Chapter 6 - The DeadlineNathan did not reply.
Rachel told him not to.
Instead, she saved the messages and contacted Detective Harris, a financial-crimes investigator she trusted.
Claire sat on the couch with Sophie.
“I should sign.”
Nathan turned.
“No.”
“If it keeps her away from Sophie—”
“No.”
“Nathan.”
He crouched in front of her.
“My mother attacked you because you wouldn’t give her control. We are not rewarding that.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
“I don’t care about the shares.”
“Neither do I.”
“Then give them back.”
Rachel spoke from across the room.
“That may not solve it.”
They looked at her.
“If Margaret and Grant forged a paternity test and court documents, this is bigger than control of one block of stock. They may be hiding something inside the company.”
Nathan frowned.
“What?”
Rachel opened William Brooks’s old trust amendment.
“Your father added Sophie’s inheritance clause only six months before he died.”
“Why?”
Nathan had never asked.
Rachel continued.
“He also ordered an independent audit to begin after the birth of Nathan’s first child.”
Nathan stared.
“My father knew?”
“Knew what?”
“I don’t know.”
Rachel searched the archived legal files.
One sealed memo appeared.
Release condition:
Activation of next-generation beneficiary.
Sophie’s birth had unlocked it.
Nathan opened the memo.
His father’s words appeared.
Nathan,
If you are reading this, the trust transfer has occurred.
Do not let Margaret or Grant stop the audit.
Nathan sat down.
Claire covered her mouth.
The memo continued.
I believe money is leaving Brooks Holdings through vendors controlled by someone inside the family office.
Then one final line:
If they challenge the child’s legitimacy, assume they are afraid of what the audit will reveal.
Nathan looked at Rachel.
“This was planned before Sophie was born.”
Rachel nodded.
Then Detective Harris called.
He had located Margaret’s car.
At Grant Hale’s private office.
The building lights were on.
May you like
At 2:17 a.m.
And someone inside was feeding documents into an industrial shredder.
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