Mila gently closed the library door behind her.
The sound of the door was a bit loud because the library is quiet.
"Third shelf… third shelf, where are you?"
She was trying to be as fast as possible so no one will see her.
She walked straight to the bookshelves on the left.
"Third shelf from the button, red book ... .red book, where are you?" she whispered searching quietly for the book.
Her eyes moved over the book covers as fast as she could.
A red leather book cover reflected in the dim light.
The book was printed in dull gold letters.
"Red book, Estate secrets 1995-2000. Great.. I found you."
She pulled the book out of the shelf with both hands.
"Ughhhh…. Okay."
It was heavier than she expected and had dust in it.
Mila carried it over to the small table near the window, and placed it down gently.
"Small paper… inside, small paper, inside."
She was searching fast but didn't see it yet, "ohhh, please…please…please… come out," so she had to take it slow.
That was when a single sheet of paper slipped out and fell on the floor.
"Oh… there it is"
Mila bent and picked it up.
Yellowed paper.
Typed words in black ink.
It was an old audit report.
Date October 12, 1999.
Header read, Confidential Internal Review, Reginald Holdings.
She read the first line aloud in a whisper.
"Recommendation: Immediate termination measures for driver J. Okoye to prevent further exposure of irregular fund transfers."
"Wha….what?"
Her breath caught.
J. Okoye.
Her father's initials.
The next paragraph listed amounts.
Large numbers.
"Vivian mentioned something like this." Mila said to herself.
Debts circled in red pen.
At the bottom of the page, someone had written a message with a blue pen.
Different handwriting.
"Victor approves. Execute quietly. No traces."
Mila's fingers were shaking as she touched the page.
"Victor."
She couldn't stop thinking about that name.
She turned the loose sheet over.
Nothing on the back.
She kept it back inside the cover.
Someone was walking in the corridor outside.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Mila froze. "Oh my God….. what do I do? Who could that be? Okay…. Okay"
She quickly closed the book halfway.
Her heart was beating so loud in her ears.
The door opened without a knock.
Victor walked in.
Tall, silver hair, dark suit.
He closed the door gently, then his eyes moved straight to the red book on the table.
"Mila," a calm smile appeared on his face. "Curiosity can be dangerous in old houses."
She stood up straight.
Tried to keep her voice even.
"Hi….hi Victor, I was just looking for more ledgers, we… we are finalising some things at the board meeting."
Victor came closer slowly, one step at a time.
His neat shows tapped on the wooden floor.
"I see you found something interesting."
"Mmmmmm." Mila opened her eyes wide. "Oh yeah." She chuckled.
Victor nodded toward the book.
"Care to share?"
Mila crossed her arms.
"I haven't read much yet. Ummm…. I will take my leave now."
Her lie felt thin even to her.
"Wait Mila."
Victor stopped two feet away.
"Your father was a good driver. Reliable. Quiet."
Mila swallowed.
"Then why does this report talk about terminating him?"
Victor's smile faded.
He looked almost sad for a second.
"Some debts cannot be paid with money alone."
He moved his hand slowly, picked up the paper and raised it where the light could reach it.
"Termination measures," he read softly.
"Cold words for a hard choice."
"You signed off on it Victor. Didn't you?"
Victor set the paper down again.
Gently.
Like it was fragile.
"I approved a recommendation," he said.
"Reginald needed the matter closed.
Your father knew too much about the transfers."
Mila stepped back.
Hit the edge of the table.
"So you arranged the crash?"
Victor shook his head once.
"No. I did not touch the brakes. But I did not stop the man who did either." His voice dropped lower.
Mila's stomach twisted making her feel nervous. She could remember how the accident played out.
"Then who did?"
Victor glanced toward the closed door.
Listened for a moment.
Then back at her.
"Some questions bring more shadows than light," he said.
"Leave the book.
Leave the house.
Tonight Mila."
"Why warn me now?"
Mila stared at him.
Victor straightened.
"Because you remind me of him.
Stubborn.
Honest."
"Yeah.. that's why he's my father." Mila responded to Victor.
He turned halfway toward the door.
Paused and looked back.
"If you keep digging," he said quietly, the next crash might not be a truck.
It might be you."
Mila's mouth went dry.
She said nothing.
"Be careful Mila, no one is to be trusted."
Victor opened the door.
Stepped into the corridor and shut the door behind him.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Thick.
Mila stood still for almost a minute.
Her legs felt weak.
She forced herself to move.
"Okay… okay Mila, let's get some evidence. We are not giving up till we get answers."
She brought out her phone from her pocket, still trembling, and opened the camera app.
She laid the loose sheet flat on the table.
Snapped a photo.
Then another from a different angle.
She opened the red book fully.
Turned to the first page.
An old financial summary.
She photographed it.
Page by page.
Her thumb swiped fast.
Audit notes.
Bank transfer records.
Handwritten memos in the margins.
"Hmmm."
She reached the page with Victor's signature.
Blue ink.
"Victor. Nice writing."
Clear and sharp.
She took three shots of that one.
Zoomed in on the name.
Made sure every letter was readable.
The book had eighty-seven pages, but she still captured them all.
Her battery dropped to forty-two percent.
"Oh.. no, not now."
She closed the book.
Slide the loose sheet back inside.
Pushed it back onto the third shelf.
"I'll be back."
Her hand left faint prints in the dust.
Mila cleaned them with her sleeve and moved away from that shelf if she could find any evidence.
"Oh none for now."
She looked at the door.
Listened to hear any noise.
No footsteps.
"Okay, let's go."
She walked to the window.
Peeped through the heavy curtain.
The garden outside was dark now.
She checked her phone again.
Photos loaded in the gallery.
"All there. Great."
She opened the messaging app.
Typed a quick note to herself.
"Proof. Victor knew the crash was not an accident."
She saved it.
Then deleted the draft.
Better safe.
Her heart still raced.
But slower now.
A cold calm feeling settled in.
She adjusted her shirt and looked at the red book on the shelf for the last time to be sure it was exactly where she picked it from.
"Good, no one will notice, aside Victor."
Mila moved to the door.
Hand on the brass knob.
Cold again.
She turned the door handle slowly and pushed the door open a little so she could pass. The corridor was quiet, dark, and empty.
She went outside and closed the door behind her.
She walked fast but quiet.
Back toward the main hall.
"Where have you been Mila?" Ashley asked.
"Ummm… I… I went to the restroom."
"Interesting… are you sure you went to the restroom Mila?" Vivian interrupted.
The pictures in Mila's pocket felt heavy in her heart.