Chapter 3: The Man Who Had Been Stealing From Me
Richard had trusted Martin Hayes for twenty-two years.
They had met when Whitmore Holdings was still a small property investment company operating from two rented offices.
Martin had been the numbers man.
Richard had been the salesman.
Together, they had turned a struggling business into an international empire.
Martin had attended Richard's first wedding.
He had held James when the boy was born.
He had stood beside Richard at Eleanor's funeral.
And now he was sitting in a black car outside Richard's home while his wife was being accused of poisoning him.
Richard stared toward the gates.
"Don't let that car leave.""
The security chief immediately spoke into his radio.
"Close the main entrance. Nobody moves without authorization.""
But the car was already reversing.
"Stop him!"" Richard shouted.
Two guards ran toward the driveway.
The vehicle accelerated.
Its tires spun over the gravel before it disappeared around the bend.
Richard stood motionless.
Then he turned to James.
"How long have you known about Martin?""
"I didn't know who he was at first. I only heard his voice.""
"You said there was another recording.""
James nodded.
He opened his phone and played the final video.
It showed the guest room from an angle near the wardrobe.
Victoria stood beside the window.
Martin was sitting on the bed, holding a folder.
"Richard still hasn't signed," Martin said.
Victoria crossed her arms.
"He's becoming suspicious.""
"Then get him to sign.""
"He keeps asking about the medical reports.""
Martin closed the folder.
"That's because Carter isn't doing his job properly.""
Victoria lowered her voice.
"How long can we keep giving him the mixture?""
"Until the transfer is completed.""
"And if he gets worse?""
Martin looked at her.
"Then the doctors will have an explanation.""
Victoria laughed.
"What explanation?""
Martin shrugged.
"His age. His medical history. His medication. There are a hundred ways to explain a man getting sick.""
Richard felt his stomach turn.
James stopped the video.
For several seconds, father and son said nothing.
Then Richard whispered:
"How much of this did you hear?""
"Enough.""
"Why didn't you come straight to me?""
James looked down.
"I tried.""
Richard closed his eyes.
He remembered that afternoon in the study.
The way James had stood there, desperately trying to explain.
The way Richard had dismissed him.
He had spent years telling himself that he was protecting his son by bringing another adult into their lives.
Now he understood that his son had been trying to protect him from the person he had chosen.
Richard crouched in front of James.
"I'm sorry.""
James looked surprised.
"What?""
"I'm sorry I didn't listen.""
His son swallowed.
"You believe me now?""
Richard placed both hands on his shoulders.
"I believe you.""
For the first time that evening, James's composure broke.
He leaned forward and buried his face against his father's shoulder.
Richard held him tightly.
Victoria watched them from several feet away.
Then she spoke.
"How touching.""
Richard slowly turned.
She was standing beneath the garden lights, her arms folded.
"You really think this changes anything?"" she asked.
Richard stood.
"Don't say another word.""
"Your son has been spying on me. He's been recording private conversations and manipulating everything you see.""
"Enough.""
"He's sixteen, Richard! He's angry because I won't let him control this family!""
James stepped forward.
"I don't want your money.""
Victoria laughed.
"Of course you do. You're the heir.""
Richard's expression darkened.
"Don't talk to him.""
Victoria's voice became louder.
"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to live with a man who still worships his dead wife? Every room in this house is filled with Eleanor's memories. Every decision revolves around what she would have wanted.""
Richard stared at her.
"Is that what this is about?""
"Yes!""
Her composure finally cracked.
"Do you know what it's like to spend four years being treated like a temporary guest in your own home?""
"You married me.""
"And you made me beg for everything!""
"You had everything.""
"No, Richard. I had expensive furniture and a husband who barely noticed me.""
He looked at her with disbelief.
"So you decided to poison me?""
Victoria shook her head.
"I never wanted it to go this far.""
"Then what did you want?""
She didn't answer.
Richard looked toward the broken glass on the terrace.
"Tell me what was in that packet.""
