Chapter 8 - THE CHILD ON THE LIST
Nathan crossed the boardroom so quickly that his chair toppled behind him.
“What did you say?”
Eleanor did not answer.
Nathan gripped the edge of the table.
“Why did you say Jamie?”
She looked toward Inspector Bennett.
“I need protection.”
Nathan stared at her in disbelief.
“My son is on a list and you are negotiating?”
“You don’t understand.”
“No.”
Nathan’s voice cracked.
“I understand exactly enough.”
Bennett stepped between them.
“Mrs. Harcourt, if you know of an immediate threat to the child, tell us now.”
Eleanor’s breathing quickened.
“Simon asked questions.”
“What questions?”
“About Jamie’s inheritance.”
Nathan went still.
“What about it?”
“What happened if Nathan died.”
Bennett continued.
“And?”
“I told him Jamie inherited through the trust.”
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
“Why would Simon ask something he drafted?”
Eleanor looked toward him.
“Because he wanted to know whether I had changed anything privately.”
“Had you?”
“Yes.”
Nathan stared.
“When?”
“After Amelia died.”
“What did you change?”
“I created a secondary trust.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“Another secret trust.”
“It was intended to protect Jamie.”
“From whom?”
Eleanor looked at him.
“From Adrian.”
Nathan frowned.
“What?”
“Your brother had debts.”
“Gambling?”
“Investments.”
“He needed money.”
“So?”
“So he began asking what happened if you died.”
Nathan felt cold.
“When?”
“Fourteen months ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was handling it.”
Nathan almost shouted.
“You handled everything.”
“My medication.”
“My wife’s belongings.”
“My son’s fears.”
“My food.”
“Look where your handling got us.”
Eleanor’s expression hardened.
“I kept this family together.”
“You kept us under control.”
Bennett interrupted.
“Stay with Jamie.”
“What did Simon ask?”
Eleanor turned toward her.
“He asked whether the child inherited directly if Nathan died before Jamie turned twenty-one.”
“And?”
“No.”
“The trustees manage the shares.”
“Who are the trustees?”
Eleanor hesitated.
“Myself.”
“Simon.”
“And Adrian.”
Nathan stared.
“You put Adrian on Jamie’s trust?”
“It was created before I knew about his debts.”
“Remove him.”
“I tried.”
“What happened?”
“Simon said the trust was irrevocable.”
Nathan’s anger became disbelief.
“And you believed him?”
“He was the solicitor.”
Nathan laughed.
“You trusted the same man you were blackmailing and being blackmailed by?”
Eleanor glared.
Bennett remained focused.
“What happens if one trustee dies?”
“The remaining trustees continue.”
“And if Nathan dies?”
“Jamie becomes the beneficial owner.”
“Who controls voting rights?”
Eleanor whispered.
“The trustees.”
Nathan finally understood.
If Nathan died, Jamie would inherit his shares.
But Jamie was five.
The trustees would wield the voting power.
Eleanor.
Adrian.
Simon.
Nathan looked at his mother.
“And if Jamie died?”
The question felt monstrous.
Eleanor’s face collapsed.
Nathan repeated it.
“What happens if my son dies?”
She looked down.
“The shares revert.”
“To whom?”
“The family remainder beneficiaries.”
“Which are?”
Eleanor did not answer.
Nathan slammed his hand down.
“WHICH ARE?”
“Adrian and me.”
Nathan stopped breathing.
The room seemed to spin.
If Nathan died, the three trustees controlled Jamie’s shares.
If Jamie then died, those shares passed outright to Eleanor and Adrian.
Simon would lose direct control unless he had another arrangement.
But Simon had changed documents before.
Nathan looked at Bennett.
“Find every version of that trust.”
“We will.”
Eleanor looked frightened.
“Simon made amendments.”
Nathan turned.
“What amendments?”
“I don’t know.”
“He stopped sending me full copies last year.”
“Why didn’t you demand them?”
“Because he had evidence against me.”
Nathan stared at her.
“You let a blackmailer control my son’s inheritance.”
Eleanor snapped.
“I was trying to protect myself.”
The honesty was almost refreshing.
Nathan’s expression hardened.
“Yes.”
“That has always been the problem.”
His phone rang.
Nora.
He answered immediately.
“Is Jamie okay?”
“Yes.”
Her voice sounded tense.
“Where are you?”
“Still at the hospital.”
“What happened?”
“There is a woman here.”
Nathan frowned.
“What woman?”
“She says she is Amelia’s sister.”
Nathan froze.
“Claire?”
“Yes.”
Nathan had not seen Claire Westwood in almost a year.
She lived in Edinburgh.
“How did she know?”
“She said someone called her.”
“Who?”
“She doesn’t know.”
Nathan looked at Bennett.
“Do not let her near Jamie until police verify everything.”
Nora lowered her voice.
“She’s already seen him through the glass.”
“Keep the door locked.”
“Nathan.”
“What?”
“She has something Amelia gave her.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
Another secret.
“What?”
“A letter.”
Nathan felt exhausted.
“Of course she does.”
“She says Amelia told her to open it if anything happened to you.”
