Chapter 9 - The Founder
William Stellan had been dead for twelve years.
Daniel stared at the frozen frame.
"No."
Evan enlarged the image.
The ring carried the Stellan crest.
Vanessa said, "Your grandfather ran the theft?"
"We don't know that."
Daniel heard how defensive he sounded.
He hated it.
Evan searched archived corporate records.
William had retained veto authority over patent licensing even after Robert became CEO.
He also controlled the foundation's original overseas accounts.
The missing forty-six million could have moved through them.
"Why blame Dad?" Daniel asked.
"Because Robert signed the financial statements," Evan said. "He was visible. William wasn't."
Vanessa sat beside the old television.
"And my father had system access."
"Another visible target," Daniel said.
Then the building alarm began beeping.
Smoke detector.
They smelled it seconds later.
Burning paper.
The fire started in the basement records room.
Evan called emergency services while Daniel ran toward the stairs.
"Daniel!"
"The letter!"
"Forget it!"
But Daniel had left Robert's original envelope beside the cabinet.
Vanessa caught his arm.
"Don't be stupid."
"That's the only original copy."
She shoved something into his chest.
The letter.
"I brought it upstairs."
They evacuated as smoke filled the lower floor.
Fire crews arrived within minutes.
The blaze was contained, but the steel cabinet and most paper records were destroyed.
The VHS survived because it was with them.
An investigator found an ignition device attached beneath the cabinet.
Remote triggered.
Someone knew they had opened it.
Evan looked toward the road.
A black SUV was parked half a mile away.
It pulled off the shoulder and disappeared.
Daniel's phone rang.
Blocked number.
He answered.
Thomas whispered, "William wasn't working alone."
"Who was?"
May you like
Thomas's voice broke.
"Your father.
