Chapter 8 - Nineteen Million DollarsDaniel thought Michael had misspoken.
“Nineteen?”
Michael nodded.
“Million?”
“Yes.”
Daniel sat down again.
The Carter Family Foundation wasn't large enough to lose nineteen million dollars without someone noticing.
Unless the missing funds had come from somewhere else.
Michael explained.
After Robert Carter died, several commercial properties were sold.
The proceeds were supposed to be divided between trusts, the foundation, and long-term investments.
Some assets never reached their destination.
Margaret had been executor.
Charles Whitmore had been the estate attorney.
Eleanor's shell companies had been used to move money.
“My mother wasn't supposed to keep it,” Michael said.
“She knew?”
“Some.”
“How much?”
“Not everything.”
Daniel rubbed both hands over his face.
“Why would Eleanor help Margaret?”
“Because Margaret offered her something she wanted.”
“What?”
“Acknowledgment.”
Daniel looked up.
Michael laughed bitterly.
“My mother spent years being Robert's secret. Margaret promised she'd establish a trust recognizing me as his son.”
“Did she?”
“No.”
Of course not.
Margaret used everyone.
Daniel asked,
“What did Emily discover?”
“Enough to scare them.”
“Charles too?”
“Yes.”
Daniel's family attorney had handled his finances since he was twenty-five.
He had prepared Daniel and Emily's wills.
Managed Sophie's trust.
Daniel felt physically sick.
“Does Charles have access to Sophie's money?”
Michael stared.
“Yes.”
Daniel immediately called Detective Reyes.
Within minutes, the investigation expanded.
Accounts were frozen.
Whitmore's office was notified to preserve records.
But before police arrived—
Charles Whitmore left.
His secretary said he'd received a call and walked out carrying his laptop.
Daniel knew who called him.
Margaret.
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Daniel.”
His mother's voice.
“Where are you?”
“With my brother.”
Silence.
For perhaps the first time in Daniel's life, Margaret had no immediate response.
Then:
“Michael is not your brother.”
“He is Robert Carter's son.”
“Biology doesn't make family.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“Interesting thing to hear from the woman who just assaulted her granddaughter.”
Margaret's breathing sharpened.
“Michael will destroy everything your father built.”
“No. You did that.”
“You have no idea what your father was.”
“And you do?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
Margaret went silent.
Daniel continued.
“You moved nineteen million dollars.”
“That isn't true.”
“Charles is running.”
“What?”
That reaction sounded genuine.
Daniel looked at Michael.
“Whitmore left his office.”
Margaret cursed quietly.
“Mom?”
“Listen to me.”
Now she sounded frightened.
“Charles has copies.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
“Then that's good.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“He won't go to police.”
Daniel's stomach dropped.
“Where will he go?”
Margaret didn't answer.
“Mom.”
“He'll go to Eleanor.”
Michael stood.
“My mother?”
Margaret heard him.
“Michael, stay out of this.”
“Where is she?”
“Don't go home.”
Michael looked at Daniel.
“What?”
Margaret's voice became urgent.
“Charles knows Eleanor kept the original ledgers.”
Michael went pale.
“What ledgers?”
“The estate transfers.”
Daniel understood.
The documents could prove theft on a massive scale.
Michael grabbed his keys.
“My mother is home alone.”
Daniel followed.
Reyes was already dispatching officers.
They reached Eleanor's house in eighteen minutes.
The front door was open.
Michael ran inside.
“Mom!”
No answer.
Kitchen empty.
Living room empty.
Then Daniel saw broken glass near the back door.
“Michael.”
They followed the trail.
A chair overturned.
Blood on the tile.
Only a small amount.
But enough.
Michael's phone rang.
Eleanor.
He answered on speaker.
“Mom?”
Charles Whitmore's voice came through.
“Bring me Emily's files.”
Michael's face hardened.
“Where is my mother?”
“Alive.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Charles.”
Silence.
Then a laugh.
“Daniel. Finally.”
“Let her go.”
“I need what Emily copied.”
“Police have it.”
“No.”
Charles sounded amused.
“Emily never trusted police with the originals.”
Daniel remembered the locked box.
The USB.
The note.
“What do you want?”
“The red drive.”
“That won't save you.”
“It might save Eleanor.”
Michael grabbed the phone.
“If you hurt her—”
“You have two hours.”
The line went dead.
Michael stared at Daniel.
Daniel's mind raced.
Then his phone buzzed.
A home-security alert.
Not Sophie's emergency button.
Motion detected.
CARTER HOME — SOPHIE'S BEDROOM.
Daniel froze.
Sophie wasn't home.
He opened the live camera.
A dark figure stood inside her room.
Searching beneath the bed.
Then the figure turned toward the camera.
May you like
Margaret.
His mother had gone back for Emily's box.
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