Chapter 3 - THE FIRST RECORDING
Richard took them to his company’s nearby office. It was after business hours, and the building was nearly empty. His executive assistant, Priya Shah, met them in a conference room with juice boxes, crackers, and a first-aid kit.
Priya had known the boys since they were born. She took one look at their bare feet and Emily’s suitcase and stopped asking questions.
Richard connected the flash drive to a computer that wasn’t on the company network. The drive held four video files and a folder of scanned documents.
Liam climbed into Emily’s lap. Ethan and Noah pressed against her sides.
Richard opened the first video.
The image shook before settling on a view through a partly open door. Victoria stood at a desk, speaking into her phone.
“I put the Rolex in her bag myself,” she said. “Richard will do the rest. He’s never around long enough to hear her side.”
Emily felt Liam’s small fingers tighten around hers.
Onscreen, Victoria opened a folder. “Once Carter is gone, I’ll have the boys enrolled in the school. Richard only needs to sign the travel consent. Tell Adrian to send me the final version.”
A man’s voice came faintly through the phone. Victoria listened, then smiled.
“Of course he won’t read every page. He trusts me.”
Richard paused the video.
In the sudden silence, Priya said, “There are travel documents in the file you sent me this morning.”
Richard looked up. “What file?”
“The family planning packet. Victoria said you approved it.”
“I haven’t opened it.”
Priya drew a slow breath. “The cover page lists a school in Switzerland. The rest is in a password-protected attachment.”
Richard looked back at the screen. Liam’s recording had continued after Victoria’s call. The camera swung toward the hall. A small voice whispered, “We have to tell Dad.”
Then another voice—Victoria’s—rang out.
“Liam?”
The video ended.
Richard opened the scanned documents. They included enrollment forms for all three boys, copies of their passports, and a travel consent with his signature at the bottom.
“I didn’t sign this,” he said.
Priya leaned closer. “That looks like the signature you use on board documents.”
“It isn’t mine.”
“Then someone copied it.”
Emily studied the form. The departure date was Monday, four days away.
Richard opened the second video.
Victoria sat beside a man Emily had never seen. They were in the mansion’s sunroom.
The man said, “When the boys are overseas, we can move on the trust.”
May you like
Richard’s hand went still on the mouse.
On the screen, Victoria answered, “And when Richard learns what his late wife actually left them, he’ll be too late.”
