Chapter 7: The Woman Who Thought She Owned Everything
At 8:17 the next morning, my lawyers discovered that the forged transfer agreement had already been submitted to the state registry.
At 8:23, Victoria Whitmore called me.
At 8:24, she made the biggest mistake of her life.
I was sitting in the kitchen with Lily asleep in her portable bassinet. James stood beside the window, speaking quietly with two investigators.
My phone vibrated.
*Victoria Whitmore.*
I answered.
"Good morning, Claire.""
Her voice sounded almost cheerful.
"Victoria.""
"I hope your little family is doing well.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Get to the point.""
She laughed softly.
"I've heard you've been making quite a scene at the Grand Windsor.""
"You mean investigating the fraud you helped organize?""
There was a pause.
Then she sighed.
"You're young. You're grieving. I understand that you're emotional, but you need to stop interfering with things you don't understand.""
I looked at Lily.
"Did you have someone break into my house?""
"I have no idea what you're talking about.""
"Did you steal Daniel's computer?""
"Claire, darling, you're making accusations that could become very expensive.""
I almost smiled.
"Is that supposed to frighten me?""
"No. It's supposed to help you understand your position.""
I stood and walked toward the kitchen window.
Victoria continued.
"Your husband made a series of unfortunate decisions. He was stubborn. He refused to recognize when a business arrangement had become too complicated for him.""
"What happened to him?""
"That's a question for the police.""
"Did you arrange his death?""
Silence.
Then she spoke again.
"Be careful.""
The call ended.
I lowered the phone.
James turned toward me.
"Was that her?""
I nodded.
"She knows we're investigating.""
"Of course she does. Someone is feeding her information.""
He placed a folder on the kitchen counter.
"Our lawyers have filed an emergency injunction against the ownership transfer. But there's a problem.""
"What?""
"The registry has accepted the submission for preliminary processing. Unless we produce evidence that your signature was forged, the transfer could proceed tomorrow.""
I looked at him.
"Can we prove it?""
"We can prove you didn't physically sign the documents. But Victoria's lawyers are claiming the signature was electronically authorized.""
"Then find the device that supposedly authorized it.""
James nodded.
"That's what Nina is doing.""
My phone vibrated again.
This time, it was Michael.
Please meet me. Alone. I know where Daniel hid the original trust agreement.
I showed James.
He immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
"He's my brother.""
"He's also a potential witness in a criminal investigation.""
"He might be our only way to stop the transfer.""
James rubbed his forehead.
"Claire, if you meet him, it needs to be somewhere secure.""
I typed a response.
Where?
His reply came immediately.
The old waterfront warehouse. Noon. Come alone or I won't tell you anything.
James read it.
"That's a trap.""
"Maybe.""
"Claire—"
"I'm not going alone. But he doesn't need to know that.""
At 11:55, I arrived at the waterfront warehouse with two plainclothes investigators following in an unmarked vehicle.
The building was nearly empty.
Rust covered the metal loading doors. Wind pushed old newspapers along the concrete floor.
Michael stood near a stack of wooden pallets.
He looked thinner than he had the previous day.
When he saw me, he took a step forward.
"Claire.""
"Where's the agreement?""
He looked past me.
"You came alone?""
"That's not what matters.""
He shook his head.
"You're still angry.""
I stared at him.
"Daniel is dead, Michael.""
His face crumpled.
"I know.""
"And you helped the people who destroyed his life.""
"I know.""
"Then why should I believe anything you say?""
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small silver key.
"Because I can take you to the original documents.""
I looked at it.
"Where are they?""
"Daniel hid them in a private storage unit. I have the access code.""
"Why didn't you tell James?""
"Because I don't trust James.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Michael glanced around.
"There's someone inside Bennett Hospitality helping Victoria. Someone with access to the legal department and the ownership registry.""
"Who?""
He lowered his voice.
"Peter Lawson.""
I froze.
"Peter? He's been on the board for twenty years.""
"Exactly. He helped Daniel establish the original trust. He also knows how to bypass the restrictions.""
I remembered Peter sitting across from me in the boardroom.
His concern.
His questions.
His insistence on seeing the ownership documents.
"Do you have proof?""
Michael nodded.
"I have recordings.""
He pulled a small memory card from his pocket.
"Daniel gave me these before he died. I kept them because I knew Victoria would eventually turn on me.""
I reached for it.
Michael pulled his hand back.
"First, you need to promise me something.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"Don't let them send me to prison.""
I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You're negotiating with me?""
"I'm trying to survive.""
"Daniel was trying to survive too.""
Michael looked down.
"I know.""
He finally handed me the memory card.
Then he said something that made my stomach tighten.
"There's another reason Victoria wants control of the company.""
"What?""
"Your husband discovered that the hotel properties were being used to move money for a much larger operation.""
"What kind of operation?""
Michael shook his head.
"I don't know everything. But it involves politicians, private investment funds, and several people who don't use their real names.""
Before I could respond, a loud metallic bang echoed through the warehouse.
Michael spun around.
A black SUV had stopped outside the loading entrance.
Two men stepped out.
One of them held a phone.
The other held a metal baton.
Michael went pale.
"They found me.""
The investigators immediately moved toward us.
"Police! Stay where you are!""
The men turned and ran.
One escaped through the loading entrance.
The other dropped his baton and was tackled near the vehicle.
Michael grabbed my arm.
"Claire, listen to me. Victoria knows about the trust. She knows where Daniel hid it.""
"Then tell me where!""
He looked directly into my eyes.
"Under the old chapel. Beneath the stone marked with Lily's birth date.""
I stared at him.
Before I could ask another question, one of the investigators shouted.
"Ms. Bennett! Get down!""
A gunshot cracked through the warehouse.
Michael shoved me behind a concrete pillar.
The bullet struck a metal support beam.
Then another shot rang out.
When the noise stopped, the investigators had taken cover and the SUV was gone.
Michael was bleeding.
A small red stain spread across his shirt near his shoulder.
I dropped beside him.
"Michael!""
He grimaced.
"I'm okay.""
An investigator called for an ambulance.
I pressed a clean cloth against the wound.
Michael grabbed my wrist.
"Claire.""
"What?""
"There's something else. Victoria didn't just want Daniel's company.""
His breathing became uneven.
"She wanted the trust because Daniel changed the beneficiary at the last minute.""
I stared at him.
"Who did he leave it to?""
Michael looked toward me.
Then toward Lily's empty baby carrier in the vehicle outside.
"Your daughter.""
My heart stopped.
"Why Lily?""
"Because Daniel knew they'd come after you.""
May you like
He squeezed my hand.
"He made her the ultimate owner of everything.""
