Chapter 8 - THE SECOND SAFE
Daniel’s account had been compromised.
Forensics showed a login from Richard’s office after midnight three days earlier.
Ethan refused to hand out forgiveness faster than facts.
Meanwhile, Mara found a reference in Amelia’s trust file to a second storage location.
“Do you have a greenhouse?”
Ethan almost laughed.
Amelia loved orchids.
The greenhouse had been closed since her death.
Behind a loose brick under the potting bench, they found a small key and a sealed memory card.
The card held scanned bank statements.
Halcyon Strategic Partners received consulting fees from Hale Biomedical.
Halcyon then transferred money to a company called Westmere Education Group.
Westmere owned Montreux House in Zurich.
The school on Sophie’s ticket.
Ethan stared at the flow of money.
“My company was paying the place they were taking my daughter.”
Mara nodded.
Indirectly.
Richard had spent years creating businesses that looked unrelated.
Then another file opened.
An audio recording.
Amelia’s voice.
“Richard, I am not changing Sophie’s trust.”
Richard answered:
“You are sick. Ethan is never home. Somebody has to think long term.”
“That somebody will not be you.”
“You think Ethan can raise her alone?”
“I think you are waiting for me to die.”
The recording ended.
Ethan could not breathe for several seconds.
Mara placed a hand on the table.
“Amelia did not accuse him of causing her illness.”
“I know.”
That distinction mattered.
Amelia had died of cancer.
Richard did not kill her.
He had simply treated her death like an opportunity before it happened.
Then the detective came into the greenhouse.
“We have a problem.”
May you like
Richard’s attorney had arrived.
And Richard was gone.
