Chapter 6 - Serena's FatherSerena's father was Daniel Monroe.
Brooks had met him only twice before Daniel died.
Quiet man.
Former accountant.
Lived outside Sacramento.
Serena always described him as distant.
Eleanor remembered him differently.
“He worked for Arthur.”
Serena stared.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“My father worked for the state.”
“Later.”
Edwin opened the archived personnel database.
Daniel Monroe.
Caldwell Properties.
Junior controller.
1996–1999.
Serena looked genuinely shocked.
Brooks believed that reaction.
For once.
“He never told me.”
Eleanor said,
“Perhaps because of how he left.”
“What happened?”
Edwin looked toward the red ledger photocopy Serena had brought.
“Daniel discovered Malcolm's unauthorized borrowing.”
Serena went still.
“He told Arthur?”
“Yes.”
“So my father helped yours take the company.”
“Not exactly.”
Daniel flagged irregularities.
Arthur investigated.
Malcolm was exposed.
Then Daniel asked for money.
Serena's face changed.
“What?”
Edwin continued.
“He threatened to tell regulators about Arthur's forged authorization.”
Brooks understood.
Blackmail.
“How much?”
“Two hundred thousand.”
In 1999.
Eleanor said,
“Arthur paid.”
Serena looked sick.
“No.”
Edwin nodded.
“Page eighty-seven.”
Daniel took the money.
Resigned.
Moved north.
Never spoke publicly.
Arthur documented everything.
Why?
Insurance.
If Daniel returned.
If Malcolm sued.
If the truth emerged.
Serena sat down.
“My father blackmailed your family.”
Brooks said nothing.
She looked at him.
“I didn't know.”
He believed her.
But another question arrived.
“Did Preston?”
Serena froze.
Edwin answered.
“He probably does.”
If Preston had the red ledger copy, he knew Serena's father had been part of the old scandal.
Which meant introducing Serena to Brooks may not have been coincidence.
Brooks thought back.
Three years earlier.
Charity gala.
Preston approached with a blonde woman.
“Brooks, you need to meet Serena. She'll hate your taste in wine.”
They laughed.
Three months later, Brooks and Serena were dating.
A year later, married.
He looked at her.
“Did Preston know you before that night?”
Serena hesitated.
Then nodded.
Vivian whispered,
“Oh, come on.”
Brooks's chest tightened.
“How long?”
“About six months.”
“What did he tell you?”
“That you were lonely.”
“That sounds romantic.”
Serena flinched.
“He said we would get along.”
“Did he tell you to date me?”
“No.”
“Serena.”
“He encouraged it.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
Brooks stood.
“Get out.”
Serena stared.
“What?”
“Not the house.”
He laughed bitterly.
“I don't know what I'm asking yet.”
He looked away.
“Just leave this room.”
She stood slowly.
At the door, Edwin said,
“Mrs. Caldwell.”
Serena stopped.
“Did Preston ever ask about your father's papers?”
Her face changed.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Last year.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That Dad left almost nothing.”
Edwin nodded.
“Did he believe you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Serena looked toward Brooks.
“Because my father sent me a package before he died.”
Brooks turned.
“What package?”
“I never opened it.”
Vivian laughed.
Nobody else did.
Serena continued.
“He told me not to.”
Brooks stared.
“Where is it?”
“My storage unit.”
Edwin's expression sharpened.
“Have you been there recently?”
“No.”
“When last?”
“Eight months.”
Brooks took his keys.
“We're going.”
Serena looked frightened.
“You think Preston knows?”
“I think Preston knows more about your family than you do.”
They drove with Marcus and a private security officer.
Edwin stayed with Eleanor.
The storage facility sat in West Hollywood.
Serena entered her code.
Unit 414.
Door rolled up.
Furniture.
Boxes.
Old wedding decorations.
Daniel Monroe's package had been on a shelf in back.
Now the shelf was empty.
Serena stopped.
“No.”
Brooks looked at her.
“It was here.”
The lock showed no damage.
Facility manager checked access records.
Unit opened yesterday.
11:43 p.m.
Serena was home with Brooks.
Who used the code?
Security footage showed Preston.
He entered carrying nothing.
Left twenty-two minutes later with a brown box.
Serena covered her mouth.
“What was inside?” Brooks asked.
“I don't know.”
“What did your father say?”
She tried to remember.
A phone call a week before his death.
Daniel's voice.
Weak.
Ashamed.
“Serena, there are things I did before you were born.”
“What things?”
“I thought money could fix fear.”
He told her a package would arrive.
“Don't open it unless someone from the Caldwell family comes looking for you.”
At the time she thought he was confused.
Then Preston had introduced her to Brooks months later.
Serena whispered,
“He planned this.”
Brooks looked at her.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Your father?”
“Preston.”
She looked at the empty shelf.
“He found me because of Dad.”
Marcus called from outside.
“Mr. Caldwell.”
“What?”
“The facility camera caught something after Preston left.”
Brooks joined him.
Video.
Preston loaded the box into his car.
Then another vehicle pulled up.
A black Mercedes.
Driver stepped out.
Caleb Monroe.
Serena's brother.
Brooks looked at her.
She stared.
Caleb and Preston spoke.
Then Caleb opened Preston's trunk.
Removed Daniel's package.
Put it into his own car.
Preston didn't stop him.
He helped.
Serena whispered,
“My brother has it.”
Brooks asked,
“Where is Caleb?”
She called.
Phone disconnected.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a text arrived from Caleb's number.
Only one sentence.
Serena, Preston lied to both of us. Don't trust Brooks either.
Brooks read over her shoulder.
She turned toward him.
May you like
For the first time, fear in her face wasn't about getting caught.
It was about not knowing which side she had joined.
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