The rain mirrored the storm in Julia’s heart. Hours ago, laughter filled her home. Now, her husband, William, lay lifeless on the floor, a victim of a sudden heart attack. Or so they said. A gnawing unease, a misplaced file, hushed phone calls—Julia sensed a deeper, more sinister truth.
Sorting through William's belongings, she discovers a hidden notebook, a chilling list of names and dates. Familiar names. Neighbors. Colleagues. Each linked to a string of misfortunes: financial ruin, sudden illnesses, fatal accidents. As Julia investigates, the image of her loving husband shatters, replaced by a chilling portrait of a master manipulator.
But someone else knows about William’s secrets. A cryptic text message arrives: “Curiosity killed the cat.” The list, once a puzzle, becomes a target on her back. Fear wars with a fierce resolve. She won't be silenced. Partnering with Eleanor Vance, a shrewd private investigator, Julia plunges into a world of corruption, uncovering a clandestine investment group operating in the shadows of Portland’s elite.
The closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous their quest becomes. Break-ins, near-miss accidents—each incident a chilling reminder of the powerful forces they’re up against. A hidden ledger reveals the group’s vast reach, implicating prominent figures in the city’s power structure. But it also contains a shocking revelation: William wasn't a perpetrator, but a target. His death was no accident.
With the truth exposed, Julia becomes the prime target. A final, stormy confrontation reveals the mastermind behind the conspiracy, a betrayal that cuts deeper than any she could have imagined. In the aftermath, Julia must reconcile the life she thought she knew with the devastating reality of William’s deceit. The inheritance of lies becomes a legacy of truth, forged in grief and a relentless pursuit of justice. In the rain-washed streets of Portland, Julia finds not only closure but a strength she never knew she possessed, a testament to the enduring power of truth in a city cleansed by the storm.
