Chapter 11 - Twenty-Three Minutes
Thomas pulled out his phone.
He called Northline’s chief financial officer, Nina Patel.
She answered on the first ring.
“Thomas?”
“Freeze every account connected to the children’s trust.”
“I cannot freeze a trust without a documented threat.”
“I have forged transfer requests and an active fraud investigation.”
“Send me everything.”
Nolan photographed the documents.
Thomas forwarded them.
Nina typed quickly on the other end.
“There are three pending transfers.”
“How much?”
“Six hundred thousand from Rebecca’s education account.”
“Four hundred thousand from Samuel’s.”
“Three hundred thousand from Jacob’s.”
Thomas closed his eyes.
“Destination?”
“A holding company named Green Monarch.”
Peter swore under his breath.
“That was the development Robert sold us.”
Nina continued.
“The transfers are scheduled for 11:59 p.m.”
“Stop them.”
“I am contacting the bank’s fraud department now.”
Robert looked amused.
“You are too late.”
Thomas faced him.
“You will never touch their money.”
Robert leaned closer.
“You still think this is only about money.”
Detective Ellis guided him toward the greenhouse door.
“What else is it about?”
Robert smiled at Helen.
Helen looked frightened.
Thomas followed his father’s gaze.
“What did you do?”
Helen said nothing.
Robert spoke.
“Ask where Rebecca is.”
Thomas turned.
Rebecca was no longer beside him.
His heart stopped.
“Rebecca?”
Samuel looked around.
“She was just here.”
Mrs. Alvarez rushed toward the rose garden.
“I thought she followed you.”
Thomas searched the greenhouse.
Only Samuel and Jacob remained with him.
He ran outside.
“Rebecca!”
Guests who had remained began searching the lawn.
Nolan checked the security tablet.
“The exterior cameras are still offline.”
Thomas grabbed Helen’s shoulders.
“Where is my daughter?”
“I do not know.”
Robert laughed again.
Thomas turned toward him.
Detective Ellis stepped between them.
“Do not touch him.”
Thomas pointed at Helen.
“She knows.”
Helen’s eyes shifted toward the greenhouse.
Thomas noticed.
“What did you tell Rebecca?”
Helen shook her head.
“Nothing.”
Samuel looked up.
“Grandma whispered to her.”
Thomas crouched.
“What did she say?”
“She said Mom had one more letter.”
“Where?”
Samuel pointed toward the far side of the estate.
“The old greenhouse room.”
Thomas looked at the main greenhouse.
“There is another room?”
Nolan answered.
“A storage room beneath the hill.”
Helen stepped backward.
Thomas ran across the garden.
He followed the stone path behind the greenhouse.
Thick ivy covered a small wooden door built into the slope.
A rusted padlock hung from it.
Thomas struck the door.
“Rebecca!”
At first, there was no answer.
Then three faint knocks came from inside.
“Dad?”
Thomas grabbed the lock.
The door did not move.
Rebecca’s voice came through the wood.
“Grandma said Mom’s letter was here.”
“She pushed me inside.”
Thomas looked back.
May you like
Helen had followed them.
She was holding the only key.
