Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN WHO HELD THE MISSING PIECE
David immediately called the police.
The black SUV pulled away before anyone could approach it.
Olivia sat on the sofa, trembling.
I brought her a glass of water.
“Are you sure that was the same man?”
She nodded.
“I've seen him before. Outside my apartment. Outside my mother's funeral. Once at my father's office.”
“Who is he?”
“His name is Victor Hale.”
David went completely still.
“Victor?”
“You know him?” I asked.
David slowly sat down.
“He was your father's former chief financial officer.”
I remembered the name.
Victor Hale had resigned years earlier following an internal investigation.
My father had never explained why.
“Why would he be following Olivia?”
David looked at the envelope.
“Because he may know what's inside it.”
Olivia reached into her bag again.
This time, she removed a small silver key.
“My father gave me this too.”
“What does it open?”
“A safety deposit box.”
She handed me a card.
The box was registered under my father's name at a bank in Chicago.
I stared at the key.
“Why didn't you bring this sooner?”
Olivia lowered her eyes.
“Because I didn't know whether I could trust you.”
That was understandable.
We had been strangers our entire lives.
Then she said something that changed the conversation.
“Richard visited my mother several times before she died.”
I turned sharply.
“When?”
“About two years ago. He said he was trying to understand my father's estate.”
“Did he threaten her?”
Olivia nodded.
“He told her that if she ever contacted you, she would lose everything.”
My hands tightened.
“Why would he care whether we met?”
Olivia looked at David.
“Because my father told me I wasn't just an additional beneficiary.”
David leaned forward.
“What do you mean?”
“He said I had a separate voting interest in the company. And that together, Emily and I could remove anyone who abused their position.”
David stared at her.
Then he slowly smiled.
“Your father anticipated this.”
The next morning, David arranged for us to access the safety deposit box.
Inside were three USB drives, a thick folder, and a sealed letter.
The folder contained detailed records of suspicious transactions dating back five years.
Some involved Victor Hale.
Others involved Richard.
And several had been approved using my electronic credentials.
I felt sick.
“He's been using my identity for years.”
David nodded.
“Possibly.”
I opened the first USB drive.
It contained recorded board meetings.
One recording featured Richard speaking with Victor.
Richard's voice was unmistakable.
“Once Emily signs, everything moves into the new structure.”
Victor laughed.
“And if she doesn't?”
“She will. She trusts me.”
“What if she discovers the other accounts?”
Richard paused.
“Then we make sure everyone believes she authorized the transfers.”
I felt my stomach twist.
The recording continued.
Victor asked, “And the children?”
Richard answered without hesitation.
“They won't be part of the conversation.”
I closed the laptop.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
David placed a hand on the table.
“This is strong evidence.”
But Olivia was staring at another document.
“What is it?” I asked.
She turned it toward me.
It was a copy of a private insurance policy.
My name appeared as the insured party.
Richard was listed as the beneficiary.
The policy was worth $12 million.
I read the date.
It had been established four months earlier.
“Why would he take out life insurance on me?”
David examined the paperwork.
“Did you authorize this?”
“No.”
He checked the signature.
His expression became grim.
“Another forgery.”
I looked at Olivia.
She was crying now.
“Emily, there's something else.”
“What?”
“My mother didn't die of natural causes.”
The room went silent.
“What are you saying?”
Olivia swallowed.
“Before she died, she told me someone had been giving her medication she didn't recognize. She became confused, then weak. The hospital said it was a medical complication.”
“Do you have proof?”
“No. But I kept something.”
She removed a small plastic bag from her handbag.
Inside was a folded prescription label.
The name of the prescribing physician was visible.
Dr. Alan Brooks.
Richard's personal physician.
I stared at the label.
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke calmly.
“Mrs. Carter, my name is Victor Hale.”
I said nothing.
“I believe you've been looking through documents that don't belong to you.”
“Actually, they belong to my family.”
He chuckled.
“Your father would be disappointed in you.”
“Why?”
“Because he always believed you were too trusting.”
Then he added:
“Ask your sister what she was doing the night your father died.”
The call ended.
I slowly turned toward Olivia.
May you like
She was crying.
And she wasn't looking at me.
