Chapter 4: The Person Behind the Murder
Richard stared at the envelope as though it might explode.
Rain hammered against the windows. Somewhere in the kitchen, a clock chimed nine times, its familiar sound suddenly strange in a house where nothing could be trusted.
“The person who has been sitting beside me at every family Christmas?”” Richard repeated.
Daniel nodded.
“Someone who has watched you inherit Father's company, watched you build it into something profitable, and watched you become the last obstacle standing between them and everything they wanted.””
Richard's fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
“Stop speaking in riddles. Tell me who.””
Daniel looked at Victoria.
She had stopped crying.
Her expression had changed from terror to something harder, something that made Thomas instinctively move closer to Richard.
“Don't,” Victoria whispered.
Daniel gave a bitter laugh.
“Still protecting him?””
“Daniel, you don't understand what he'll do.””
“I understand perfectly. I spent six years learning exactly what he'll do.””
Richard snatched the envelope from the table.
“Enough! Who are you talking about?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said, “Uncle Edward.””
The name seemed to drain the warmth from the room.
Edward Whitmore was Richard's uncle, his father's younger brother, and the man who had helped raise Richard after his mother died. He had taught Richard how to ride a horse, how to negotiate his first business contract, and how to stand straight when grief threatened to bend him.
At every Christmas dinner, Edward had sat at Richard's right hand.
He had toasted Richard's success.
He had embraced him after Daniel's funeral.
And six months earlier, when Richard's company had faced a devastating financial crisis, Edward had been the first person to offer help.
Richard slowly lowered the envelope.
“No.””
Daniel's face tightened.
“I wish I could tell you differently.””
“No. Edward has been trying to save this company for months.””
“Because he helped put it in danger.””
Richard stepped toward him.
“Careful.””
“I'm not trying to hurt you.””
“Then stop accusing a man who has spent his entire life protecting this family.””
Daniel's voice cracked.
“He protected the family name. There is a difference.””
Thomas watched Richard's hands begin to tremble.
It was not fear alone.
It was the pain of a man discovering that every cherished memory might have been built around a lie.
Richard tore open the envelope.
Inside lay several printed bank statements, two photographs, and a handwritten letter bearing Edward's unmistakable signature.
Richard examined the first page.
His brow furrowed.
“These transfers are from the company accounts.””
“Yes,” Daniel said.
“Payments to a company called Ashbourne Consulting. I've never heard of it.””
“You weren't supposed to.””
Richard scanned the figures.
Three hundred thousand pounds.
Then another four hundred thousand.
Then nearly a million.
The transfers stretched across eighteen months, each one authorized through a chain of accounts that concealed the final recipient.
Richard looked up.
“Who owns Ashbourne Consulting?””
“Edward.””
“That doesn't prove anything.””
“Keep reading.””
Richard examined the next page.
A photograph showed Edward leaving a private club in London. Beside him stood a man Richard recognized from newspaper articles about organized financial crime. Another photograph showed Victoria entering the same building two days later.
Richard turned toward his wife.
“You knew about this?””
Victoria's lips parted.
“I can explain.””
“Then explain.””
She glanced at Daniel.
He shook his head.
“Don't make it worse.””
Her eyes flashed.
“You don't get to tell me what to do!””
Daniel's face hardened.
“You're right. I lost that privilege the night you agreed to help them.””
Richard looked between them.
“Help them do what?””
Neither answered.
His voice rose.
“What did you do?””
Victoria sank into a chair.
“I transferred the money.””
Richard stared at her.
“What money?””
“The money Daniel told you about. The money I inherited.””
“You said you gave it to Daniel because he was in trouble.””
“I did.””
Daniel let out a humorless laugh.
“Not all of it.””
Victoria closed her eyes.
Richard placed both hands on the table.
“Start talking. Now.””
Victoria looked at him for a long time.
Then she spoke.
“Edward approached me shortly after Daniel disappeared. He told me Daniel had stolen money from the company and that the people he was working with would come after our family unless the debt was settled.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That is not what happened.””
“Let me finish!”” she snapped.
Richard flinched at the sudden outburst.
Victoria continued, her voice shaking.
“Edward said he could make the problem disappear. He told me to move the money into an account he controlled. He promised that once the debt was settled, Daniel would be left alone.””
“And you believed him?”” Richard asked.
“I wanted to believe him.””
“You transferred your inheritance to a man who told you my brother was a criminal?””
“I was trying to save Daniel!””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You were trying to save yourself.””
Victoria slapped the table.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed!””
“I know exactly what you sacrificed. You sacrificed Richard.””
Silence filled the room.
Richard looked at his wife.
“Did Edward tell you to poison me?””
Victoria's eyes filled again.
“He told me you were going to discover the transfers. He said the company would collapse if you investigated them. He promised that if you died before the board meeting, everything would pass to the people who could keep the business alive.””
Richard went very still.
“And you agreed?””
She began shaking her head.
“At first, I said no. I swear I did. I told him I wouldn't hurt you.””
“But?””
Victoria looked at the broken wineglass on the floor.
“He told me Daniel was dead because I had failed to cooperate six years ago.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“What?””
“He said the accident wasn't an accident. He said Daniel had tried to expose him, and Edward had arranged everything.””
Daniel took a step toward her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was afraid!””
“Of Edward?””
“Of everyone!””
Richard pulled out a chair and sat down heavily.
The room seemed to tilt around him.
