Chapter 6: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Nobody spoke for nearly a minute.
Richard Whitmore stared at the photograph as though the image might disappear if he looked away.
“My father died in a private hospital in Switzerland,” he finally said.
Monica shook her head.
“That was the story.””
Richard's hands trembled.
“I attended his funeral.””
“You attended a memorial service,” Monica replied.
“There was no body.””
Richard slowly looked toward Thomas.
“Did you know?””
The attorney avoided his eyes.
“I was informed that Mr. Charles Whitmore had relocated for medical treatment. I was not told he was presumed dead.””
Richard laughed once, without humor.
“My own father has been alive for four years, and everyone knew except me?””
James leaned forward.
“Let's focus on the business. What does Charles want with Danielle's shares?””
Thomas opened the briefcase again.
“Control of the properties.””
“Why?””
“Because the portfolio includes the original Westbridge development site, several luxury retail centers, and a commercial banking complex.””
James shook his head.
“Those properties are worth hundreds of millions.””
“Correct.””
Danielle looked at the photograph.
“Why would he need my shares if Dad owns the company?””
Richard answered quietly.
“Because your shares were supposed to control the holding company. If the original trust transfer is legally valid, you may have a stronger ownership claim than the current board.””
Danielle looked at her father.
“Does that mean the mall is mine?””
James didn't immediately answer.
“Possibly. But we need an independent legal review.””
Monica folded her hands.
“That's why Daniel wanted the transfer completed. He believed the shares could be moved into a private company before anyone questioned the paperwork.””
James's eyes narrowed.
“And Victoria?””
Monica glanced at Thomas.
“She was coordinating the property-level transfers.””
Richard shook his head.
“She was a mall manager.””
Thomas spoke carefully.
“Her title was mall manager. Her authority was considerably broader.””
James looked at the attorney.
“Explain.””
Thomas removed a final document.
“Victoria was appointed as an operating representative for Hale Strategic Advisory. She had authority to communicate with the property management subsidiaries.””
Richard stared.
“She was never authorized to represent Westbridge Holdings in financial transactions.””
“Not officially.””
“Then how did she get access?””
Thomas looked toward Monica.
Monica lowered her eyes.
“I approved her appointment.””
James stared at his sister.
“You gave Victoria Hale financial authority?””
“I was told she was working for Daniel.””
James stood.
“You've got to be kidding me.””
Monica began crying harder.
“I thought I was saving Father's legacy!””
Danielle's voice was quiet.
“By taking mine?””
Monica looked at her.
“Sweetheart, I never wanted to hurt you.””
Danielle held Amara closer.
“Then why didn't you ask me?””
Monica couldn't answer.
James walked toward the window.
Outside, shoppers continued entering the mall.
They had no idea that a fight over an inheritance was unfolding above their heads.
He looked at Richard.
“Get every document reviewed. Every transfer, every signature, every bank account. I want the truth.””
Richard nodded.
“I'll contact the external auditors.””
“No. Contact an independent forensic accounting firm. One that has never worked for Westbridge.””
“Understood.””
Daniel Price knocked and entered.
“Mr. Brooks, we have a development.””
James turned.
“What is it?””
“We located the source of the digital access credential.””
Daniel placed his tablet on the table.
“The duplicate card was created using an administrative login from the executive office.””
“Whose login?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Your brother's.””
James closed his eyes.
“Daniel Brooks.””
“Yes, sir.””
Danielle looked toward the tablet.
“Does that mean Uncle Daniel disabled the camera?””
“We're still establishing who physically operated the system,” Daniel Price replied.
“But his credentials were used.””
James nodded.
“Preserve everything.””
“There's another issue.””
“What?””
“Someone attempted to remotely delete the camera recordings after we secured the system.””
Richard stood.
“From where?””
Daniel turned the tablet.
“The request originated from an external network connected to a private office in downtown Chicago.””
Thomas frowned.
“Which office?””
Daniel enlarged the location information.
*BROOKS LEGACY VENTURES.*
James looked at Monica.
“Who works there?””
She swallowed.
“Your brother.””
James immediately reached for his phone.
He called Daniel Brooks.
The call rang six times.
No answer.
He tried again.
This time, the call connected.
“James,” his brother said casually.
“What a surprise.””
James stared at the table.
“Where are you?””
“Working. Why?””
“Did you create a duplicate security credential for Westbridge?””
A pause.
Then Daniel laughed.
“Is this about the mall incident?””
“Answer the question.””
“James, you're making this sound far more dramatic than it is.””
“My daughter was assaulted today.””
Another pause.
“I heard.””
“You heard?””
“News travels.””
