'll make sure his efforts weren't wasted."
Neither of them noticed the car parked across the street.
Inside it, a man watched them leave.
He took out his phone and made a call.
"They found Samuel's records," he said quietly.
A pause followed.
Then he added, "We need to move before they find the rest."