Chapter 5 - Adrian arrived at the family cemetery before sunset.The property was surrounded by tall trees and stone walls.
His father's grave stood at the center.
Thomas Whitmore.
Beloved father.
Visionary founder.
Dead at fifty-eight.
Adrian knelt.
He brushed dirt away from the carved stone.
There was nothing unusual.
Then he remembered the message.
Who was standing beside his hospital bed?
He searched old newspapers online.
Twenty years earlier.
A small article mentioned Thomas's death.
He read every sentence.
Then stopped.
A nurse had been quoted anonymously.
Mr. Whitmore's wife refused to leave the room.
That was not unusual.
But another line caught his attention.
A private physician arrived shortly before the death and removed all medical records.
Adrian stood.
Who was that physician?
He searched.
Dr. Henry Vale.
The name meant nothing.
Until he searched the doctor's current records.
Still practicing.
Thirty miles away.
Adrian drove there.
Dr. Vale opened the door himself.
He was in his seventies now.
Gray hair.
Walking cane.
When he saw Adrian, he went completely still.
“You look like your father.”
Adrian stepped inside.
“You knew him.”
“Yes.”
“How did he die?”
The doctor lowered his eyes.
“I can't discuss it.”
“You can.”
Adrian placed his business card on the table.
Whitmore Global Holdings.
The doctor's hands trembled.
“I was paid to remain silent.”
“By whom?”
The doctor looked toward the window.
Then whispered:
“Your mother.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“What happened?”
“Your father had been poisoned.”
The room went silent.
“Poisoned?”
“He survived the first dose.”
“Then?”
“There was another.”
Adrian stared at him.
“Why didn't you report it?”
The doctor looked ashamed.
“Because your mother threatened my family.”
Adrian felt something break inside him.
“My father knew?”
“Yes.”
“What did he tell you?”
Dr. Vale looked directly at him.
“He told me your mother was building an empire inside his empire.”
Adrian said nothing.
“He believed she was moving company money.”
“She was.”
“Not just company money.”
The doctor opened an old drawer.
He removed a photograph.
Thomas Whitmore stood beside a younger Evelyn.
Between them was Malcolm Reed.
Adrian had never seen the photograph.
Dr. Vale pointed at Malcolm.
“He was there the night your father died.”
Adrian's mind raced.
“Malcolm told me he met my father only twice.”
“That was a lie.”
The doctor handed him another item.
A cassette tape.
“Your father left this with me.”
“What is it?”
“A message.”
Adrian took it.
“Why give it to me now?”
“Because I thought you were dead.”
Adrian looked up.
The doctor went pale.
“You disappeared from the newspapers. Your mother announced a closed family matter. Then she said you were suffering from exhaustion.”
Adrian stared.
“She announced what?”
“She told people you were ill.”
“When?”
“Two days ago.”
Adrian felt cold.
His disappearance had already been explained publicly.
He left the clinic.
In the car, he played the cassette.
Static.
Then his father's voice.
“If Adrian ever hears this…”
A long pause.
“…it means Evelyn has finally won.”
Adrian gripped the steering wheel.
Thomas continued.
“Adrian, your mother will tell you I betrayed her. She will tell you I was unstable. Do not believe her.”
A clicking sound.
Then:
“Malcolm is helping her.”
Adrian's eyes widened.
“But Malcolm isn't the worst of them.”
The tape became distorted.
His father's voice returned.
“The person you trust most…”
Static.
“…is the one who opened the gate.”
The recording ended.
Adrian replayed it.
Again.
And again.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Grace.
I found another recording.
Another message.
But I think someone knows I have it.
Then:
Please come tonight. Alone.
Adrian immediately called.
No answer.
He drove toward the estate.
Halfway there, his phone rang.
Grace.
He answered.
Her breathing was frantic.
“Adrian?”
He froze.
She had never known his name.
“Grace?”
“I found out who has been stealing the money.”
“Who?”
She whispered:
“Victor.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“The security guard?”
“Yes.”
“And Grace…”
“Yes?”
“How do you know my real name?”
Silence.
Then Grace said:
“I've known who you were since the day you first came through the gate.”
Adrian slammed the brakes.
“What?”
Her voice shook.
“Because I didn't take that job to clean your house.”
May you like
She whispered:
“I took it to investigate your father's murder.”
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