Chapter 12 - The Unexpected Envelope
|
Life settled into a predictable, comforting rhythm. Hope was walking now, a chaotic whirlwind of energy and curiosity. I had returned to work, securing a promotion that allowed me to work remotely twice a week. We were thriving.
One crisp Tuesday morning, almost eighteen months after the divorce was finalized, I was checking the mail when I found a thick, unmarked manila envelope wedged between the utility bills.
There was no return address. The postage was heavily stamped, indicating it had been mailed locally.
A familiar, icy prickle of unease crawled up my spine. Daniel was strictly prohibited from contacting me, either directly or through a third party. If this was from him, it was a blatant violation of his probation.
I carried the envelope inside, setting it carefully on the kitchen counter. I didn't open it immediately. Instead, I called Maya.
"Don't touch the contents," Maya instructed firmly, her lawyer instincts instantly activated. "Put the entire envelope in a clear plastic bag. I’ll send a courier to pick it up within the hour. We don't want your fingerprints compromising any potential evidence if he's stupid enough to be violating the order."
The courier arrived, and I handed over the sealed package.
Four hours later, Maya called me back. Her tone was completely unreadable.
"Claire, you need to come down to my office," Maya said. "The envelope wasn't from Daniel. And it wasn't a threat."
"Then what is it?" I asked, my anxiety spiking.
"It's a financial ledger. A very detailed, handwritten financial ledger," Maya explained slowly. "And it appears to outline a massive, systematic embezzlement scheme occurring at Daniel’s former financial firm. The same firm that fired him."
May you like
I frowned, completely confused. "Why would someone send that to me?"
"Because," Maya paused, taking a deep breath. "The handwriting in the ledger belongs to Lorraine. And according to the accompanying documents, she wasn't just Daniel's mother. She was his active co-conspirator in a multi-million dollar corporate fraud."
