Chapter 9 - THE MAN IN EMILY’S APARTMENT
His name was Warren Pike.
Former military.
Private security.
Victor Cole had employed him for twelve years.
When police arrived at his home, Warren was already gone.
His phone was disconnected.
His company vehicle was abandoned at Dallas Love Field.
The threat against Emily changed the board’s mood.
This was no longer an old accounting dispute.
Someone connected to Victor had entered a shareholder beneficiary’s residence and searched it.
For what?
Detective Bennett believed the answer was Grace’s original ledger.
Victor did not know police already had it secured.
Emily realized something else.
“The key.”
“What?”
Daniel asked.
“They were looking for the brass key.”
“Why?”
“Maybe it opens more than one place.”
They searched Henry’s old records.
G.C.T.
Grace Carter Trust.
Not Grace Carter alone.
The key belonged to a trust archive system.
Henry had created multiple lockboxes.
One at the mansion.
One at Ashbourne headquarters.
One at a private bank.
The same key pattern opened initial access panels.
Bank records identified the third location.
Safe Deposit Vault 214.
The bank required Emily’s identification and the trust administrator.
Inside were original share certificates.
Grace’s employment agreements.
Letters from Henry.
And a sealed red folder.
VICTOR COLE.
The folder contained copies of wire transfers Grace had traced.
More than twelve million dollars siphoned from Ashbourne projects over six years.
Victor was not the only recipient.
One other name appeared repeatedly.
Nathan Pierce.
The board director currently pushing hardest to complete the merger.
Daniel stared at the transfers.
“Nathan was with my father for twenty-five years.”
Emily remembered Grace’s old warning.
Never sign what you haven’t read.
Trust did not make paper unnecessary.
It made paper more important.
Daniel called an emergency board meeting.
Nathan denied everything.
Then the forensic accountant showed bank records.
Nathan’s face collapsed.
He resigned before the meeting ended.
But before leaving, he said something strange.
“You think Victor is scared of Emily because of old money?”
Daniel looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“You still don’t know what Grace found.”
Emily leaned forward.
“What else?”
Nathan shook his head.
“Ask your mother why Henry changed his will two weeks before Grace died.”
Margaret went pale.
Daniel turned toward her.
“Mom?”
Margaret whispered.
“He didn’t change his will.”
Nathan smiled.
“He changed something.”
Then he walked out.
Margaret looked at Emily.
For the first time since the necklace incident, fear appeared in her face.
May you like
Not fear of Victor.
Fear of something Henry had hidden from her too.