James gripped the phone.
“Your credentials were used to disable a security camera before Danielle arrived.””
Daniel sighed.
“Then someone has compromised my account.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“Your account was also used to access the trust records.””
“That's not my problem.””
James went silent.
Then he said:
“Where is Danielle's inheritance?””
Daniel's tone changed.
“You should leave that alone.””
“Why?””
“Because you don't understand what Father agreed to.””
James looked toward Danielle.
She was watching him.
He walked a few steps away.
“Tell me what Father agreed to.””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“He agreed that the estate would be used to protect the company.””
“The estate belonged to Danielle.””
“Not anymore.””
James's jaw tightened.
“You don't get to decide that.””
“I already did.””
The call ended.
James slowly lowered his phone.
Richard looked at him.
“What did he say?””
James shook his head.
“He knows about today. He knows about the trust. And he believes Danielle's inheritance belongs to him.””
Danielle looked at the photograph again.
“Dad, why would Grandpa leave everything to me?””
James sat beside her.
“Because he trusted you.””
“But why not you?””
James smiled sadly.
“Because he knew I'd spend my life trying to build something. He wanted you to have something that nobody could take away.””
Danielle's eyes filled.
She remembered her grandfather teaching her how to balance a checkbook at the kitchen table.
She remembered him telling her that money wasn't about looking important.
It was about having choices.
She remembered the last afternoon she had spent with him.
He had been weak, but his mind was clear.
He had taken her hand and said, “Never let anyone convince you that what belongs to you is something you should be grateful to receive.””
At the time, she hadn't understood.
Now she did.
A knock interrupted the silence.
Daniel Price opened the conference room door.
“Mr. Brooks, we have a visitor.””
“Who?””
“Mr. Daniel Brooks.””
James stood immediately.
His brother walked into the room wearing a charcoal suit and carrying a black leather portfolio.
He looked older than James remembered, but his smile was exactly the same.
“Brother.””
James stared at him.
“You have some nerve coming here.””
Daniel glanced toward Danielle.
“Hello, sweetheart.””
Danielle didn't respond.
Daniel placed his portfolio on the table.
“I understand there's been some confusion about the ownership arrangements.””
James stepped closer.
“Confusion?””
“Let's not turn this into a family argument.””
“You used my daughter's trust.””
“I protected the family business.””
“You stole her inheritance.””
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“Careful, James.””
Richard stood.
“Mr. Brooks, you're not authorized to enter this building's executive offices.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Richard, you should probably sit down.””
“Why?””
Daniel opened his portfolio and removed a document.
He placed it in front of Richard.
“Because the ownership transfer was completed yesterday.””
Richard examined the first page.
His expression changed.
Then he looked at James.
“Is this genuine?””
James took the document.
It was a certificate of transfer.
The controlling shares of Westbridge Holdings had been assigned to a new investment company.
The transfer was dated the previous afternoon.
And the beneficiary was listed as:
*DANIEL BROOKS.*
James looked up.
“You transferred the company?””
Daniel smiled.
“I did.””
“You had no authority.””
“Actually, I did.””
He tapped the signature at the bottom.
James stared.
It was his signature.
But he hadn't signed the document.
Danielle stood.
“That's forged.””
Daniel smiled at her.
“Careful, Danielle. You might want to understand the paperwork before making accusations.””
James looked at his brother.
“Who helped you?””
Daniel closed the portfolio.
“Someone who has been working with us for a very long time.””
“Who?””
Daniel looked toward the conference room door.
It opened.
A wheelchair rolled into the room.
An elderly white man sat beneath a gray blanket, his silver hair neatly combed, his eyes sharp despite his age.
Richard Whitmore staggered backward.
“Dad?””
The elderly man smiled.
“Hello, Richard.””
Then he looked directly at Danielle.
“So you're the little girl your grandfather left everything to.””
Danielle's arms tightened around Amara.
Charles Whitmore leaned forward.
“Unfortunately, sweetheart, your grandfather made one mistake.””
James stepped between them.
“Don't speak to my daughter.””
Charles ignored him.
He looked at Danielle and smiled.
“He forgot to tell you that your inheritance came with a condition.””
Danielle stared at him.
“What condition?””
Charles placed a small envelope on the table.
Inside was a photograph of her grandfather standing beside a woman Danielle had never seen before.
On the back, in her grandfather's handwriting, were seven words:
*If they come for you, find Evelyn.*
Charles looked at James.
“Because Evelyn is the only person alive who knows where the original trust documents are hidden.””
May you like
Then he turned toward Danielle.
“And if you find her, you'll discover why your grandfather never trusted his own sons.””