Chapter 9 - My Brother
My brother Daniel and I had not been close since our father died.
He believed I inherited too much control. I believed he resented me for being the child Dad trusted with the company.
But murder?
"No," I said.
Claire pushed a flash drive toward me.
"I copied their emails."
The messages were between Richard and Daniel.
At first they discussed board politics.
Then money.
Then my trust.
Daniel wrote: If she has the baby first, everything gets harder.
Richard replied: Then it happens before that.
I had to put the tablet down.
Evelyn read the messages in silence.
"Did Daniel know about the helicopter?"
Claire nodded.
"He arranged the pilot through a company he controls."
My hands went cold.
The pilot had claimed he saw nothing.
Now I knew why.
Marcus entered the room.
"We have confirmation. Daniel wired fifty thousand dollars to the pilot two days before the flight."
I looked at Claire.
"Why did you help them?"
Her face collapsed.
"Because Richard had proof I'd falsified numbers on an acquisition years ago. I thought it was harmless. I was trying to protect my career. Then every compromise made the next one easier."
I believed the shame in her voice.
I did not forgive her.
"Will you testify?"
"Yes."
For the first time, we had a witness inside the conspiracy.
Then Marcus's phone buzzed.
He read the message and swore.
"What?"
"Richard just called an emergency board meeting for tomorrow morning."
Evelyn looked at me.
"To declare you dead?"
Marcus shook his head.
"Worse."
He turned the screen toward us.
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The agenda contained one item:
REMOVAL OF AMELIA HAYES AS CHAIR FOR INCAPACITY AND FRAUD.
