Security badge clipped to his belt.
The moment he saw the passbook, his entire expression changed.
“Where did you get that?” he demanded.
“It belonged to my grandmother.”
“What was her name?”
“Eleanor Hayes.”
The manager and Linda exchanged a look so sharp and frightened that my pulse exploded in my chest.
And suddenly I understood something terrifying.
This wasn’t about money.
The manager lowered his voice carefully.
“Miss Hayes… how long ago did Eleanor pass away?”
“This morning.”
He closed his eyes briefly like the answer physically hurt him.
Then he whispered:
“She waited too long.”
A cold wave moved through me.
“What are you talking about?”
But before he could answer, two police officers entered through the locked doors.
The entire bank fell silent.
One officer approached carefully.
“Miss Claire Hayes?”
My throat tightened.
“Yes.”
“Ma’am, we need you to come with us.”
Every survival instinct inside me screamed at once.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“We know,” the older officer said gently.
“That’s why we’re here before someone else gets to you.”
The room tilted.
Someone else.
