Chapter 14 - The Thirteenth Journal
Paul was exhausted but alive.
His father had taken him because he believed Paul knew where Claire’s final journal had been hidden.
Paul denied knowing.
Malcolm did not believe him.
Neither did I completely.
We spoke at the hospital.
“Why would Malcolm think Grace knows?”
Paul looked toward the door.
“Because Marcus told him.”
Grace stiffened.
“I never had a journal.”
“Maybe not.”
Paul looked at her.
“But Claire trusted you.”
Grace shook her head.
“She never told me.”
Paul frowned.
“Did she ever give Noah anything strange?”
Grace stopped breathing for a second.
“What?”
“A toy.”
“A book.”
“Something she insisted stay with him.”
Grace stood suddenly.
“The elephant.”
I remembered it immediately.
A gray stuffed elephant Claire bought before Noah was born.
Noah slept with it every night.
Grace called Rachel.
Within minutes, Rachel checked Noah’s room.
The stuffed elephant was still there.
Police brought it to us carefully.
One seam along the back was slightly different from the others.
Grace opened it.
Inside the stuffing was a waterproof pouch.
The thirteenth journal.
Claire had hidden it inside our son’s favorite toy.
My hands shook as I opened the first page.
Claire had documented everything.
Ethan’s theft.
Malcolm’s threats.
Victoria’s involvement.
Detective Warren’s payments.
But the final pages were different.
They described the week before Claire died.
Richard’s death had never made sense to her.
She had found medical records showing that Malcolm visited my father privately the evening before his fatal heart attack.
She suspected poisoning.
Then came the final entry.
If Daniel ever reads this, he must understand that Ethan is guilty, but he is also afraid.
Malcolm has controlled him for years.
Victoria wants money.
Malcolm wants power.
But someone else wants Daniel removed entirely.
My blood turned cold.
Someone else.
Again.
I turned the page.
The name was there.
I read it once.
Then twice.
Rachel Kim.
My attorney.
My closest legal adviser.
The woman currently protecting Noah in her own home.
I nearly dropped the journal.
Grace stared at me.
“What does it say?”
I showed her.
Her face changed.
Claire had written that Rachel had secretly provided Malcolm with information about my father’s estate.
Years later, Rachel had become my personal attorney.
She knew everything about my finances.
My mental health records.
Noah’s trust.
My schedule.
My security.
I grabbed my phone.
Rachel did not answer.
I called her husband.
Nothing.
I called Noah’s security detail.
One guard answered.
His voice sounded panicked.
“Sir, Mrs. Kim left ten minutes ago.”
“With Noah?”
“No.”
I exhaled.
Then he continued.
“But she took Grace’s backup files and the trust documents.”
I looked toward Grace.
Why?
Then my phone received a photograph.
Noah was sitting safely with the guards.
Beneath the photograph was a message from Rachel.
May you like
I NEVER WANTED THE CHILD.
I ONLY WANTED WHAT CLAIRE STOLE FROM ME.
