Chapter 14 - Riverfront
Three-point-four million dollars.
Marcus attacked the number from every direction.
Within hours, he found the first piece.
Carter Riverfront Holdings had acquired several neglected parcels along the James River through intermediaries.
The company’s official books valued the holdings at $1.2 million.
But local redevelopment plans had changed.
A major mixed-use project was coming.
The land was now worth far more.
“Estimate?” Daniel asked.
Marcus looked at the appraisal.
“Potentially eleven to fourteen million.”
Daniel stared.
Claire’s investment had not failed.
It had appreciated dramatically.
“So why steal more?”
“Because the property may not belong to you anymore.”
Marcus showed him transfer records.
Pieces of the land had been shifted through Riverfront 812 into trusts and LLCs.
The ownership web ended at a Delaware entity.
Harbor Nine Holdings.
Beneficial owner unknown.
Daniel already knew.
“Claire.”
“Maybe.”
They obtained enough public documents to show Claire’s personal attorney had handled several filings.
The money stolen through Lakebridge had not funded reckless luxury alone.
It had helped Claire acquire appreciating real estate using Carter funds.
Then she moved the assets away.
“She stole from the company to build her own portfolio,” Natalie said.
Marcus nodded.
“And if Northstar bought Carter before anyone discovered it, the missing cash might be absorbed during the transaction while she kept the land upside.”
Ethan studied the map.
“These are Dad’s old lots.”
Daniel looked.
“What?”
Ethan pointed.
“Dad wanted warehouse there.”
He was right.
Robert had discussed a riverfront distribution site years earlier but abandoned it after zoning problems.
Claire must have learned about it through company records.
She had recognized future value.
Again, she was not impulsive.
She was patient.
That frightened Daniel.
Angela entered with news.
“Police would like to interview Ethan.”
Daniel stood.
“No.”
Ethan looked at him.
Daniel stopped.
Old habit.
Angela turned to her client.
“They are requesting, not ordering. We can decline for now or arrange a voluntary interview with me present.”
Ethan asked, “About Claire?”
“About the incident.”
“Will they think I did it?”
“The video is strong evidence that you did not.”
“Then I want to show them.”
Angela nodded.
“Okay.”
Daniel said nothing.
Later, Ethan asked him to attend.
That invitation meant more than forgiveness would have.
The interview took place in a conference room at the police department.
Detective Laura Bennett watched the unedited security footage twice.
Then she asked Ethan to describe what happened.
He did.
Slowly.
Precisely.
Claire entered.
She asked him to set down lemonade.
She checked outside.
She ripped the blouse.
She scratched her neck.
He asked what she was doing.
She fell.
She screamed.
Daniel arrived.
Claire accused him.
He denied it.
Daniel hit him.
Ethan touched his cheek unconsciously.
Detective Bennett noticed.
“Did your brother apologize?”
“Yes.”
“Do you feel safe with him?”
Ethan thought.
Daniel held his breath.
“Yes.”
Then Ethan added,
“But I’m still mad.”
Bennett almost smiled.
“You’re allowed to be.”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
After the interview, Bennett asked Daniel to remain.
Samuel sat beside him.
She placed several printed pages on the table.
“Mrs. Carter alleges you instructed her to stage the event.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
“She has provided text messages she claims support that.”
Samuel stiffened.
“What messages?”
Bennett showed them.
Messages from Daniel’s number.
We may have to force the Ethan issue.
Make him look dangerous if necessary.
Daniel stared.
“I never sent these.”
Another.
Thursday vote cannot happen with him free to interfere.
Another.
Do whatever you have to do.
Samuel examined them.
“These are screenshots.”
“Yes.”
“Have you subpoenaed carrier records?”
“We’re in the process.”
Daniel looked at the dates.
One message supposedly sent while he had been in a board meeting.
Another during a flight.
“These are fake.”
Bennett gave nothing away.
“Maybe.”
She slid another document forward.
“Claire also provided a recording.”
Daniel’s chest tightened.
“What recording?”
Bennett pressed play.
Daniel’s voice filled the room.
“I don’t care how you do it. Ethan cannot be there Thursday.”
Daniel froze.
The voice sounded real.
It was his voice.
Samuel looked at him.
“Did you say that?”
Daniel stared at the recorder.
“Yes.”
Detective Bennett waited.
Daniel swallowed.
“I said it about a surprise birthday trip.”
“What?”
“Last year.”
He remembered now.
Ethan’s thirtieth birthday.
Daniel had arranged to bring Robert’s restored 1968 Mustang to the company event.
Ethan was not supposed to be at headquarters while it arrived.
“I said Ethan couldn’t be there Thursday because we were hiding Dad’s car.”
Bennett stopped the audio.
Claire had taken an innocent sentence from a year-old conversation.
Removed context.
Placed it beside fabricated messages.
The plan was not merely to lie.
It was to use pieces of truth to make the lie durable.
Detective Bennett’s phone buzzed.
She read something.
Then looked at Daniel.
“The carrier records just came in.”
Samuel leaned forward.
Bennett studied the pages.
“The messages Claire gave us were never sent from your phone.”
Daniel exhaled.
But the detective did not smile.
Instead she added,
“Someone created them approximately six weeks ago.”
Six weeks.
The same week Northstar made its offer.
The same week Claire began pushing hardest for the sale.
May you like
The final phase of the conspiracy had started then.
And Claire had prepared for failure before she ever walked into the living room and tore her blouse.