“So Edward used you to move the money, convinced you Daniel was dead, and then threatened to destroy our family unless you helped him kill me.””
Victoria nodded.
“And you went along with it,” Richard said.
“I thought I could find another way.””
“What way?””
Her answer came in a whisper.
“I intended to make you ill. Just enough to keep you away from the board meeting. I was going to tell Edward the plan had worked, then find the evidence and expose him.””
Daniel stared at her.
“You expected us to believe that?””
“I wasn't going to let Richard die!””
Daniel pointed at the fireplace.
“You put something in his drink that you were terrified to touch yourself!””
“I didn't know how dangerous it was!””
“Then why did you hide the vial?””
Victoria covered her face.
Richard rose slowly.
“Look at me.””
She lowered her hands.
For the first time, she seemed unable to bear his gaze.
“You knew I trusted you,” he said.
“You knew I would have taken that glass from your hand without asking a single question.””
“I know.””
“You knew I would have drunk it.””
“I know!””
“Then tell me what you thought when Thomas broke the glass.””
Victoria's mouth trembled.
“I thought everything was over.””
Richard looked at her for several seconds.
Then he turned away.
Thomas had never seen his master cry. Not when his father died, not when Daniel's funeral took place, and not when the company lost its largest overseas contract.
Now, Richard stood with his back to the room, one hand gripping the mantelpiece.
Daniel moved toward him.
“Richard—”
“Don't touch me.””
Daniel stopped.
Richard took a slow breath.
“When you disappeared, I spent six years blaming myself. I thought I should have noticed you were in trouble. I thought I should have called you more often.””
Daniel's eyes shone.
“I know.””
“I stood beside your grave and promised Father I would look after the family.””
“I know.””
“And all this time, you were alive.””
Daniel's voice broke.
“I was trying to get back to you.””
Richard turned.
“Then why didn't you?””
Daniel reached inside his coat and removed a second photograph.
This one showed a younger Daniel standing outside a small roadside motel. Beside him stood Edward, his face partially obscured by the shadow of a doorway.
On the back, someone had written a date.
The date of Daniel's supposed death.
Richard stared at it.
Daniel explained that he had survived the crash but suffered severe injuries. Edward's men had found him before emergency services could identify him. He had been taken to a private clinic under a false name, then moved abroad while he recovered.
“When I finally escaped,” Daniel said, “Edward had already convinced everyone I was dead. He threatened to have me arrested for fraud if I came home. He told me you'd believe him.””
Richard looked at the photograph.
“Why come back now?””
“Because I found out Edward was preparing to take control of the company. And because he had started talking about you as though your death were a matter of scheduling.””
Thomas felt sick.
“How did you discover the plan?”” he asked.
Daniel looked at him.
“Someone inside Edward's organization contacted me. They gave me the records and told me Victoria had been approached.””
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“Who?””
Daniel hesitated.
Before he could answer, a sound came from the hallway.
A single, slow clap.
Everyone turned.
Edward Whitmore stood beneath the staircase, wearing a charcoal suit and carrying a black umbrella.
He had entered without anyone hearing the front door.
His silver hair was perfectly combed. His expression was almost affectionate.
“Well,” Edward said, “this is a disappointing way to spend an evening.””
Richard stepped away from the fireplace.
“Edward.””
His uncle looked at the shattered glass, the documents, and finally Daniel.
He did not appear surprised.
“Daniel,” he said.
“You really should have stayed dead.””
Daniel moved in front of Richard.
Edward smiled faintly.
“Don't look so shocked, Richard. You always knew your brother was reckless.””
Richard's face hardened.
“You tried to kill me.””
Edward sighed.
“I tried to preserve what your father built.””
“By poisoning me?””
“By preventing a catastrophic business collapse.””
“You murdered my brother.””
Edward's smile disappeared.
Daniel spoke quietly.
“You arranged the crash. You paid the clinic. You falsified the records. And now you want to steal the company.””
Edward adjusted his cuff.
“You have a remarkable imagination.””
Richard lifted the envelope.
“Then you'll have no objection to explaining these transfers to the police.””
For the first time, Edward's eyes flickered toward the papers.
Then he laughed.
“Police? My dear boy, you have no idea how much of this evidence can be traced back to your wife.””
Victoria stood abruptly.
“Edward, you promised—”
“Silence.””
The word cracked through the room.
Victoria recoiled.
Edward turned toward Richard.
“Your wife has made some unfortunate decisions. She has hidden money, falsified documents, and attempted to conceal a crime. If you call the police, she will be the first person they arrest.””
Richard glanced at Victoria.
She looked terrified.
Edward stepped closer.
“And when they discover your company's financial irregularities, you'll lose everything you have left.””
Richard stared at him.
Edward lowered his voice.
“So here's what we're going to do. You'll give me those documents. Daniel will leave this house.
Victoria will keep her mouth shut. And tomorrow morning, you will sign the papers transferring control of the company to me.””
“And if I refuse?””
Edward's expression became almost tender.
“Then I suggest you ask Thomas how quickly a servant can disappear without anyone noticing.””
Thomas felt the blood drain from his face.
Richard moved in front of him.
“You will not touch him.””
Edward looked amused.
“Still playing the hero, Richard?””
He slipped a hand into his jacket.
Daniel lunged.
“Richard, get down!””
A deafening crack shattered the silence.
May you like
The chandelier trembled overhead.
And Thomas watched Richard collapse beside the fireplace as Daniel screamed his name.
