Chapter 8 - The Brother at the Board Table
William Whitfield lived in Boston and rarely visited the estate.
He had spent years portraying himself as the harmless younger brother who preferred art galleries to shipping contracts.
Caroline’s notes showed that William approved several transfers to Richard Hale.
He also persuaded Nathan to hire Thomas Bell.
When police questioned him, William claimed Caroline misunderstood routine transactions.
Then Thomas called him.
Investigators were monitoring William’s phone.
Thomas demanded a plane, cash, and access to a Whitfield warehouse near the Canadian border.
William agreed.
The call revealed the alliance.
Police arranged surveillance at the warehouse.
Nathan wanted to go.
Detectives refused.
Thomas was armed and desperate.
Claire’s tracking device showed that he had considered Lily leverage.
Nathan remained at the estate command room.
Security feeds covered the warehouse exterior.
William arrived first.
Thomas appeared carrying a metal case.
Their conversation transmitted through a hidden microphone.
“You said Vanessa would marry him before the audit,” William said.
“She became jealous.”
“She destroyed the gifts in front of everyone.”
Thomas sounded disgusted.
“You chose a woman who could not control herself around a toddler.”
William wanted Nathan removed because their father’s will gave operational control to the brother who successfully maintained the company.
If Nathan became incapacitated or publicly disgraced, William could petition for leadership.
Caroline discovered the financial conspiracy.
Her death protected both brothers’ rivals.
But William claimed he never ordered the crash.
Thomas answered:
“You signed the payment.”
“That makes the difference irrelevant.”
Police moved in.
Thomas fired toward the officers and escaped through a drainage tunnel.
William surrendered.
Inside the metal case were passports, cash, and a photograph of Lily entering the protected apartment.
The address had been handwritten on the back.
Someone inside law enforcement had leaked it.
Claire received an emergency call.
“Leave now.”
She lifted Lily from breakfast and took the service stairs.
As she reached the parking garage, a black SUV blocked the exit.
Thomas Bell stepped out.
He pointed a gun toward the back seat.
“Give me the child.”
Claire moved between him and Lily.
May you like
Then another vehicle struck Thomas’s SUV from the side.
Nathan emerged before the cars stopped moving.
