Tax records.
Insurance policies.
Everything had been organized in the same careful handwriting.
Serena helped me search.
An hour passed.
Then two.
Nothing.
No trust mentioning Margaret.
No trust mentioning the Mercers.
Nothing.
I was beginning to think Malcolm had lied.
Then Serena pulled open the bottom drawer of an old filing cabinet.
“There are folders back here.”
I walked over.
Most were labeled with dates.
One had no label.
Just a handwritten letter:
FOR CLAIRE — AFTER YOU ARE MARRIED.
My heart stopped.
“That’s my grandmother’s handwriting.”
I opened it.
Inside was a single page.
My hands trembled as I read.
Claire,
If you’re reading this, then you’ve married the person you believe you can trust.
I hope I’m wrong about what comes next.
But if someone ever asks you to surrender control of the Charleston property, do not sign anything.
Do not give anyone the original deed.
And most importantly, do not trust anyone who claims they are acting on behalf of this family.
I looked at Serena.
“What family?”
There was more.
