Chapter 12 - Thirty-Eight Million Reasons
Dominic's forensic accountant, Lena Ortiz, arrived at eight in the morning.
She worked for two hours without speaking.
Then she circled one number.
"This isn't theft for lifestyle," she said. "It's financing."
"Financing what?"
"People. Properties. Legal retainers. Private security. Somebody built a parallel organization."
Dominic looked at Arthur through the glass interview room.
"Marcus."
Lena nodded. "And he has been preparing to take over legitimate Vale assets when you were removed."
The board vote suddenly made sense.
It was not a coup planned for tonight.
Tonight was the final signature.
Clare entered with Ellie holding her hand.
Ellie looked exhausted.
Dominic crouched carefully. "You should be sleeping."
"I remembered something."
Clare sighed. "She wouldn't let it go."
Ellie held out her latch board.
One small silver clasp was missing.
"The man gave me this one," she said.
"What one?"
She pointed to the empty space.
"He said mine was broken. He took it and gave me his."
Dominic looked at Clare.
"When?"
"Yesterday."
Vincent inspected the toy.
The replacement clasp was not a toy part.
It was a miniature magnetic key used on Vale archive cabinets.
Dominic recognized the shape.
Marcus had put a key in the child's hands.
Why?
They searched the estate for the matching lock.
At 9:17 a.m., Ellie herself found it.
She pointed beneath Dominic's desk.
A concealed steel drawer.
Dominic had never known it existed.
The magnetic key opened it.
May you like
Inside was a single envelope addressed in his father's handwriting.
DOMINIC - IF MARCUS EVER COMES BACK, DO NOT TRUST THE BOARD.
