If my mother had installed a safe three days before her hospitalization, she must have put the real evidence inside it.

She knew she was running out of time.

She knew she couldn’t trust anyone inside this building except Marcus, and perhaps she wanted to protect him from the fallout.

My phone vibrated again in my pocket.

I pulled it out under the table.

*I have the key,* Dina’s message read. *But Grant’s secretary is asking where I’m going.*

I typed back.

*Tell her you are getting archival folders from the storage locker. Meet me in the hallway by the library in two minutes.*

I stood up from the table.

“Where are you going, Emma?” Helen asked, her eyes tracking me like a hawk.

“I need some air,” I said. “And a glass of water.”

“We are in the middle of a vote on the audit scope,” Grant said.

“You don’t need my vote to decide if you’ve been stealing from my mother’s legacy, Grant,” I said.

I walked out of the room before he could answer.

The heavy oak doors clicked shut behind me, muting the sharp voices inside.