Nathan looked toward Eleanor.
His mother was watching.
Nathan turned away.
“I’m coming.”
Bennett objected.
“We need to finish here.”
“My son is at the hospital.”
“I’ll send officers.”
“I am going.”
Nothing in his tone invited debate.
Thirty minutes later, Nathan entered Jamie’s room.
Claire stood near the window.
She was thirty-four.
Amelia’s younger sister.
Same dark eyes.
Same way of folding her arms when nervous.
Seeing her felt like being punched.
Claire looked at him.
“Nathan.”
“Why are you here?”
“Nice to see you too.”
“This is not a normal morning.”
“No.”
She looked toward Jamie.
“It clearly isn’t.”
Jamie sat on the bed eating toast.
Nora remained beside him.
Two officers stood outside.
Nathan crouched and hugged his son first.
Only then did he face Claire.
“Who called you?”
“A man.”
“Name?”
“He didn’t give one.”
“What did he say?”
“That Amelia’s warning had come true.”
Nathan’s chest tightened.
“What warning?”
Claire opened her handbag.
She removed an envelope.
Amelia’s handwriting covered the front.
CLAIRE.
OPEN ONLY IF NATHAN OR JAMIE IS IN DANGER.
Nathan stared.
“You had that for twenty months?”
“Yes.”
“And you never opened it?”
“Amelia made me promise.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“Apparently my wife made everyone promise things except me.”
Claire flinched.
“That isn’t fair.”
Nathan immediately regretted it.
“No.”
“It isn’t.”
He rubbed his face.
“I’m sorry.”
Claire held out the envelope.
“It’s addressed to me.”
“You should read it.”
She opened it.
Inside were six handwritten pages.
Claire began.
Her face changed before she reached the end of the first page.
“What?”
Nathan asked.
She looked up.
“She knew someone was changing your medication.”
“We know.”
Claire continued.
“She knew your mother was moving money.”
“We know that too.”
Then Claire stopped.
Her hands started trembling.
Nathan’s heart sank.
“What?”
She looked toward Jamie.
“Not in front of him.”
Nathan turned to Nora.
“Can you take him for a walk with the officers?”
Jamie immediately frowned.
“Daddy.”
“I’ll come in five minutes.”
“You promise?”
“Yes.”
Nora took his hand.
When the door closed, Nathan turned back.
“What does it say?”
Claire read silently again.
Then she handed him the page.
Nathan recognized Amelia’s handwriting.
If anything happens to me, Nathan will assume it was an accident.
He trusts too easily when love is involved.
Do not blame him for this.
Eleanor has been manipulating him since he was a child.
Simon has been manipulating Eleanor.
Adrian is frightened of both of them.
But there is one thing none of them understand.
The money is not the real secret.
Nathan looked at Claire.
“What does that mean?”
“Keep reading.”
He did.
Nathan’s father discovered that Harcourt Global’s oldest trust was built using money that did not belong to the Harcourts.
Nathan frowned.
The next sentence was worse.
There is another family with a legal claim.
And Simon found them.
Nathan looked up.
“What other family?”
Claire shook her head.
“I have no idea.”
He continued.
If Simon proves the original transfers were fraudulent, he can destroy the Harcourt trusts.
If he suppresses the proof, he can blackmail Eleanor forever.
If Nathan ever finds out, Simon loses his leverage.
Nathan’s pulse quickened.
Amelia had understood everything.
Not all the details.
But enough.
The final paragraph on page three made Nathan sit down.
Simon believes Jamie is the safest leverage because everyone else will destroy one another before allowing the boy to lose his inheritance.
If I am right, they may never hurt Jamie directly.
But they may use him to control Nathan.
Nathan exhaled.
That was written twenty months ago.
Before the list.
Before the passport.
Before last night.
He turned the page.
The next section had been written in a different pen.
Possibly later.
I was wrong.
Nathan’s heart stopped.
He continued.
I heard Eleanor tell Simon there is one circumstance in which the entire trust problem disappears.
If Nathan and Jamie are both gone, the shares consolidate through the remainder clause.
Nathan felt sick.
Claire covered her mouth.
The final words were underlined.
If Nathan is ever harmed, get Jamie away from every Harcourt.
Every one.
Nathan stared.
Claire whispered.
“That includes Adrian.”
Nathan nodded.
“And Eleanor.”
“Yes.”
“And maybe me.”
Claire looked at him.
“No.”
“Amelia wrote every Harcourt.”
“She trusted you.”
“Then why didn’t she tell me?”
Claire’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because she thought someone was drugging you.”
Nathan looked away.
That answer hurt.
It also made sense.
Amelia had not known whether his confusion came from grief.
Medication.
Or something worse.
She had been trying to protect him without knowing if she could rely on his memory.
Nathan continued reading.
The last page contained one name and address.
DANIEL REEVES.
Nathan frowned.
“The guard.”
Claire looked at him.
“What?”
“Graham told me a guard named Daniel found an earlier pastry.”
Nathan read the address.
Brighton.
Amelia had written a note beside it.
Daniel saw Simon in the garage the night before my accident.
