Chapter 6 - THE ENVELOPE|
Camille opened the envelope carefully.
Inside were three pages, a bank statement, and a photograph.
The photograph showed Nathan Harrow standing outside a restaurant with Peter Voss, the attorney who had prepared the disputed trust document.
A second man stood beside them.
Russell Briarwood.
The date printed on the back was eleven months earlier.
Camille looked at the bank statement.
A payment of two million dollars had been transferred from a Harrow Coast account to a consulting company registered in Delaware.
The recipient's name was unfamiliar.
"Who owns this company?" she asked.
Everett took the statement.
"We can find out."
Beatrice pointed to the final page.
"Read the letter."
Camille unfolded it.
It was a handwritten note from Peter Voss, addressed to her grandmother.
Mrs. Harrow, I have serious concerns about the proposed restructuring. Mr. Nathan Harrow has requested that I prepare documents transferring control of the family trust without your direct authorization. I have refused. He has now instructed me to proceed through another legal office.
Camille read it again.
"Peter knew."
"He came to me because he was frightened," Beatrice said. "Then he disappeared."
Everett's associate made a call.
Within minutes, she returned with a name.
"The Delaware company is registered to a holding firm connected to Nathan's chief financial officer."
Camille sat back.
Her father had not simply made a bad business decision. He had moved money, hidden obligations, and tried to transfer control of a family trust.
"Where is Peter Voss now?" Everett asked.
"Nobody knows," Beatrice replied.
Camille looked at the photograph.
"Then we find him."
Everett nodded.
"I'll have my investigators locate him."
She turned toward him.
"I don't want you taking over."
"I'm not offering to take over."
"You've done it before."
He accepted the accusation without defending himself.
"Then tell me what you want me to do."
Camille looked at the documents.
"Help me understand what I'm looking at. Let me make the decisions."
"All right."
Beatrice watched them both.
"That sounds like progress."
Camille gave her a tired smile.
Her phone rang.
Nathan.
She almost ignored it, but something made her answer.
"Camille, where are you?"
"With Grandma."
"Good. Listen carefully. You need to come to the corporate office tomorrow morning."
"Why?"
"Because Russell has agreed to postpone the transfer if you sign a temporary authorization."
"No."
"You haven't heard the details."
"I've heard enough."
His voice sharpened.
"You're putting eleven hotels and hundreds of employees at risk because you're angry about a dress?"
Camille closed her eyes.
"This isn't about the dress."
"Then stop behaving like a child."
"Did you forge Grandma's signature?"
Silence.
Then he said something she never expected.
"You have no idea what I had to do to keep this family alive."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer you're getting."
He hung up.
Camille stared at the phone.
Everett's associate was already looking at her.
"Ms. Harrow, there's another problem."
"What?"
"The temporary authorization Nathan wants you to sign has already been filed with the state."
Camille's blood went cold.
"Filed under whose name?"
May you like
The associate turned her laptop around.
The authorization listed Camille as having approved the transfer herself.
