Chapter 24 - Inside the Piano
Victoria's father's piano had been sitting in her living room for eleven years.
She hated it.
She never played.
But she couldn't throw it away.
We opened it at midnight.
Frank found the compartment beneath the soundboard.
Inside was a flash drive wrapped in plastic.
There was also a letter.
Victoria recognized the handwriting.
Dad.
Her hands shook.
She couldn't open it.
So I did.
The letter was a confession.
Arthur Sterling admitted financing Margaret's property scheme.
He admitted bribing officials.
He admitted helping bury Claire's report.
And then he wrote:
Richard has become something I no longer recognize.
If anything happens to me, my son did it.
Victoria stopped reading.
She walked into the kitchen.
I followed.
She gripped the counter.
“My whole family.”
“Victoria.”
“My father was corrupt. My brother is a murderer.”
“You aren't them.”
She laughed bitterly.
“That's what everyone tells people when their family turns out monstrous.”
I knew exactly what she meant.
I stood beside her.
“Family isn't a blood test.”
She looked at me.
“It took me a long time to understand that.”
Her eyes filled.
I continued.
“Family is who opens the door when you're trapped behind one.”
She cried then.
Finally.
Quietly.
May you like
I held her.
And for once, Victoria Sterling allowed someone else to be strong.
