Chapter 3 - BEHIND THE PORTRAIT
Daniel entered his father's study alone.
The room had remained almost untouched since Charles Whitmore died.
Leather chairs.
Dark walnut shelves.
Old books.
His father's desk.
And above the fireplace hung Margaret Whitmore's portrait.
Daniel stared at his mother's painted face.
Where your mother still watches over the house.
He stepped onto the fireplace ledge.
Behind the portrait was a small brass keyhole.
Daniel's heart began pounding.
He inserted the key.
Click.
A narrow section of the wall opened.
Inside was a black metal box.
Daniel carried it to the desk.
The brass key opened that too.
Inside were three objects.
A flash drive.
A sealed envelope.
And a folder marked:
CALDWELL.
Daniel opened the envelope first.
Son,
If you're reading this, I was unable to tell you myself.
Do not sign the Caldwell merger.
Do not marry Vanessa until you know what her family has done.
Daniel stopped.
His father's handwriting was unmistakable.
He continued.
I discovered financial transfers from Whitmore subsidiaries into shell companies controlled by Caldwell Capital.
Someone inside our company has been helping them.
Elena Morales accidentally discovered one of the altered invoices.
That is why she is in danger.
Protect her.
Protect the child.
And find Marcus.
Daniel reread the final sentence.
Find Marcus.
Marcus Reed was Whitmore Industries' chief financial officer.
He had also been Daniel's father's closest friend.
Daniel immediately reached for his phone.
Then stopped.
Elena's warning returned.
Don't trust anyone yet.
He inserted the flash drive into his father's old laptop.
A folder appeared.
BANK TRANSFERS.
BOARD RECORDINGS.
VANESSA.
Daniel clicked the last folder.
An audio file opened.
Vanessa's voice filled the study.
“If Elena tells Daniel about the pregnancy, everything changes.”
Another voice answered.
Male.
Daniel recognized it.
Marcus.
“Then don't let her reach him.”
Daniel froze.
Vanessa continued.
“And Charles?”
Marcus paused.
“He's becoming a problem.”
Daniel's hand tightened around the edge of the desk.
“What are you suggesting?”
Vanessa asked.
Marcus answered calmly.
“I'm suggesting we make sure the merger happens before he can stop it.”
The recording ended.
Daniel sat completely motionless.
His father's closest friend.
His own CFO.
The man who had stood beside him at Charles Whitmore's funeral.
Daniel immediately copied every file onto another drive.
Then he heard something outside.
A floorboard creaked.
Daniel turned.
May you like
The study door was slightly open.
Someone had been listening.
