The Man in the Funeral Portrait
Chapter 10 - The Man in the Funeral Portrait
Preparing the trap required one missing piece: proof that Richard had known he was in danger. Aunt Miriam remembered the two portraits displayed at the funeral. One showed Richard as an older man. The second, held by a funeral attendant, showed him decades earlier.
“Richard hated that photograph,” she said. “He would never have chosen it.”
Claire obtained both frames from the funeral home’s evidence storage. The newer portrait was ordinary. Behind the older one, Daniel found a thin memory card taped beneath the cardboard backing.
The video on it had been recorded in Richard’s study five days before his death.
Richard appeared tired but fully alert. He spoke directly to the camera.
“My name is Richard Bennett. I believe members of my household and foundation are stealing charitable funds. If this recording is being watched, I may no longer be able to speak for myself.”
He named Vivian and Grant, then paused.
“I do not yet know whether Samuel Reed is acting from fear or greed. I do know my daughter Lily is innocent. Her credentials were copied. My son Daniel will doubt himself because he values proof. That is not a weakness. It is why I trust him to finish this.”
Daniel lowered his head.
The recording continued. Richard explained that he had moved the stolen funds into a protected recovery account. Releasing them required Lily’s biometric confirmation, Daniel’s private passphrase, and a live authorization from the foundation’s gala terminal.
Vivian could not complete the transfer without forcing both siblings to cooperate or impersonating them during the gala’s public broadcast.
Richard ended with a final instruction: “Do not seek revenge. Restore what was taken, protect the people this foundation serves, and remember that family is not defined by who shares your house. It is defined by who refuses to leave you in the dark.”
Lily wiped her eyes.
Claire believed the recording could support search warrants, but Vivian might still argue it was only suspicion. The gala would provide the chance to catch her attempting the transfer.
Daniel watched the video again. Near the end, a shadow crossed the window behind Richard. A hand wearing a compass cuff link appeared in the reflection.
Reed had been there.
When confronted at the hospital, Reed finally agreed to cooperate. He would attend the gala wearing a wire and tell Vivian the recovered evidence had been destroyed in the fire.
May you like
But he warned them of one thing.
“Grant was not Vivian’s only enforcer,” he said. “Someone inside the police department has been protecting her.”
