Chapter 6: The Will They Tried to Bury
Patricia Carter had always believed that fear was more effective than honesty.
She had used it on employees, business partners, relatives, and eventually her own son.
But that morning, fear had begun working against her.
At 7:00 a.m., she entered the private dining room of the Peninsula Hotel.
Leonard Price was already waiting.
He had ordered coffee and placed a leather briefcase beside his chair.
“You're late,” he said.
Patricia removed her sunglasses.
“I had to make sure nobody followed me.””
Leonard pushed a newspaper aside.
“Did you secure the document?””
She opened her handbag and removed a sealed archival envelope.
“The original agreement is here.””
Leonard glanced around.
“Where's the will?””
Patricia's face tightened.
“I told you. I haven't found it.””
“You said Thomas's personal records were transferred to the archive.””
“They were.””
“Then how can the will be missing?””
Patricia leaned closer.
“Because Arthur moved it before he died.””
Leonard's jaw tightened.
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“You've had fifteen years to find it.””
“And I've spent fifteen years protecting this family!””
Leonard lowered his voice.
“Don't confuse protecting the family with protecting yourself.””
Patricia stared at him.
“You're forgetting who approved those transactions.””
“And you're forgetting who signed the internal approvals.””
For several seconds, they stared at each other.
Then Leonard closed his briefcase.
“We need to find that will before Camille does.””
Patricia nodded.
“I have someone looking.””
“Who?””
She hesitated.
“Someone who worked for Arthur.””
Leonard's expression changed.
“Who?””
“His former personal secretary.””
Leonard shook his head.
“She's retired.””
“She's also the last person who handled his private estate correspondence.””
Patricia picked up her handbag.
“If the will still exists, she'll know where it is.””
At Daniel's office, Camille was reading a copy of her father's estate records.
Daniel stood beside the window.
“Your father left a sealed letter with Arthur shortly before his death.””
Camille looked up.
“What letter?””
“We found a reference to it in the estate inventory.””
“Why haven't I seen it?””
“Because it was recorded as a private communication between Thomas and Arthur. It wasn't included in the standard probate file.””
Camille frowned.
“What did it say?””
“We don't know. But Arthur's secretary signed for it.””
Camille sat back.
“Who was the secretary?””
“Margaret Ellis. She retired twelve years ago.””
Daniel placed a photograph on the desk.
An elderly woman with silver hair stood beside Arthur at a company anniversary celebration.
“Do you know her?”” he asked.
Camille studied the picture.
“I remember her from when I was little.””
“Can you contact her?””
Camille nodded slowly.
“I think I still have her number in my father's old address book.””
She reached into her bag and removed a small notebook.
Its leather cover was worn, and the pages smelled faintly of dust.
She turned through the entries.
Then she found it.
*Margaret Ellis — Home.*
Camille dialed.
The phone rang five times.
Finally, a woman's voice answered.
“Hello?””
“Mrs. Ellis? This is Camille Reed.””
Silence.
Then a sharp breath.
“Camille?””
“Yes.””
“Oh, sweetheart. I wondered when you would call.””
Camille glanced at Daniel.
“Mrs. Ellis, I need to ask you about something my father left with Arthur Carter.””
The older woman didn't answer immediately.
Then she said:
“I was hoping you would never have to ask.””
Camille tightened her grip on the phone.
“Do you know where the original will is?””
Margaret lowered her voice.
“Yes.””
Camille sat upright.
“Where?””
“In Arthur's private study. Behind the old clock.””
Daniel moved closer.
“Which clock?”” Camille asked.
“The grandfather clock near the library entrance. Arthur told me never to let Patricia Carter take the papers hidden inside it.””
Camille felt a chill run down her spine.
“Are the papers still there?””
“I don't know, dear. But someone came to my house yesterday asking about them.””
“Who?””
Margaret hesitated.
“Your mother-in-law.””
At noon, Camille and Daniel arrived at the Carter penthouse.
Marcus opened the door.
He looked exhausted.
His shirt was wrinkled, and dark circles had formed beneath his eyes.
“Thank you for coming,” he said.
Camille walked past him without responding.
Daniel followed.
The old grandfather clock stood near the entrance to the library.
It was tall, made of dark walnut, and had been in Arthur's family for generations.
Marcus pointed toward it.
“Grandfather used to wind it himself every Sunday.””
Camille touched the wooden frame.
“My father mentioned this clock once.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What did he say?””
“He said your grandfather trusted it more than he trusted people.””
Daniel examined the back panel.
A small brass latch was hidden beneath the carved wood.
He opened it carefully.
Inside was a narrow compartment.
There was an envelope.
And another.
And a small leather-bound book.
Camille removed the first envelope.
Her father's handwriting appeared across the front.
*For Arthur. To be opened only if the Carter family attempts to deny the original partnership.*
Her fingers trembled.
She opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Arthur,
I have spent too many years hoping that your son would find the courage to correct what happened. I no longer believe he will.
