The Envelope

I stared at the envelope in Adrian’s hand. For Elena, when Adrian finds her. My father’s handwriting had always been unmistakable. Sharp letters. Slightly slanted. The final strokes of his words always heavier than the rest, as though he pressed harder whenever he was afraid. I had seen that handwriting three days before he died. I had never seen this envelope.

Where did you get it? Adrian didn’t answer immediately. Five years ago, I would have waited patiently. Five years ago, I would have trusted him.

Now I hated every second he spent thinking before he spoke.

It was in my father’s private safe. My breath caught. You had his safe? He shook his head. No. I found it after you disappeared. My fingers tightened around the envelope. Then why didn’t you give it to me? His eyes met mine. Because I couldn’t find you. The answer should have comforted me. Instead, it made something inside my chest ache.

I had spent five years believing he hadn’t looked. Believing I had meant so little to him that my disappearance had been an inconvenience. Apparently, I had been wrong. That frightened me more than I wanted to admit. Adrian held the envelope out. Take it. I reached for it. Our fingers touched, one brief contact. That was all.

Still, my pulse stumbled. I pulled my hand away first. I broke the seal. Inside was a single folded sheet of paper. I unfolded it slowly.

Elena,

If you’re reading this, something went wrong. My vision blurred. I read the next line twice. Do not trust anyone who tells you your father’s death was an accident. I stopped breathing.

Mommy? Noah’s small voice brought me back. I looked at him. I’m okay. I wasn’t. I continued reading.

There are people inside Blackwood International who know what I discovered. I tried to protect you by keeping you away from it, but they already know too much. My hands began shaking. Adrian stepped closer. What does it say? I didn’t answer.

The next sentence was worse. If Adrian tells you he knows nothing, believe him. My eyes lifted, Adrian was watching me. He saw the change in my expression. What? I handed him the letter. He read it. His face hardened.

For several seconds, he said nothing. Then he looked at me. I told you I didn’t know why you ran. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe my father. But five years of fear had built a wall inside me, and one letter couldn’t bring it down. There’s more. Adrian looked at the paper. There was a final line beneath my father’s signature. One that hadn’t been visible when I first opened it because the fold covered it. I turned the page. My stomach dropped.

Adrian read it over my shoulder. The key is with Elena. His gaze snapped to mine. What key? I shook my head. I don’t know. But I did, somewhere.

A memory surfaced. A tiny metal key. My father had given it to me when I was a child. I’d forgotten about it until that moment. He told me never to lose it. I had. Or at least, I thought I had. Where is it? Adrian asked. I don’t know.

Think, His tone was too commanding. I glared at him. Don’t order me around. Something almost like regret crossed his face. Sorry… The word stunned me. Adrian Blackwood had apologized to me. I looked away before he could see how much it affected me. A sudden sound came from the entrance. The glass doors opened. A man walked into the lobby. He wore a dark cap low over his face. He stopped when he saw Adrian. Then he looked at me. My blood went cold. I knew him by his posture. He had been standing outside my apartment three nights before I left. The same man who had watched me from across the street.

Elena? Adrian followed my stare. Who is that? I couldn’t speak. The man turned and walked back out. Adrian moved immediately. Stay here. He started after him. I grabbed his sleeve. Don’t! He looked down at my hand. Why? Because I know him.

His expression changed. Who is he? I swallowed. He was there the night I disappeared. Adrian went completely still.

No, the man I saw couldn’t be dead. Adrian stepped closer. I watched him outside my apartment before I disappeared. He was alive. Adrian’s voice became quiet. That’s why I’m afraid, Elena. He pulled out his phone and made a call. Find the man who just left the lobby. His voice was calm.

Then he looked at me, and said the words that made my stomach turn.

Elena, that man died five years ago.