Chapter 12 - THE ATTORNEY WHO TOOK THE ORIGINAL WILL|
Richard Cole had represented the Thorne family for thirty-one years. He had drafted contracts, managed trusts, and attended every major family negotiation. Marcus had trusted him with documents that could determine the future of the company.
Now Richard had vanished.
The police found his car abandoned in a parking garage, his office cleared of personal belongings, and his home apparently untouched. There was no sign of forced entry, but the original trust file was missing.
Marcus called the prosecutor.
"Could he have left the country?"
"He could have. We're checking airports and financial records. We also have reason to believe he copied documents before leaving."
"Then we need to find out what he took."
At the hospital, Elena was growing stronger. Her blood pressure had stabilized, and she was able to sit up for longer periods. Leo remained in the neonatal unit, but the doctors were encouraged by his progress.
Julian visited her for five minutes, as promised.
He stood beside the bed, keeping his hands at his sides.
"How are you feeling?"
"Tired."
"Is there anything you need?"
"Honesty."
Julian nodded.
"I've been paying Saraphina for months. I told myself I was preventing her from exposing private information, but I was also afraid of admitting what I'd done. I let the situation continue because I wanted to avoid consequences."
Elena watched him carefully.
"Did you ever love her?"
"I cared about her. I liked how easy it was to be around someone who never asked me to examine myself. But I was dishonest with her too. I promised things I didn't intend to give."
"Did you love me when you married me?"
"Yes."
"Then why did you treat me like an inconvenience?"
Julian's eyes filled.
"Because I believed love was something I could postpone while I dealt with everything else. I thought you would always be there when I finished."
Elena looked away.
"That is not love. That's entitlement."
"I know."
She studied him for a long moment.
"I am not ready to forgive you."
"I understand."
"And I don't know whether I will ever want to stay married to you."
He swallowed.
"I understand that too."
For the first time, Julian did not ask her to reconsider. He left after five minutes, keeping the promise he had made.
Later that afternoon, Marcus's attorney discovered that Richard had transferred a large sum to a private account in the Cayman Islands. The account had been opened under the name of a company called Blue Meridian Holdings.
The company owned a small property in Connecticut.
A property that had once belonged to Catherine Thorne.
Marcus stared at the address.
"Why would Richard go there?"
The attorney examined the original property records.
"Because the house was never included in the estate inventory. It was held through a separate trust, and the beneficiary was listed as Catherine's daughter."
Elena's daughter.
The property might contain the original will, the missing medical records, or evidence that Catherine had concealed another part of her past.
Marcus arranged for investigators to search the house.
They found it locked, dusty, and apparently empty. But behind a bookcase in the study was a small safe. Inside were photographs, a sealed envelope, and a handwritten journal.
The journal revealed that Catherine had known about Eleanor's plans years before she died. She had documented meetings, payments, and threats. One entry described a conversation with Richard Cole.
He says Eleanor will stop if she believes I have surrendered the trust. I do not believe him. If anything happens to me, the records must reach Elena.
The final pages were missing.
But the envelope remained.
It was addressed to Elena and marked: OPEN ONLY WHEN YOUR CHILD IS SAFE.
Marcus returned to the hospital with the envelope.
Elena looked at the handwriting and began to cry.
"My mother knew I would come into this family."
Marcus nodded.
"And she was trying to protect you."
Elena opened the envelope.
Inside was a small key and a note.
THE LAST RECORD IS NOT IN THE HOUSE. ASK THE MAN WHO STOOD BESIDE ME WHEN I DIED.
Marcus read the sentence, then looked up.
"Catherine was alone when she died."
Elena's expression changed.
"Who told you that?"
"My mother."
May you like
Elena held the note tightly.
"Then perhaps your mother lied about that too."
