Chapter 15 - Charles Comes BackDaniel did not go alone.
He sent the message to Detective Bennett.
The address led to an abandoned roadside motel forty miles west.
Police surrounded it.
The room was empty.
But the photograph had been taken there.
They found Thomas's blood on a chair.
Not much.
Enough to show he had actually been restrained.
Charles's fingerprints were on a glass.
Then, at 2:14 A.M., Charles called Daniel.
“Don't let them trace this.”
“Where are you?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Are you with Thomas?”
“No.”
“Was that photograph real?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Charles began crying.
Not loudly.
The defeated crying of a man who had spent too long afraid.
“I tried to make him talk.”
“You kidnapped him?”
“I stopped him from leaving the country.”
“That isn't your job.”
“I know.”
“Where is Thomas now?”
“He got away.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Charles, go to the police.”
“If I do, Evelyn will destroy me.”
“She already owns you.”
Silence.
Daniel continued.
“You forged my father's amendment.”
“I drafted it.”
“After he died.”
“Yes.”
“Did you forge his signature?”
“No.”
“Who did?”
Charles hesitated.
“Evelyn brought me the signed page.”
“After Dad died?”
“Yes.”
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“You knew it was fake.”
“I knew Henry hadn't signed the amendment I drafted.”
“Then why notarize it?”
Charles began crying harder.
“Because she had everything.”
“What does that mean?”
“She had proof of my gambling. Client money I borrowed. Accounts I manipulated. I would have gone to prison.”
“So instead you committed more crimes.”
“Yes.”
Daniel sat in darkness.
“Why did you call me after the pool?”
“Because I knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That she had finally done something.”
“You knew before?”
“I suspected.”
“Why didn't you warn me?”
Charles said nothing.
Daniel's voice hardened.
“My daughter could have died because you were protecting yourself.”
“I know.”
“No. You don't get to say that.”
Charles breathed shakily.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“The trust amendment wasn't the real objective.”
Daniel frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
“Evelyn needed majority control, yes. But not only to save her shares.”
“Then why?”
“To approve a sale.”
“What sale?”
“Mercer Riverfront.”
Daniel stood.
The Riverfront project was the company's most valuable undeveloped asset.
Two hundred acres near Washington.
Estimated value: at least $180 million.
“Sell it to whom?”
“Marwick.”
Daniel's mind raced.
“Victor said nothing.”
“Victor doesn't know.”
“How can Marwick buy it without Victor?”
“A subsidiary.”
“Which?”
Charles gave a name.
Black Alder Partners.
Daniel searched.
No obvious connection.
Charles continued.
“If Evelyn gained control, she planned to sell Riverfront for ninety million.”
“Half its value.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Black Alder would send thirty million back through offshore accounts.”
“A kickback.”
“Yes.”
Daniel sat down again.
“This was never just about saving her debt.”
“No.”
“She was going to strip the company.”
“Yes.”
“Who owns Black Alder?”
Charles hesitated.
Then said:
“Thomas.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Everything aligned.
Evelyn would gain majority control through Nora's death.
Approve a below-market sale.
Thomas would buy Riverfront through a hidden entity financed by outside investors.
Thirty million would circle back to Evelyn.
Thomas would own a massive development asset.
Mercer shareholders would be robbed.
“And Victor?”
“Victor was supposed to believe Evelyn was using the proceeds to repay him.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
Everyone was betraying everyone.
“Why restrain Thomas?”
“Because he has the original ownership records for Black Alder.”
“You wanted evidence?”
“I wanted leverage.”
“For immunity?”
“Yes.”
At least Charles admitted it.
“Where are you now?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Then I can't help you.”
“I don't deserve help.”
Daniel almost agreed.
Then Charles said:
“But Nora deserves the truth.”
A sound came through the phone.
A car door.
Charles suddenly whispered:
“Oh God.”
“What?”
“He found me.”
“Who?”
The line disconnected.
Daniel immediately called Bennett.
This time they traced the signal.
A gas station outside Leesburg.
Police arrived eight minutes later.
Charles's rental car was there.
The driver's door open.
Phone on the pavement.
Charles gone.
But security video showed what happened.
Charles had not been taken by Evelyn.
He had entered a vehicle voluntarily.
The driver stepped briefly into view.
May you like
Daniel recognized him.
Victor Lang.
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