Chapter 9 - DAVID’S SECRET
Arthur’s face hardened.
“Put it down.”
David did.
Immediately.
Maya stood in the doorway.
Security surrounded him.
David raised his hands.
“This looks terrible.”
Arthur let out a humorless laugh.
“That may be the first smart thing you’ve said tonight.”
“I can explain.”
“Everyone can explain.”
David looked exhausted.
“I found the box yesterday.”
Arthur stared.
“Where?”
“In my office.”
Maya frowned.
“Why would it be there?”
“Denise put it there.”
Arthur looked toward security.
“Call Serena.”
David continued quickly.
“She sent me a message saying she was scared Peter would destroy it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I opened it.”
Arthur stepped closer.
“And?”
“There was something inside that wasn’t in the bank box.”
David reached slowly into his jacket.
Security moved.
“It’s paper.”
Arthur nodded.
David pulled out an envelope.
Claire’s handwriting.
For David Hale.
David handed it over.
Inside was a short letter.
David,
If Arthur ever sees this, I hope it means I was wrong about everything.
If I’m not wrong, protect Lucas from the trust.
Not the money.
The trust itself.
Arthur looked up.
“What does that mean?”
David swallowed.
“I didn’t understand either.”
Then he opened the blue box.
Inside were old trust amendments.
One clause had been highlighted.
If Lucas died before age twenty-five, the principal did not automatically go to the foundation.
Arthur frowned.
“David said it did.”
David nodded.
“Because the copy in our system says it does.”
Arthur stared.
“This one says something different.”
The original clause required the trust to remain frozen for five years and then transfer to a separate charitable entity controlled by Claire’s sister.
Maya understood.
“So Isabella wouldn’t get the money even if Lucas died.”
“Exactly.”
Arthur looked at David.
“Then why was she trying to declare him dead?”
David’s expression darkened.
“Because someone changed the electronic trust copy.”
Arthur’s pulse quickened.
“To make it look like the money would go to the Montgomery Foundation.”
“Yes.”
“Who changed it?”
David pulled out an audit log.
“Richard.”
Arthur stared.
David continued.
“He altered the trust record six months after Claire died.”
Maya crossed her arms.
“So Richard built the motive.”
“Yes.”
“He convinced Isabella that Lucas dying would release forty-six million dollars into a foundation she controlled.”
“Yes.”
Arthur looked toward the hallway.
“Then Isabella may not have known the original trust didn’t work that way.”
David nodded.
“She was still willing to kidnap a child.”
“No one’s defending her.”
Maya stepped closer to the box.
“Why did Claire tell you to protect Lucas from the trust itself?”
David didn’t know.
Arthur looked at the original documents.
Then noticed something.
A second beneficiary schedule.
He pulled it out.
Lucas was named first.
Then another name.
Arthur’s hand froze.
Maya noticed.
“What?”
Arthur didn’t answer.
He read it again.
David leaned closer.
His face changed too.
“What the hell?”
Arthur sat down.
The second beneficiary was not another family member.
It was a child.
A girl.
Emily Rose Montgomery.
Date of birth: nine years earlier.
Arthur looked up.
“I don’t have a daughter.”
The room went completely silent.
Then Maya noticed the handwritten note at the bottom.
Arthur has never been told.
May you like
And suddenly Claire’s secrets became as dangerous as Isabella’s.
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