Chapter 7 - The ChaseWe ran.
Glass exploded behind us.
Lucy screamed.
Daniel pulled her down.
Harold shoved open a maintenance door.
“Inside!”
We stumbled into a tunnel beneath the station.
Another shot echoed.
Someone was following us.
I could hear footsteps.
Fast.
Harold knew the tunnels.
He led us through darkness until we reached an abandoned storage room.
He locked the door.
Everyone breathed heavily.
“Who was that?”
Harold didn't answer.
I grabbed his coat.
“You owe me the truth.”
He looked at me.
“I've spent nine years trying to keep you alive.”
“Then start talking.”
He finally did.
My father had discovered that Mom wasn't merely selling family assets.
She was creating fake debts.
She borrowed against properties.
Moved the money through shell companies.
Then transferred the assets into accounts controlled by people she trusted.
One of those people was Steve.
“But why?”
“Power.”
Harold's answer was simple.
“She wanted control of everything.”
“And Dad?”
“He tried to stop her.”
“Who poisoned him?”
Harold hesitated.
“That is the one thing I never proved.”
I stared at him.
“You know.”
“I suspect.”
“Who?”
He looked at Lucy.
Then back at me.
“Someone very close to you.”
Lucy began crying.
I thought of everyone.
Mom.
Steve.
Even Lucy.
Then Harold gave me another piece of information.
“The house was originally purchased for your father by Northbridge Holdings.”
“What?”
“The one-million-dollar payment you made?”
I nodded.
“The original trust had money set aside for you.”
He pulled out a faded bank statement.
“There should have been twelve million dollars in your trust.”
My mouth went dry.
“Twelve million?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did I have to save for six years?”
Harold looked at me with something close to grief.
“Because the money was taken.”
“By who?”
He didn't answer.
I already knew.
My mother.
The room felt suddenly too small.
“But if she stole twelve million from me…”
“She didn't spend it all.”
Harold handed me another file.
“There are seven million dollars remaining.”
“Where?”
“In an account only the trustee can access.”
I stared at him.
“Mom.”
He nodded.
“That account is connected to your house.”
I suddenly understood why everyone was panicking.
If the trust was exposed, Mom could lose everything.
But then Harold said:
“There is one problem.”
“What?”
“The account has been active recently.”
“When?”
“Last week.”
My blood went cold.
“Who withdrew from it?”
Harold looked at me.
“Your sister.”
Lucy collapsed into a chair.
“No.”
I turned.
“Lucy?”
She shook her head.
“I didn't.”
Harold looked confused.
“The withdrawal was made under your name.”
Lucy was trembling.
“I swear.”
I stared at her.
Then my phone buzzed.
A bank notification appeared.
$900,000 TRANSFERRED FROM YOUR TRUST ACCOUNT.
Destination:
LUCY CARTER.
I looked up.
Lucy whispered:
“I didn't do it.”
May you like
And then another notification appeared.
$900,000 TRANSFERRED TO STEVE TURNER.
