Chapter 4 - The Son Who Knew Too MuchNobody spoke for several seconds.
Mark looked as if someone had drained the blood from his body.
Richard held the letter between them.
“You helped them.”
Mark closed his eyes.
“Dad.”
“Who?”
“It isn't that simple.”
Richard's voice sharpened.
“You let me bury my daughter-in-law believing her death was an accident.”
“I didn't know she would die.”
Richard stared.
“What did you know?”
Mark took a step forward.
“Everything started with the foundation.”
He spoke quickly, as though finally saying the words might be easier than keeping them trapped inside.
Daniel Cross had discovered weaknesses in the company's charitable accounts.
Then money began moving.
At first, small amounts.
Then millions.
Mark discovered it.
He confronted Daniel.
But Daniel told him the transfers had been approved by Richard.
Mark didn't believe him.
So he checked the documents.
They carried his father's signature.
Not the real signature.
A digital replica.
Someone had obtained Richard's signing certificate.
Mark tried to confront Claudia.
She already knew.
According to Mark, Claudia had been working with Daniel for nearly two years.
Richard said nothing.
“She threatened Noah,” Mark whispered.
Richard's eyes hardened.
“She said that if I went to the police, I'd lose him.”
Richard stepped closer.
“You should have come to me.”
“I was afraid.”
“You're his father.”
“I know.”
“You were supposed to protect him.”
Mark broke down.
“I know!”
His voice echoed through the room.
“I thought I could fix it.”
Richard stared at him.
“What did you do?”
“I signed the transfer.”
“What transfer?”
“The controlling shares.”
Richard went still.
“When?”
“Six months before Elena died.”
Silence.
Richard suddenly understood why Claudia had been so confident.
Why his lawyers had been receiving strange documents.
Why Daniel had been able to move money.
Mark continued.
“I signed because they had photographs of Noah.”
Richard's face changed.
“What photographs?”
“Pictures from the daycare.”
Richard looked toward Noah.
The boy was sitting on the edge of the bed, playing with one of Elena's old wooden blocks.
Mark lowered his voice.
“They knew his schedule. They knew where he slept. They knew where you traveled.”
Richard clenched his fists.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Claudia told me she had someone inside the police.”
Richard looked at the letter.
“She didn't control Elena.”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
Mark stared at the floor.
“Elena found out about the second account.”
Richard's chest tightened.
“She discovered the money.”
Mark nodded.
“She planned to expose everyone.”
“And you stopped her?”
“No.”
Mark's eyes filled with tears.
“I begged her to wait.”
Richard's voice became quiet.
“Did she?”
“No.”
The room went silent.
“She told me she had already sent evidence to someone.”
“Who?”
“We never found out.”
Richard looked at the memory card.
“Maybe she hid it here.”
Mark nodded.
“She said if anything happened to her, Noah would have the key.”
Richard frowned.
“What key?”
Mark looked toward the wooden airplane.
“The one inside the toy.”
Richard pulled the airplane from his coat pocket.
“There was a memory card.”
Mark shook his head.
“That isn't the key.”
Richard opened the hidden compartment again.
He touched the interior.
There was another slot.
Tiny.
He hadn't noticed it.
He pressed it.
A brass key dropped into his palm.
Claudia had known it was there.
Mark had known.
Richard stared at it.
“What does this open?”
Mark's voice barely came out.
“The vault under the old family office.”
Richard's heart pounded.
“That office was closed five years ago.”
“I know.”
“Then why would Elena hide this?”
Mark stared at his father.
“Because the vault still contains the original company records.”
Richard looked at the key.
“And the records prove?”
Mark swallowed.
“They prove someone inside the family has been stealing for years.”
Richard tightened his grip.
“Who?”
Mark's answer came immediately.
“Daniel.”
Richard waited.
“And Claudia.”
Richard looked at his son.
“And you?”
Mark looked away.
Richard's silence became unbearable.
May you like
Finally, Mark whispered:
“I'm in the records too.”
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