“The number 17? »
“Yes. »
He sighed.
“It’s an old setpoint in the basement. »
We went down.
The hallway was dark and humid.
At the bottom were several small metal doors.
Number 17 was covered in dust.
I slipped the key in the lock.
She turned.
Inside, there was almost nothing.
A cardboard box.
An old bag.
And an envelope.
On the envelope it was written:
“To give only to Rachel if I don’t come back. »
I immediately recognized Clara’s writing.
I trembled when I opened the envelope.
It contained several documents.
Bank statements.
Copies of contracts.
A photograph.
And a letter.
I started reading.
“Rachel,
If you read this, something happened to me.
I don’t know how long I have before they understand what I’ve discovered.
But I want you to know one thing.
The accident was not an accident. »
I stopped.
My eyes filled with tears.
I continued.
Clara explained that she had discovered financial fraud involving several local companies.
Accounts had been emptied.
Signatures were falsified.
Contracts had been changed.
But the most disturbing was the name of a person appearing several times in the documents.
Our father.
I sat on the floor.
Our father died a few years after Clara.
He always said that the accident was a terrible tragedy.
But Clara had written that she suspected our father of discovering the fraud before her.
He tried to protect someone.
I kept reading.
“I don’t know if Dad was guilty. I think he was scared. Someone asked him to remain silent. »
Then one last sentence :
“If I die, don’t look for the one who caused the accident. Look for the one who has benefited from my death. »