Victoria's eyes moved toward the guests.
"I want a lawyer.""
"Then you can speak to one when the police arrive.""
She straightened her dress.
"You're making a mistake.""
Richard pulled out his phone.
"Perhaps. But it won't be another mistake involving my son's safety.""
He dialed emergency services.
While he spoke, James quietly moved closer to the security chief.
"Sir?""
The man turned.
"Yes, young master?""
"Can you check the study?""
"Why?""
"Because I think they took more than the documents.""
The guard frowned.
"What else?""
James looked toward Victoria.
"There's a small black notebook in Dad's desk. I saw Martin put something inside it last week.""
Richard overheard.
"What notebook?""
James explained.
"Martin came into your study while you were sleeping. I saw him take a notebook from his jacket and put it inside your desk drawer.""
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I didn't know it mattered.""
Richard turned toward the security chief.
"Go and get it. Don't touch anything else.""
The guard hurried inside.
Victoria suddenly moved.
Not toward the gate.
Toward the house.
"Where do you think you're going?"" Richard asked.
"To get my medication.""
"Your handbag is right there.""
"I need something from upstairs.""
"No.""
She stopped.
Her expression turned poisonous.
"You can't keep me prisoner.""
"I'm not. I'm keeping you away from my study.""
Two security guards moved closer.
Victoria looked from one to the other.
Then she laughed.
"You think you've won?""
Richard didn't respond.
She stepped closer and lowered her voice.
"You should have signed the papers when I asked.""
"What papers?""
"The inheritance restructuring documents.""
Richard stared at her.
"What did you do?""
Victoria smiled.
"Ask Martin.""
Before he could respond, the security chief returned carrying a small black notebook inside a clear evidence bag.
"Mr. Whitmore, we found it.""
Richard took a step closer.
"What's inside?""
The guard opened the cover carefully.
The first few pages contained handwritten figures.
Bank account numbers.
Dates.
Payment amounts.
And names.
Richard scanned the entries.
Dr. Samuel Carter.
Martin Hayes.
Victoria Whitmore.
The payments went back nearly two years.
His hand began to tremble.
"How much?"" he whispered.
The security chief looked uncomfortable.
"Sir, we've made a preliminary calculation.""
"Tell me.""
"Approximately four million pounds.""
Richard looked up.
"Four million?""
"That's only what's listed here.""
He turned another page.
There were references to several transfers from company accounts.
One was labeled MEDICAL CONSULTANCY.
Another was labeled PRIVATE TRUST.
The final entry was dated three days earlier.
It contained a sum of £750,000.
Beside it was a short handwritten note.
FINAL PAYMENT AFTER SIGNATURE.
Richard closed the notebook.
"Martin has been stealing from the company.""
James looked at the pages.
"There's more.""
Richard turned.
"What?""
"The last page.""
The boy pointed to a folded sheet tucked into the back cover.
Richard removed it.
It was a photocopy of a legal document.
At the top was the name of Whitmore Holdings.
Below it was a proposed amendment to the family trust.
Richard read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
His face changed.
The document transferred control of several major assets to a private holding company.
A company he had never heard of.
He looked at the signature line.
His name was already printed there.
But the signature beneath it was not his.
It was a forgery.
Richard looked at Victoria.
"Did you sign this?""
She said nothing.
"Did Martin forge my signature?""
Victoria glanced toward the guards.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
Richard held up the document.
"Don't insult me.""
She looked away.
For the first time, she seemed unable to find a convincing answer.
Then Richard noticed the name of the private holding company.
Eleanor Whitmore Family Trust.
His late wife's trust.
The one Richard had established for James after her death.
The one that was supposed to be protected from anyone outside their immediate family.
He read the beneficiary section.
His eyes stopped.
There were two names.
James Whitmore.
And Victoria Whitmore.
Richard felt a wave of disbelief.
"Why is your name here?""
Victoria lifted her chin.
"Because I'm your wife.""
"That trust belongs to James.""
