The Truth Liam Left Behind
Three days after the funeral, his boss called
Three days after the funeral, his boss called.
On the front, in Liam’s handwriting, were three words.
His name is Mark. His voice was low and strained.
“Emily, I need you to come in. Liam left something in his office safe. ”
I sat up so fast my head spun. ”
When I got there, Mark looked sick.
He led me upstairs, opened Liam’s office safe, and handed me a thick envelope.
On the front, in Liam’s handwriting, were three words.
Give to Emily.
I looked up at Mark. ”
He swallowed. “He asked me to wait until after the funeral. I should’ve called sooner anyway. ”
My stomach dropped.
Inside the envelope were bank records, photos, and a note.
The note began, “Em, if you’re reading this, then they finally got to me. ”
The next line was worse.
I stopped breathing for a second.
The next line was worse.
”
I read it three times.
There were copies of old estate records from after our mother died. ” I had let her.
According to Liam’s notes, she had been skimming money from my share before the rest was moved into the education fund we set up for Ava and Ben. Liam found it while helping me with taxes.
Then I found the line that made my hands start shaking.
He had written: I didn’t tell you until I had proof. I knew what accusing your sister would do to you.
There were also photos of Grace meeting Ryan behind Liam’s office.
Ryan was Grace’s ex-husband. According to Grace, he had been out of the picture for years.
Liam’s next note said that was a lie.
Ryan had come back broke and desperate after a failed business deal. He owed money to men he was scared of. Grace had been feeding him money, telling herself she was protecting her daughter from his chaos.
Then I found the line that made my hands shake.
A week before the crash, someone left a note under my wiper: Drop it. Think of your wife.
For one sick second, I just stared at her
For one sick second, I just stared at her.
At the bottom of the page, Liam had written: If Mark gives you this, go to the storage unit. Toolbox. Underside. Don’t tell Grace.
I looked at Mark. ”
Mark rubbed a hand over his face. “He hoped not.
I drove home in a daze and saw Grace through the
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