Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Everything
The police arrived twelve minutes after the shooting.
By then, the gunman was gone.
Two officers searched the property while another questioned Marcus, Ethan, Daniel, and Arthur.
The broken window was covered with a temporary board.
A bullet had lodged in the wall less than a foot from where Marcus had been standing.
Ethan sat on the guesthouse steps with a blanket around his shoulders.
His split lip had started bleeding again.
His father sat beside him.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Finally, Marcus said, "I'm sorry.""
Ethan stared at the driveway.
"For what?""
"For hitting you.""
Ethan looked at him.
Marcus's eyes were red.
"I saw her dress. I heard her crying. I didn't ask a single question. I just believed the worst about you.""
Ethan looked down.
"You believed what you wanted to believe.""
"I know.""
"You didn't even let me finish a sentence.""
Marcus nodded.
"I know.""
Ethan rubbed his injured lip.
"I don't know how we're supposed to go back to normal after tonight.""
Marcus swallowed.
"Neither do I.""
Across the yard, an officer approached Arthur.
"Sir, we need to establish your identity.""
Arthur nodded.
"Of course.""
The officer examined his documents.
"Your death certificate is still active.""
Arthur gave a tired smile.
"I noticed.""
"That means there are some complications.""
"I imagine there are.""
The officer looked toward Marcus.
"We'll need everyone at the station for formal statements.""
Marcus stood.
"That's fine.""
Before they could move, Daniel approached.
"Marcus, we need to discuss the company.""
Marcus looked at him.
"Not now.""
"Richard knows we've found Arthur. He'll move quickly.""
Ethan stood.
"Then we need to stop him before morning.""
Daniel nodded.
"The board meeting is scheduled for nine.""
"What's happening there?""
"Richard intends to present the acquisition as an emergency restructuring.""
Marcus frowned.
"Without my approval?""
"He's claiming you authorized it through the power of attorney.""
Arthur stepped closer.
"That document is fake.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Can you prove it?""
Arthur opened his leather notebook.
"Yes. The original power-of-attorney records were never filed. The document Vanessa presented was created using an old template from the company archive.""
Marcus looked at him.
"How do you know?""
"Because I designed the original template.""
Daniel stared.
Arthur continued.
"Richard stole the blank forms after I disappeared. He used them to create the false authorization.""
Ethan looked at Marcus.
"So the entire transfer is based on forged paperwork.""
"Yes," Arthur answered.
"Then we can stop it.""
"Not without the original ownership records.""
Marcus frowned.
"What records?""
Arthur looked at him.
"The ones your first wife kept.""
Ethan's breathing changed.
"My mother's records?""
Arthur nodded.
"Before she died, she gave me a copy of the original trust documents. She knew Richard was trying to take control of the company.""
Marcus looked devastated.
"She told you?""
"Yes.""
"Why not me?""
Arthur didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "Because she didn't trust you with the truth.""
Marcus turned away.
Ethan looked at his uncle.
"Where are the documents?""
Arthur glanced toward the guesthouse.
"Hidden.""
"Where?""
"In the old study.""
Marcus frowned.
"Which study?""
"The room behind the library. The one you sealed after her death.""
Marcus looked at him.
"That room hasn't been opened in seventeen years.""
Arthur nodded.
"Exactly.""
They returned to the main house.
The police agreed to remain on the property while the family searched the old room.
Marcus unlocked the library door.
Behind a large bookcase was a narrow wooden door.
He had never told Ethan what was behind it.
The room smelled of old paper and cedar.
A desk stood beside the window.
A dusty piano sat against the far wall.
On the desk were several framed photographs.
Ethan recognized his mother in every one.
He approached the nearest photograph.
It showed her holding him as a baby.
Marcus stood behind him.
"She loved this room," he said quietly.
Ethan touched the frame.
"Why did you close it?""
Marcus looked at the floor.
"Because I couldn't bear to see her things.""
Arthur moved toward the desk.
"She knew you'd do that.""
He opened the top drawer.
Inside were old notebooks, letters, and a small metal box.
Arthur took out a key.
Ethan watched him unlock it.
Inside were several documents wrapped in brown paper.
Arthur removed them carefully.
"The original trust.""
Marcus stepped closer.
The first page carried his late wife's signature.
The second contained the ownership structure.
The third listed the beneficiaries.
Ethan found his name.
Then he found another clause.
His eyes narrowed.
"Uncle Arthur.""
"What?""
"What's this?""
Arthur looked at the page.
