Part 2: The Flash Drive
Theresa stared at the envelope in her trembling hands.
The cruise ship rocked gently beneath her feet, but suddenly it felt as though the entire ocean had tilted.
**”If you’re reading this, Austin knows.”**
Those six words echoed through her mind.
The handwriting was unmistakable. Ernest’s.
Her late husband’s shaky script stretched across the yellow envelope like a warning sent from beyond the grave.
Slowly, she opened it.
Inside was a small flash drive and a folded letter.
The date at the top made her heart skip.
It had been written just twelve days before Ernest died.
—
**My Theresa,**
If you’re reading this, then I’m gone.
And if Austin is already asking about the house, then I was right to be afraid.
Please don’t ignore the flash drive.
There are things I discovered that I couldn’t bring myself to tell you while I was alive.
Not because I didn’t trust you.
Because I was trying to protect you.
I love you.
Always.
— Ernest
—
Tears blurred her vision.
Protect her from what?
Her hands shook as she carried the flash drive to the ship’s business center.
An employee helped her access one of the computers.
The screen loaded.
A folder appeared.
**EVIDENCE.**
Her stomach tightened.
Inside were dozens of files.
Bank statements.
Emails.
Recorded phone calls.
Photos.
And one video.
The video was dated two months before Ernest’s death.
Theresa clicked PLAY.
The image appeared.
It was Ernest.
Older.
Weaker.
Sitting alone in his study.
Looking directly into the camera.
As if he knew this moment would come.
—
“If you’re watching this, Theresa…”
His voice cracked.
“…then something happened to me.”
Theresa pressed a hand over her mouth.
“I hope I’m wrong.”
Ernest took a long breath.
“But if I’m not, then you deserve the truth.”
The room seemed to shrink around her.
“Austin has debts.”
Theresa closed her eyes.
She already knew that.
Then Ernest continued.
“Not normal debts.”
Her eyes opened.
“He owes money to dangerous people.”
A chill raced through her body.
—
The video cut to documents.
Thousands.
Then hundreds of thousands.
Then nearly a million dollars.
Theresa gasped.
“No…”
There was no way.
Austin had always pretended he was struggling.
But this?
This was catastrophe.
Then another file appeared.
Loan agreements.
Forged signatures.
Ernest’s forged signatures.
Theresa felt sick.
—
The door behind her suddenly opened.
“Mrs. Theresa?”
She turned.
A crew member stood there.
“There’s an emergency call for you.”
Her heart dropped.
Only a few people knew she was on the ship.
She picked up the phone.
“Hello?”
Claire’s voice answered immediately.
“Theresa.”
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
“What happened?”
Claire took a breath.
“The police searched Austin’s apartment this morning.”
Theresa’s blood ran cold.
“And?”
“They found boxes.”
“What kind of boxes?”
Silence.
Then Claire said the words that changed everything.
“They were filled with documents stolen from Ernest.”
—
Theresa nearly dropped the receiver.
“What?”
“There were medical records, financial records, legal documents…”
Claire paused.
“And one more thing.”
Theresa gripped the desk.
“What?”
“The police found a second will.”
The room spun.
“A second will?”
“Yes.”
“Was it real?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Theresa could barely breathe.
“Who does it leave everything to?”
Claire’s voice became almost a whisper.
“Austin.”
The world stopped.
Because if that will was genuine…
Then everything she believed about Ernest…
Everything…
Could be a lie.
And somewhere back in Miami, Austin had just been arrested.
But the second will was only the beginning.
Because hidden inside one final folder on Ernest’s flash drive was a photograph.
A photograph taken twenty-seven years ago.
A photograph of a young woman standing beside Ernest.
Holding a baby.
A baby Theresa had never seen before.
Written on the back were four terrifying words:
**”Austin has a brother.”**
