Zara stopped the cab just outside her father’s place on the Old Kent Road. It was left vacant, as she expected. Her brother had taken the lot. Luckily, the actual shop hadn’t been vandalized. Her throat tightened as she wandered around to the back of the building to the entrance of her father’s old office. She choked on a tear as she stared at the stinking old rubbish heap in the open porch. She knew that behind the mess was the metal door that at one time had always been guarded by Quasi. Yet what greeted her today was silence. As she moved the rubbish away to reveal the steel door, her heart was in her mouth. She knew that once inside she would visualize her father sitting there with his eyeglass, examining some knocked-off piece of jewellery. Taking a deep breath, she placed her bag on the floor and reached inside for the large bundle of keys. Once she’d released the three locks, she pushed the door open and stared.

The sight just reinforced how greedy and heartless her brother really was. Her father’s favourite Persian rug lay perfectly in place, and the large oak desk and rows of cabinets filled with books were still there intact. However, the contents of the drawers were on the floor, and the antique ornaments were gone. Everything of value had been taken. Only her father’s much loved and practically worthless items were left behind.

A tear trickled down her face as she could almost hear him talking about how money makes the world go round, but how power and fear can stop it. She slowly wandered around the room, fingering the desk, the books, and the back of Izzy’s chair, and then she stopped and stared at the rug. All those years, she never knew that it was her brother who was behind the leaked information. She could never have guessed it was Ismail who was hell-bent on setting her up. However, did he know every hiding place, every secret? She did because Izzy had made it his life’s mission to prepare her to take over.

Crouching down, she gripped the corner and pulled the carpet back. A chuckle escaped her mouth. Surely, Ismail would have checked this hidey-hole? Her giggle turned into a full-on laugh. Jesus, Ismail, you fool, you really didn’t have it in you, did you? You only saw what was under your nose.

She sat back on her haunches. This was the reason her father had chosen her to take over, as Ismail lacked the skills and the mental and physical resources to run the family businesses. Under the rug was a hidden door that opened to reveal a large metal box. It held everything that was of any value: there were names, addresses, phone numbers, codes, bank accounts, and so much more. She tugged at the small handle and smiled.