Chapter 10 - BLOOD IS NOT LOYALTY
Richard listened without moving.
Daniel’s voice was unmistakable.
“Richard won’t notice.”
Thomas laughed.
“He notices numbers.”
“He doesn’t notice people.”
Richard shut the recording off.
Maria watched him.
“That your brother?”
“Yes.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Richard looked older suddenly.
Not weak.
Just tired.
Daniel was three years younger.
Richard had paid his college tuition.
Bought his first apartment.
Covered his gambling debts twice.
Given him a board seat after their father died.
Blood was supposed to mean something.
Apparently money meant more.
Detective Monroe asked, “Where is Daniel now?”
Richard took out his phone.
“Chicago.”
He called his assistant.
No answer.
Then Daniel’s number.
Straight to voicemail.
Richard’s jaw tightened.
Monroe said, “Don’t warn him.”
“I’m not.”
She nodded toward the phone.
“You just called.”
Richard looked at her.
“He already knows.”
“How?”
“If Thomas is running, Daniel knows.”
Richard opened another folder.
PROJECT CAROLINE contained years of fraud.
Assets hidden during Richard’s divorce.
Money skimmed.
Contracts forged.
Thomas and Daniel had used the chaos of the divorce to create a system.
Then they kept using it.
But another document made Richard stop.
A life insurance policy.
Insured: Richard Whitfield.
Beneficiary: Whitfield Holdings Trust.
Amount: $250 million.
Maria stared.
“Is that normal?”
“No.”
“Did you sign it?”
“No.”
Detective Monroe read the attached note.
TARGET EVENT WINDOW: DECEMBER 14–18.
Maria looked at Richard.
“What’s December seventeenth?”
His face changed.
“My company’s winter retreat.”
“Where?”
“Colorado.”
“Private plane?”
“Yes.”
Everyone understood.
Thomas and Daniel had not merely been stealing from Richard.
They had been planning his death.
Then Maria noticed another file.
DELGADO CONTINGENCY.
She did not want to open it.
She did anyway.
Inside was a photograph of Matteo’s daycare.
Maria closed the laptop.
“I’m taking my son.”
Richard stepped forward.
“Maria—”
“No.”
“The estate is secure.”
“No place is secure if your own brother wants us dead.”
“He wants me dead.”
“And Thomas wants Matteo.”
Richard could not argue.
Maria went upstairs.
Matteo was drawing with crayons.
“Mama, look.”
He held up a picture.
A house.
Three stick figures.
Maria frowned.
“Who’s that?”
“You.”
He pointed.
“Me.”
Then the third.
“Mr. Richard.”
Maria looked away.
“We’re leaving.”
Matteo frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“I want to stay.”
“No.”
“Mama.”
“Matteo.”
Richard entered.
Maria turned.
“I said we’re leaving.”
“I know.”
He held up car keys.
“I’m driving you.”
“No.”
“You need protection.”
“I need distance.”
“From me?”
“From all of this.”
Richard nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
That surprised her.
Then a massive explosion shook the mansion.
Windows rattled.
Matteo screamed.
Maria threw herself over him.
Smoke rose outside.
Richard ran to the window.
The detached garage was burning.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Daniel’s voice said, “Still alive, brother?”
Richard’s face went cold.
Daniel laughed.
“Good.”
“Where are you?”
“Close.”
“What do you want?”
“You know.”
“Say it.”
“Access to the master fund.”
“No.”
Daniel sighed.
“Then maybe ask Maria how much she loves her little boy.”
The line went dead.
Maria stared at Richard.
May you like
Her face drained of color.
Matteo was no longer behind her.
