Chapter 7 - BEFORE EMMA WAS BORN
Michael read the letter aloud.
Richard Patterson had discovered irregular transfers two years earlier.
Money moved from descendant trusts into consulting firms controlled by Charles Vane.
Margaret approved the transfers.
Charles created the paperwork.
Richard planned to remove both of them.
Then he died.
Officially, a heart attack.
Michael stopped reading.
"Before Emma was born?"
Brooks took the letter.
"The trust may cover future descendants."
It did.
My daughter had inherited rights the moment she was born.
Margaret had known.
Richard's letter mentioned a second ledger hidden off-site.
No location.
Only a clue.
ASK MARIA ABOUT THE BLUE ROOM.
Michael looked confused.
"Who's Maria?"
Denise whispered, "Your father's nurse."
Richard had a private nurse during his final year.
Maria Santos.
She disappeared after his funeral.
Brooks searched databases.
No current address.
But there was another problem.
Richard's autopsy had been waived.
At Margaret's request.
Michael looked shattered.
"My father had heart disease."
"Maybe," Brooks said.
"Or maybe someone made sure nobody looked closer."
My phone rang.
Unknown number again.
This time there was no video.
Only a photograph.
Emma asleep in my arms at the hospital.
Taken through the window.
Someone had been watching us.
Underneath:
STOP DIGGING OR NEXT TIME VANESSA WON'T MISS.
Michael saw it.
His face changed into something I had never seen.
Not fear.
Rage.
He called Vanessa.
She answered on the third ring.
"What?"
"You hit my daughter."
Silence.
"Michael—"
"You hit Emma with a skillet."
"Mom said it would barely touch her."
The room froze.
Brooks started recording.
Michael kept his voice steady.
"Mom told you to do it?"
Vanessa began crying.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
"She said Rachel would take everything."
"What everything?"
"The company. The trust. You."
Michael closed his eyes.
Vanessa whispered, "She promised nobody would get hurt."
I looked at Emma's bruised temple.
Michael said, "Where are you?"
Vanessa started to answer.
Then someone in the background said, "Hang up."
May you like
A man's voice.
Charles Vane.