His expression changed.
Marcus took it.
He read the paragraph twice.
The clause stated that if the appointed administrator was found to have knowingly concealed or misused company assets, his authority would immediately transfer to an independent trustee.
Ethan looked at his father.
"That means if you knew about the missing money...""
Marcus's face tightened.
Arthur nodded.
"Your mother anticipated that possibility.""
Marcus sat down.
"She thought I would steal from her?""
Arthur shook his head.
"She thought you might make a mistake trying to protect the company.""
Ethan continued reading.
There was another name listed as the independent trustee.
Olivia Grant.
Marcus looked up.
"Olivia?""
Daniel nodded.
"She's the company's external legal counsel.""
Arthur smiled faintly.
"Your mother trusted her completely.""
Ethan checked the document date.
It had been signed two weeks before his mother's death.
He looked at Marcus.
"So if the original documents are valid, Olivia can immediately freeze the transfer.""
"Yes," Arthur answered.
Marcus took out his phone.
He called Olivia again.
This time, she answered.
"Marcus?""
"Olivia, I need you at the house immediately.""
"What's happened?""
"Someone is trying to sell the company without authorization. I have the original trust documents.""
There was a pause.
Then Olivia said, "Are you with Ethan?""
"Yes.""
"Keep him there. Do not let anyone take those documents.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why?""
Olivia's voice became urgent.
"Because someone came to my office tonight asking for the original trust.""
"Who?""
"I couldn't identify him. He claimed to be acting on behalf of Arthur Hale.""
Marcus looked toward his brother.
Arthur shook his head.
"That wasn't me.""
Olivia continued.
"Marcus, there's something you need to know. I reviewed the old trust documents last week. Someone had already requested a certified copy.""
"Who?""
"A woman using Vanessa's maiden name.""
Marcus looked at his wife.
Vanessa was no longer in the room.
Ethan turned toward the hallway.
"Where is she?""
Daniel checked the security monitor.
The front door was open.
Vanessa's handbag was gone.
Marcus immediately called the police officer outside.
"Vanessa has left the property.""
The officer responded that he would check the road.
Ethan rushed toward the entrance.
A second later, he stopped.
His phone had received a message.
Unknown number.
He opened it.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Vanessa standing beside a black SUV.
Behind her was Richard Cole.
The message underneath contained seven words.
*Come alone if you want your father alive.*
Ethan looked up.
Marcus saw his expression.
"What is it?""
Ethan handed him the phone.
Marcus read the message.
His face turned white.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Don't do anything reckless.""
Ethan shook his head.
"That's my father.""
"Then we call the police.""
Marcus took out his phone.
Before he could dial, another message arrived.
This time, it included a video.
Ethan pressed play.
The footage showed a room with concrete walls.
A man sat tied to a chair.
His face was bruised.
His shirt was stained with blood.
Ethan recognized him immediately.
Arthur.
Ethan turned toward the library.
His uncle was standing beside the desk.
Alive.
And the man in the video was Daniel.
A voice came through the recording.
Richard's voice.
"One brother is dead. The other is next.""
Then the camera moved closer.
Richard leaned toward Daniel.
"Tell Ethan to bring the original trust documents to the warehouse.""
The video ended.
Marcus stared at the screen.
Daniel's phone was still lying on the library desk.
Ethan looked toward the front door.
"He's been taken.""
Arthur's expression hardened.
"No. That's impossible.""
Ethan turned.
"Uncle Arthur, look at the video.""
Arthur watched it again.
Then he shook his head.
"That's not Daniel.""
Marcus frowned.
"What?""
Arthur pointed at the man in the chair.
"Look at his left hand.""
Ethan enlarged the image.
The man had a wedding ring.
Daniel didn't wear one.
But the person in the video had a distinctive silver ring with a black stone.
Marcus recognized it.
His older brother wore one for years.
Arthur whispered, "That's Richard's former business associate.""
Ethan looked confused.
"Who?""
Arthur answered.
"His name is Peter Lawson. He disappeared after the investigation into your mother's death.""
Marcus stepped backward.
"Peter is dead.""
Arthur shook his head.
"No. He's the one who helped Richard fake my death.""
Ethan's phone vibrated again.
A new message appeared.
*Midnight. The warehouse. Bring the original documents. No police.*
Then another message followed.
*And don't bring Arthur. Richard has been waiting seventeen years to finish what he started.*
Ethan looked at the clock.
May you like
11:36 p.m.
They had twenty-four minutes.