The company was built by two men. My work and my capital were never gifts.
If the day comes when your family tries to erase my name, I ask you to protect my daughter.
Not because she deserves special treatment, but because she deserves the truth.
Camille stopped reading.
For a moment, she couldn't see the page clearly.
Marcus stood behind her.
“I'm sorry,” he whispered.
She didn't look at him.
Daniel opened the second envelope.
Inside was a document with a notary seal.
He scanned the first page.
Then his expression changed.
“Camille…”
“What?””
“This is the original will.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“What does it say?””
Daniel read the relevant section again.
Then he placed the document on the table.
“Thomas Reed transferred his entire beneficial interest in the original Carter partnership to his daughter, Camille Reed. He also assigned the associated voting rights to the independent trust structure created by Arthur.””
Marcus looked stunned.
“So Camille controls the voting rights?””
“Subject to the trust provisions, yes.””
Daniel turned another page.
“There's more. Arthur executed a separate confirmation document, recognizing Thomas's ownership interest and acknowledging that it had never been lawfully extinguished.””
Camille looked at the date.
The document had been signed just two weeks before Arthur died.
She closed her eyes.
Her grandfather-in-law had spent his final days making sure the truth could not disappear.
Then Marcus pointed to a handwritten paragraph at the bottom.
“What is that?””
Daniel read it silently.
His face became serious.
“It states that if any member of the Carter family attempts to conceal or destroy these documents, the trustee must immediately notify the relevant authorities and suspend discretionary distributions to the responsible beneficiaries.””
Marcus looked at Camille.
“That's why Mom wanted the will.””
Camille nodded.
“Yes.””
Daniel carefully placed the documents back into their envelopes.
“We need to secure these immediately.””
A sudden sound came from the hallway.
The front door slammed.
Patricia had returned.
She stopped when she saw them gathered around the grandfather clock.
Her handbag slipped slightly down her arm.
For a second, she looked at the open compartment.
Then at the envelope in Camille's hands.
“You found it.””
Nobody answered.
Patricia walked toward the table.
“Give me that document.””
Camille held it against her chest.
“No.””
“It's family property.””
“It's my father's will.””
“Your father has been dead for years!””
“And his rights haven't disappeared.””
Patricia reached for the envelope.
Daniel stepped between them.
“Mrs. Carter, do not touch the document.””
Patricia's face reddened.
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
Camille finally stood.
“Actually, I do.””
Patricia pointed at her.
“You think this makes you powerful? You think a piece of paper makes you one of us?””
Camille's voice remained calm.
“No. It proves that my father was always one of the people who built this company.””
Marcus stepped between his mother and Camille.
“Mom, stop.””
Patricia stared at him.
“You're defending her again?””
Marcus swallowed.
“I'm defending the truth.””
Patricia laughed bitterly.
“You ungrateful boy. Everything you have came from this family.””
Camille looked at Marcus.
Then back at Patricia.
“That's exactly the problem. You spent years telling him everything came from the Carters. You never told him who helped build it.””
Patricia's eyes filled with anger.
“Arthur should never have trusted you.””
“He trusted my father first.””
For the first time, Patricia had no immediate response.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
A message appeared.
She read it.
Her face drained of color.
Marcus noticed.
“What's wrong?””
Patricia quickly locked the phone.
“Nothing.””
But Marcus reached for it.
“Show me.””
She pulled it away.
“Don't touch my phone!””
The screen lit up again.
This time, Marcus saw the sender's name.
*Leonard Price.*
The message was short.
*The original will is not the only problem. They found the offshore ledger. We need to leave before the audit reaches the final account.*
Marcus stared at his mother.
“Offshore ledger?””
Patricia said nothing.
Daniel's expression changed.
“Mrs. Carter, what offshore account?””
Patricia backed away.
“That's none of your business.””
Camille looked at Daniel.
“Does the trust have an offshore account?””
Daniel shook his head.
“Not one that appears in the official records.””
Marcus slowly turned toward his mother.
“Then whose account is it?””
Patricia grabbed her handbag.
But before she could reach the elevator, Marcus spoke.
“Mom, don't walk away.””
She stopped.
Her shoulders stiffened.
Then she turned around.
“You want the truth?”” she said.
Marcus nodded.
Patricia looked at Camille.
Then at the will.
And finally at her son.
“The offshore account belongs to your father.””
Marcus stared at her.
“He's dead.””
Patricia's lips trembled.
“Yes.””
“Then how can he own an account that's still receiving money?””
She swallowed.
“Because your father didn't die when you were told he did.””
The room went completely silent.
Marcus's face went white.
Daniel slowly lowered the documents.
Camille felt her heart begin to pound.
Patricia looked directly at Marcus.
“Your father has been alive for eleven years.””
May you like
And before anyone could speak, she added:
“He's the reason this entire fortune was hidden in the first place.””
