Chapter 16 - THE ACCOUNTANT
Catherine's accountant was named Leonard Finch.
Five years earlier, his sailboat disappeared off Block Island.
No body.
Declared dead.
Another convenient death.
Gregory recognized the name immediately.
"Finch built the original trust controls with Catherine."
"Then why is he overriding them?" Dominic asked.
"Maybe he isn't."
Sarah traced the login.
The credentials were Finch's.
The device was in the estate's carriage house.
They found Malcolm Harrington at a laptop.
Leonard Finch sat tied to a chair.
Alive.
Thin.
Terrified.
Malcolm had kept him hidden for five years because Finch alone knew how to unlock the trust's waterfront options.
Brooke looked at Dominic when he entered.
"I can explain."
"You have been explaining all week."
"Stop talking."
She pulled away.
"You killed Owen."
"You told me you only scared him."
"Brooke."
"You said the brakes would fail in a parking lot."
Natalie went white.
"I didn't know he would die."
Natalie's expression hardened.
"You knew enough to stay quiet."
"Yes."
No excuse.
Sarah cut his restraints.
He explained Malcolm and Preston forced him to maintain the forged trust system.
He resisted.
They threatened his daughter.
Then staged his death and kept him moving between properties.
"Why keep helping?" Dominic asked.
"Because every year I told myself I would get out next year."
Another version of later.
"She brought me food."
"She also copied my override key three months ago."
"Why?"
Brooke whispered, "Insurance."
Against her father.
Against Preston.
Against Dominic.
Then Malcolm reached inside his coat.
But Malcolm was not reaching for a gun.
He pulled out a small remote.
Malcolm pressed it.
A deep explosion rolled across the eastern lawn.
The cottage windows blew outward.
May you like
Natalie screamed.
The house Catherine had left her was on fire.
