“I don’t cheat on guys.” I stared back into his eyes. “If that’s what you’re implying.”

“When a woman is with me, she doesn’t even think of another man,” he continued, and sat back. I tried to ignore his muscles as they flexed.

“Good for you. I’m sure that’s hard for them.”

“I don’t do back talk either.”

“You sound like a real prince to date.” I rolled my eyes. “Are you a boyfriend or a teacher?”

“I’m both.” He grinned. “But, we digress. If you have a photo of that man it would be great. However, right now that doesn’t really help us, does it?”

“No, I guess it doesn’t.” I stared at his face for a few seconds, studying his eyes and then looking at his body language. I knew that I either was going to have to trust him or not, but I had to make a decision. I could feel the nerves in my stomach as I tried to make a decision; each one was more wound up than the other. “My father left me a letter when he died.” I said finally, the words sounding stilted as they came out of my mouth.

“Okay . . .”

“I think I was being followed because of the letter.” I gazed out at the ocean. “Actually, that’s not exactly right. I was being followed because of what I did after I read the letter.”

“What did the letter say, and what did you do?”

“You’ve got to understand that this isn’t me.” I looked back at him with a frown. “If you would have told me five years ago that I’d be acting like some older version of Nancy Drew, I would have told you you were lying.”

“Nancy Drew, huh?” He raised an eyebrow. “That must have been some letter.”

“It was.” I chewed on my lower lip for a few seconds before continuing. I needed to make sure I was making the right decision, but I knew that there was no way for me to be certain of that fact. I knew that between Jakob and Steve, I trusted Jakob the most.

“So, are you going to tell me anything else?”

“My father was poor when he died. He didn’t leave a will, he didn’t have anything to leave in his will. He had no money. Though, he should have had millions. He invented the self-painting machine, the thirty-minute cooker, and the first prototype for the mini car.”

“Really?” He looked back at me with a blank expression that surprised me. Most people were shocked and amazed to find out my father had created so many products that had changed the way millions lived their lives.

“Yes, really.” I snapped, annoyed by his lack of reaction, not knowing why I felt so upset. I knew a part of it had to do with the fact that I was trusting him with something I’d never told anyone before, and he wasn’t reacting in the way I’d hoped he would. “So when he died, he basically left me a letter that told me that he didn’t trust his old business partners. He left me some papers that led me to believe that he should own the rights and be receiving the royalties for those products.”

“I see.” He pursed his lips. “So you’re trying to get the money you think is yours, is that it?”

“Yeah.” I nodded and looked away from him again. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t tell him about my mother’s car accident and the fact that my father had believed that she’d been killed. I didn’t tell him that the real reason I was investigating was to get justice for my mother. I wasn’t sure that he’d understand. I thought back to the letter my father had left me; the letter that had led to my kidnapping and being stuck on this island.

My Dearest Bianca,

My darling daughter, as I lie here writing this letter, there are so many things I wish I could go back and change.

First, let me apologize to you. I spent too many years carrying around my grief at your mother’s death that there are many times I didn’t fully appreciate how alive we both still were.

Your mother meant the world to me and I see her living on in you. She would be so proud of the historian you’ve become. Stay inquisitive and beautiful, my darling. I’m so sorry that I wasn’t able to leave you anything in my will. I wasted my life away and there are many things I wish I had told you before today.

There’s one thing I think you should know. One thing I’ve agonized over telling you. I don’t think your mother’s car crash was an accident. As I’ve gone through my papers and recalled various conversations from the days before her death, it has occurred to me that there may have been people that wanted to see me incapacitated. People that knew that your mother’s death would change everything in my life.

My darling, I may not be able to leave you riches in the bank, but go through the papers in the box and you might find the truth. The truth will provide for your children and bring justice for your mother’s death. Writing this letter and knowing how strong you are is giving me great solace in the sadness of my last days. All I ask is that you be careful of who you trust. Friends can be foes and foes can be friends. Remember that I love you and I’m sorry.

Fight on like your beloved Mary, Queen of Scots.

All my love,

Papa

“Are you okay, Bianca?” Jakob moved closer to me. I could see the concern in his eyes. “You just spaced out for a long time.”

“I was just thinking of my dad.” My body trembled as his fingers ran down my arm.

“Thinking about the money?” His mouth twisted and I sighed. Jakob was really preoccupied with money. It seemed like he became irritated every time the subject was brought up. I was going to have to remember that.