The Woman Richard Protected
Henry spent hours studying the photograph.
His mother looked young.
Happy.
But Richard stood beside her with an expression Henry had never seen before.
Fear.
Behind them was a house.
Henry recognized it.
A private estate in Maine that Richard had supposedly sold twenty years earlier.
Henry called Daniel.
This time, the mysterious man answered.
"Where is my mother?"
"Alive."
Henry closed his eyes.
"Tell me where."
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because if you find her, the person hunting you will find her too."
Henry clenched his fists.
"Who is hunting me?"
Daniel paused.
"Someone who has spent twenty years erasing evidence."
Henry looked at the documents.
"Thomas?"
"No."
"Then who?"
Daniel replied,
"The person who currently controls your grandfather's company."
Henry froze.
The company was now controlled by the board.
But one person had extraordinary influence.
Richard's longtime business partner, Victor Hale.
Henry remembered Victor standing at the funeral.
He had looked completely calm.
Too calm.
Daniel continued.
"Your grandfather discovered Victor was stealing billions."
Henry whispered,
"And my father discovered it too."
"Yes."
"Why did Richard protect Victor?"
"He didn't."
"Then why didn't he expose him?"
"Because Victor threatened your family."
Henry suddenly understood.
Richard hadn't been protecting Victor.
He had been protecting Henry.
Daniel gave him an address.
"Maine."
Henry prepared to leave.
Before he could, Leo began barking.
Someone was outside.
Henry looked through the window.
May you like
Victor Hale stood across the street.
Watching the house.
