Chapter 5 - THE MAN WITH THE CLEANEST HANDS
David actually laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was absurd.
“Denise is accusing me?”
Serena watched him.
“She says Peter discovered you were moving money through the foundation.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“She says he planned to expose you.”
Arthur stared at his attorney.
David had represented him for eighteen years.
Handled his father’s estate.
Claire’s trust.
Lucas’s inheritance.
Every major acquisition.
Every private disaster.
Maya watched Arthur struggle with the worst part of betrayal.
Not knowing which old memory had been real.
David stepped toward him.
“Arthur, look at me.”
“I am.”
“I didn’t do this.”
“Then why would Denise say you did?”
“Because she’s involved.”
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“Apparently everyone in my life is involved.”
“Not everyone.”
David glanced toward Maya.
It was a strange thing to say.
But it landed.
Serena collected the documents and flash drive.
“We’re going to verify everything before accusing anyone.”
David nodded.
“Good.”
But Arthur wasn’t finished.
“Did you know Isabella filed Lucas’s death paperwork?”
David hesitated half a second too long.
Maya saw it.
So did Arthur.
“You knew.”
“No. I knew she requested information about the death-distribution clause.”
“When?”
“Last week.”
“Lucas disappeared four days ago.”
“I thought she was updating estate documents.”
Arthur stepped closer.
“My son is eight.”
“I know.”
“Healthy.”
“Yes.”
“And my wife suddenly asks what happens to forty-six million dollars if he dies, and you don’t call me?”
David’s voice rose.
“I handle hypothetical estate planning questions every day!”
“About my child?”
David stopped.
Arthur’s anger dropped into something quieter.
“You should have called me.”
David looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
For the first time, he didn’t defend himself.
“Yes. I should have.”
That answer mattered.
It sounded human.
Not clean.
Not heroic.
A mistake.
Maybe a terrible one.
But not yet proof of conspiracy.
At headquarters, Denise Crowley sat in a conference room with two detectives.
She was crying before Arthur entered.
“Where’s Peter?” he demanded.
“I don’t know.”
“You left with him.”
“He told me someone was deleting files.”
“Who?”
She looked at David through the glass.
“Him.”
David folded his arms.
Serena sat down.
“Start at the beginning.”
Denise wiped her face.
“Peter called me during the gala. He said Lucas had been found.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
“He already knew?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
“Keep going.”
“He said everything was collapsing and told me to back up the trust records before somebody wiped them.”
“Why leave the estate?”
“Because we thought whoever was inside the system would come after the records.”
“Who is ‘we’?”
“Me and Peter.”
Arthur leaned closer.
“Was Peter involved in hiding Lucas?”
Denise looked genuinely shocked.
“What?”
“He entered the service corridor eleven times.”
Her face fell.
“Oh God.”
Arthur watched her.
“You didn’t know?”
“No.”
“Then what did you think he was doing?”
“Meeting Isabella.”
Nobody spoke.
Denise covered her mouth.
“I thought they were having an affair.”
Maya blinked.
That was not what she expected.
Denise continued.
“I saw them together three months ago. I thought Peter was protecting himself because Isabella threatened to tell you.”
Arthur looked away, disgusted.
Serena asked, “Where did Peter go after the airport?”
“I don’t know.”
“He left you?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“About an hour ago.”
“What did he say?”
Denise swallowed.
“He said he needed to fix one last thing.”
Arthur’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Peter’s voice came through.
“Arthur.”
Arthur stood absolutely still.
“Where are you?”
“I’m sorry.”
“You locked my son in a wall.”
“No.”
Arthur’s face twisted.
“Lucas saw you.”
“I brought him food.”
“That’s supposed to help you?”
“No.”
Peter breathed shakily.
“I was a coward.”
Arthur said nothing.
Peter continued.
“Isabella started this. Then it got bigger than either of us.”
“Where are you?”
“I can prove who forged the trust documents.”
“Then come in.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
A long pause.
Then Peter whispered:
“Because the person who forged them is standing beside you right now.”
The line went dead.
Arthur slowly looked around the room.
At David.
At Denise.
At Maya.
At Detective Serena Cole.
May you like
And suddenly nobody looked completely safe.
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