"I was promised a share.""
"By whom?""
She said nothing.
Richard looked at his son.
James appeared equally confused.
Then the security chief spoke.
"Sir, there's something else you should know.""
Richard turned.
"What?""
"Before the car left, we recovered a folder from the guest room. It was hidden inside the wardrobe.""
He handed Richard another clear evidence bag.
Inside was a printed itinerary.
A flight to Zurich.
Two first-class tickets.
One booked under Victoria Whitmore's name.
The other under Martin Hayes.
The departure date was tomorrow morning.
Richard stared at the paper.
"You were leaving?""
Victoria's lips tightened.
"Richard, listen—"
"You were planning to leave the country?""
She raised her voice.
"I was planning to protect myself!""
"From what?""
"From you!""
Richard looked at her in disbelief.
"You're the one who has been stealing from me.""
Victoria suddenly pointed at James.
"This is all because of him! If he hadn't interfered, we could have settled everything privately.""
Richard stepped forward.
"Don't you dare blame my son.""
"He's not innocent!""
James looked at her.
"What did I do?""
Victoria opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
Her eyes moved toward the garden entrance.
A police siren sounded in the distance.
The first officers arrived less than five minutes later.
They separated Richard, James, and Victoria.
An officer began photographing the broken glass.
Another took custody of the phone.
Richard gave a statement, explaining everything he knew.
Victoria insisted that she was being framed.
She demanded to speak to her solicitor.
But as the officers began searching her handbag, one of them found something unexpected.
A small medication bottle.
It had no pharmacy label.
Only a handwritten number.
The officer held it up.
"Mrs. Whitmore, what is this?""
Victoria's face turned white.
"That's personal.""
"What's inside?""
"Medicine.""
"What kind?""
She hesitated.
The officer placed the bottle inside an evidence bag.
"We'll have it tested.""
Richard watched silently.
Then he remembered the years of dizziness.
The unexplained fatigue.
The mornings when he could barely stand.
He turned toward the police officer.
"I want a full medical examination.""
"Of course, sir.""
"And I want my previous medical records reviewed independently. Not by Dr. Carter.""
The officer nodded.
"That can be arranged.""
James stood beside his father, still holding his phone.
Richard looked down at him.
"You saved my life.""
James shook his head.
"I don't know that.""
Richard put a hand on his shoulder.
"You gave me the chance to find out.""
An officer approached.
"Mr. Whitmore, there's one more thing. We've recovered a document from Mrs.
Whitmore's handbag. It appears to be a draft of a new will.""
Richard frowned.
"A new will?""
"Yes, sir. It was prepared last week.""
The officer handed him a copy.
Richard read the first page.
Then the second.
His estate was being divided.
Most of his personal assets would go into a new private trust.
The trustee was Martin Hayes.
The primary beneficiary was Victoria.
James would receive a small fixed amount.
Richard felt sick.
Then he noticed something written in the margin.
A handwritten instruction.
He read it twice.
And suddenly, the entire scheme looked much bigger than a marriage gone wrong.
The note said:
If Richard dies before signing, use the existing medical records to establish incapacity. The court process will be easier.
Richard slowly raised his eyes.
"Who wrote this?""
The officer examined the handwriting.
"We can't determine that yet.""
Richard looked toward Victoria.
She was standing beside the police car, speaking urgently to another officer.
Then his phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
One message appeared.
Richard, you need to hear this before you trust anyone. Victoria isn't the person who started this. Check Eleanor's original trust documents. Your first wife's signature was forged too.
Richard stared at the screen.
James noticed his expression.
"Dad?""
Richard couldn't speak.
Another message arrived.
This time, there was an attachment.
A photograph of a document dated six months before Eleanor's death.
And at the bottom was a signature that Richard had believed was his wife's.
But the signature was impossible.
Because Eleanor had been in the hospital on the date it was supposedly signed.
And the person who had witnessed it...
May you like
Was Richard's own brother.
*END OF CHAPTER 3*
