Chapter 4 - The Men Downstairs
Jonathan immediately locked the conference room.
“Do not go downstairs.”
Claire looked at Lily.
Her daughter was asleep on the small sofa, still wrapped in Jonathan’s spare office blanket.
“What do they want?”
Jonathan called building security.
He spoke briefly, then turned back to Claire.
“They asked whether you brought any documents here.”
Claire’s stomach tightened.
Only Ethan and Margaret knew she had taken something from Lily’s dress.
“Can they come upstairs?”
“Not without permission.”
A minute later, security reported that the men had left.
Jonathan walked to the window.
One black SUV remained parked across the street.
Claire joined him.
“Are they watching us?”
“Possibly.”
Jonathan gathered the evidence into a locked briefcase.
“You and Lily should not return home tonight.”
Claire nodded.
She booked a suite at a hotel under her maiden name.
Before leaving, Jonathan made copies of the forged transfer and placed the originals in his safe.
Then he handed Claire an envelope.
“What is this?”
“Something your father left with me.”
Claire stared at him.
“My father has been dead for six years.”
“He gave me instructions to release this only if someone attempted to seize the trust.”
Claire opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Claire recognized her father’s strong, angular handwriting immediately.
My dear Claire.
If Jonathan is giving you this letter, someone has tried to take what I built for you.
Do not assume greed is the whole reason.
Claire stopped.
She looked at Jonathan.
“What did he mean?”
“I don’t know.”
She continued reading.
There is one thing Ethan’s family must never control.
The company records are stored where you spent every summer as a child.
The key was given to the person I trusted most.
Claire read the lines twice.
“The lake house.”
Jonathan nodded.
Her father had owned a cabin three hours north.
Claire had not visited since his funeral.
“Who had the key?”
Jonathan hesitated.
“Your father refused to tell me.”
Claire folded the letter.
Her phone buzzed.
A photograph appeared from Ethan.
It showed their bedroom.
Drawers were open.
Closet doors stood wide.
Ethan had searched everything.
Another message appeared.
WHERE IS THE PAPER?
Claire stared at the words.
Then a third arrived.
COME HOME AND WE CAN FIX THIS.
Claire typed nothing.
Ethan called.
This time she answered.
“What did you do?”
he asked.
Claire remained silent.
“You froze the accounts.”
“You noticed quickly.”
“You don’t understand what you’ve done.”
“Then explain it.”
Ethan breathed heavily.
“My company has obligations.”
“So you stole from my trust?”
“I borrowed.”
“Using forged signatures?”
Another silence.
Then Ethan said something Claire did not expect.
“This wasn’t my idea.”
Claire looked toward Jonathan.
“Whose idea was it?”
Ethan whispered.
“My mother’s.”
Before Claire could respond, a woman’s voice spoke behind him.
“Hang up.”
Margaret.
Ethan ignored her.
“Claire, listen to me.”
May you like
“There is something about your father you don’t know.”
Then the line went dead.
