Chapter 17 - THE LAST SIGNATURE|
The final transfer was scheduled for the day of the wedding.
Charles Sinclair had planned to use the marriage agreement to secure control of the eastern harbor properties. If Rafael signed the documents, the transfer would become difficult to reverse.
If he refused, the Sinclairs intended to use the evidence of the old crimes to blackmail him.
The plan had been designed to leave Rafael with no clean choice.
But the ledger revealed something else.
The harbor properties were not owned entirely by the Moretti family. Several parcels had been held in a charitable foundation created by Rafael's grandfather. The foundation's trustees had never approved the transfer.
The documents were fraudulent.
Charles needed Rafael's signature to make the scheme appear legitimate.
"Then the wedding was never about an alliance," Elena said.
"It was about control," Claire replied.
Rafael read the agreement carefully.
"If I sign, they get the harbor."
"And the money connected to it," Claire said. "We believe they intended to move the assets offshore immediately afterward."
Rafael looked at the signature line.
"Then we let them believe I will sign."
Elena shook her head.
"No."
He turned toward her.
"Listen—"
"I know what you're thinking. You want to walk into their room and force them to admit everything."
"I want them to finish the transfer in front of the investigators."
"That puts you in danger."
"So does doing nothing."
Elena looked at Claire.
The investigator considered the plan.
"We can arrange surveillance and a controlled meeting. But there will be no private confrontation. We need a recorded admission and enough evidence to support the charges."
Rafael nodded.
"Agreed."
The wedding was scheduled for Saturday evening at the Sinclair estate.
The invitations had already gone out. The press had been told that the ceremony would unite two powerful families.
Instead, it would become the final stage of the investigation.
Elena spent the next two days helping Claire prepare the evidence.
She also received a call from her mother's doctor.
Margaret was recovering well.
For the first time in weeks, Elena allowed herself to imagine an ordinary future.
On Friday night, Rafael came to see her.
He stood outside the apartment holding a small paper bag.
"What's that?" she asked.
"Your favorite coffee."
She looked inside.
Black coffee with a little cinnamon.
He remembered.
"Thank you."
He hesitated.
"I know I have no right to ask you to stay."
"Then don't."
"I want to tell you something after tomorrow. Not before. Not while everything is still dangerous."
Elena looked at him.
"What if I don't want to hear it?"
"Then I will accept that."
He placed the coffee on the table.
As he turned to leave, she called his name.
"Rafael."
He stopped.
"Don't make tomorrow another night when I have to watch you choose someone else."
May you like
He looked back.
"I won't."
