Chapter 4: Unraveling the threads...

The phone call haunted me, I barely slept,my mind racing with possibilities. "You are asking the wrong questions, Everly." What did that mean? And why did the voice sounds so... familiar?

By morning, exhaustion clung to me,but I forced myself to get up. If someone thought they could scare me into silence,they were wrong. I needed answers. Even if it's the last thing I do..

Lillian was already awake, sitting at my kitchen table with a cup of coffee. Her gaze flicked up as I walked in,her face lined with concern. "You looked awful,"she said bluntly. "Thanks."I said. I grabbed a mug and poured myself a drink. She tapped her nails against the table.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" I hesitated before setting my coffee down. "I got a call last night."

Her expression darkened. "From who?"

"I don't know. The number was blocked."Lillian frowned. "What did they say?" I swallowed. "They told me that I was asking the wrong questions."

Silence stretched between us. Then Lillian exhaled sharply. "Everly, this is getting serious. Someone doesn't want you digging."

"I know."

She leaned forward. "We need to go back. Re-examine everything,who would benefit from their deaths? Was there a common link between them?"

An hour later, I was kneeling in front of an old wooden chest in my bedroom - the one place I had avoided for years. Inside were pieces of my past: letters, photographs, keepsakes from the men I had loved and lost. I took a deep breath and lifted the lid. The scent of old paper and faded cologne washed over me. My fingers trembled as I reached in and pulled out a stack of letters tied together with a silk ribbon.

Daniel's letters. My first love. The one I had thought I would grow old with. I untied the ribbon,my eyes scanning his familiar handwriting. The words were full of love,of plans we never got to fulfill. But as I flipped through, something caught my eye

A note tucked between the pages. It wasn't Daniel's handwriting. The ink was faded, the words scrawled hastily. "He knows. Be careful." My breath caught - my hands shook as I read it again. Who had written this? And who was he ?

A rush of memories flooded my mind. Daniel, laughing as he carried me through the waves; Daniel, whispering promises of forever with me under the stars. And then his death. Had he known something? Had he tried to warn me?

I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to steady my heartbeat. I had convinced myself that his death was fate. But now... Now I wasn't sure of anything.

I barely registered Lillian walking into the room until she spoke. "Everly." Her voice was urgent. I looked up, startled. "What?" She held up her phone. "I did some digging while you were going through your box."

A cold knot formed in my stomach. "And?"

She hesitated before handing it to me. The screen displayed an old article - one I had never seen before. It was about Victor's company. Specifically, about a major financial scandal that had nearly ruined the company before Victor's death.

Lillian nodded. "It was covered up quickly, but it looks like there were some dangerous people involved. People who lost a lot of money."

A chill ran down my spine. "You think someone killed him over this?" She crossed her arms. "I think it's a possibility. And if we dig out more,we might figure out who made that call last night."

Before I could respond, the door bell rang. We both froze.

I set the phone down on the table and walked cautiously to the door. When I opened the door,my breath caught. A man stood on my door step. Dark hair, piercing blue eyes,a presence that made my stomach twist with uneasiness. Jonathan. Victor's best friend.

"Everly." His voice smooth, unreadable. "We need to talk."

I gripped the door tighter. What are you doing here?"

He tilted his head slightly. "Isn't it obvious? I want to know why you're digging into the past."

My blood turned to ice. "How do you know about that?"

Jonathan smiled,but it didn't reach his eyes. "Let's say... you are not the only one looking for answers."

Behind me,I heard Lillian shift, probably watching the exchange closely.

I swallowed, forcing my voice to stay steady. "Then maybe you should start talking, Jonathan. What do you know about Victor's death?"

His jaw tightened. "Not here. Not now." He glanced around as if making sure we weren't being watched. Meet me at the docks tonight. Ten o'clock. No one else."

A warning flared in my mind. Meeting a man I barely trusted,alone,in the dark even though he was my late husbands best friend. That sounded like the beginning of a true Crim.

Lillian must have been thinking the same thing because she spoke up immediately. "And why exactly should she trust you?"

Jonathan's gaze flicked to her before settling back on me. "Because I know who killed Victor."

Silence.

My pulse thundered in my ears. "Ten o'clock," he repeated. "Come if you actually want answers."

And then, without another word,he turned and walked away.

I stood frozen in the doorway, watching him disappear down the street. Lillian exhaled sharply. "Are you actually thinking of going to meet Jonathan?"

I didn't answer.

Because deep down, I already knew that I will go. I had no choice.

I had to know the truth..