Nathan stared.
His entire body became cold.
Claire whispered.
“Your accident?”
Nathan shook his head.
“Amelia’s.”
He stood immediately.
Bennett was called.
Police searched records.
Daniel Reeves had not disappeared.
He had moved to Brighton.
He worked as a warehouse supervisor.
He had never been charged with stealing jewelry.
Within two hours, detectives located him.
Daniel initially refused to speak.
Then Bennett mentioned Amelia Harcourt.
He changed his mind.
Nathan joined through video from a police conference room.
Daniel appeared on the screen.
He was forty.
Nervous.
Tired.
He stared at Nathan.
“I’m sorry about your wife.”
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
“Tell me what you saw.”
Daniel looked toward Bennett.
“I need protection.”
“You will have it.”
Daniel laughed weakly.
“That is what Graham said.”
Nathan frowned.
“Graham knew?”
“He knew some of it.”
“What did you see?”
Daniel rubbed his face.
“The night before Mrs. Harcourt died—”
“Amelia.”
“Yes.”
“I was working the garage entrance.”
Nathan waited.
“Mr. Kessler arrived at eleven fifteen.”
“Simon?”
“Yes.”
“He came in through the service entrance.”
“Who met him?”
“Mrs. Eleanor Harcourt.”
Nathan’s stomach twisted.
“What happened?”
“They went into the garage.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Was Amelia’s car there?”
“Yes.”
Nathan’s hands clenched.
“How long were they inside?”
“About twenty minutes.”
“Did you see what they did?”
“No.”
“There was no camera inside the private garage.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
“Then why did Amelia write that you saw something?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Because after Mrs. Harcourt left, Mr. Kessler remained.”
Nathan leaned forward.
“And?”
“He opened the bonnet of your wife’s car.”
The room became silent.
Nathan’s heart pounded.
“What did he do?”
“I couldn’t see.”
“Why didn’t you stop him?”
“He was the family solicitor.”
“He told me the car had been making a noise.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
Of course.
Always a reasonable explanation.
Always someone trusted.
“What happened the next day?”
“Mrs. Amelia Harcourt died.”
Daniel’s voice shook.
“I told Graham.”
“What did Graham do?”
“He told me not to jump to conclusions.”
“And then?”
“Mrs. Eleanor Harcourt called me upstairs.”
Nathan stared.
“What did she say?”
“She said a bracelet was missing.”
“I told her I had never entered her room.”
“She said it would be unfortunate if police searched my flat.”
Nathan’s face hardened.
“She threatened you.”
“Yes.”
“She offered me six months’ salary to resign.”
“Did you take it?”
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
Nathan did not judge him.
He understood fear now.
“Why did you never contact police?”
“Because two days after I left, someone broke into my flat.”
Nathan stared.
“What did they take?”
“Nothing.”
“What was the point?”
Daniel looked straight into the camera.
“They left a photograph of my daughter on the kitchen table.”
Nathan felt sick.
Simon’s methods had not changed.
Threaten the child.
Control the parent.
Nathan looked toward Bennett.
“Can we prove who tampered with Amelia’s car?”
“We can reopen the investigation.”
Daniel interrupted.
“There’s more.”
Nathan returned his attention to the screen.
“What?”
“About the pastry.”
“What pastry?”
“The one three months ago.”
Nathan leaned forward.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
“Who ate it?”
Daniel looked confused.
“You don’t know?”
“No.”
Daniel swallowed.
“It was Adrian.”
Nathan stared.
“My brother ate the first pastry?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“He became ill.”
“How ill?”
“Collapsed in the east corridor.”
Nathan’s pulse quickened.
“Why was there no ambulance?”
“There was.”
Nathan frowned.
“No one told me.”
“The private ambulance came.”
“Dr. Vale treated him.”
Nathan suddenly understood Adrian’s fear.
His brother had already been used as a test.
“Did Adrian know what happened?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why was the plate left behind?”
“He dropped it.”
“I found it after they carried him away.”
Nathan stared at the screen.
Adrian’s initials on the old container.
A.H.
Not Amelia.
Adrian had been the first test.
Nathan felt pieces moving into place.
Simon had experimented with the method months earlier.
Then refined it.
Tonight was not improvised.
It was a planned operation.
Daniel leaned closer.
“There’s something else you need to know.”
Nathan’s stomach tightened.
“What?”
“Before Adrian collapsed, he said something.”
“What?”
Daniel looked frightened even now.
“He said, ‘Simon, you said there was nothing in it.’”
Nathan stopped breathing.
Adrian had known about the pastry.
But perhaps he believed it was empty.
A test.
A staged event.
Something else.
Nathan whispered.
“Why would Adrian agree to eat it?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Then an officer entered the room behind Daniel.
He handed him a note.
Daniel read it.
His face drained of color.
“What?”
Nathan asked.
Daniel looked toward the camera.
“My daughter.”
Nathan’s pulse jumped.
“What happened?”
Daniel held up the note.
Someone had delivered a package to her school.
Inside was a single pastry.
And one sentence.
May you like
DANIEL SHOULD HAVE STAYED QUIET.
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