Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO WANTED EVERYTHINGRobert Hale had spent years watching the Vance family from a distance.
Arthur had never trusted him.
Now he understood why.
Robert wanted the Vance company.
Margaret wanted Noah's trust.
Together, they had created a plan.
But Richard had discovered them.
That was why he had died.
Arthur sat at the lake house, reading the documents.
Claire sat beside him.
Thomas stood near the window.
“There's something missing,” Thomas said.
Arthur looked up.
“What?”
“The final transaction.”
Arthur checked the records.
Thomas was right.
Millions had been moved the night before Richard died.
But the destination account was missing.
Arthur looked at the bank statement.
“There.”
A company name.
Northbridge Capital.
Thomas searched it.
“It doesn't exist anymore.”
Claire looked at Arthur.
“Then we find whoever owned it.”
They contacted a financial investigator.
The answer came two hours later.
“Northbridge was a shell company.”
“Who controlled it?”
The investigator hesitated.
“Robert Hale.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
Everything connected.
The money.
The company.
His father's murder.
Margaret.
Victor.
Robert.
But there was still one question.
Why had Margaret tried to attack Claire personally?
The answer came from the trust documents.
If Claire were declared unfit, Margaret could petition for temporary guardianship of Noah.
And if Margaret controlled Noah, she could attempt to control the trust.
It had never been about Claire.
It had always been about the baby.
Arthur looked at Claire.
“She wanted you removed.”
Claire nodded.
“And she wanted Noah.”
Arthur took her hand.
“She won't get either.”
That night, Thomas received a message.
A photograph.
His old childhood home.
The message said:
Come alone.
Thomas showed Arthur.
Arthur shook his head.
“No.”
“I have to go.”
“We go together.”
Thomas looked at him.
“What if it's a trap?”
“It probably is.”
“Then why go?”
“Because we set our own trap.”
They contacted the police.
Then Thomas went to the house.
Arthur and the officers surrounded the property.
Robert appeared.
He was older than Arthur remembered.
Calm.
Almost friendly.
“Thomas.”
Thomas stared.
“Robert.”
“You've become difficult to find.”
“You made sure of that.”
Robert smiled.
“You always were dramatic.”
Thomas stepped closer.
“Why did you kill Richard?”
Robert's smile disappeared.
“Your father was weak.”
“He was your brother-in-law.”
“He stood in my way.”
“And Margaret?”
“She understood.”
Thomas looked disgusted.
“She used me.”
“She used everyone.”
Robert sighed.
“You're all so sentimental.”
Arthur stepped from the shadows.
“You're under arrest.”
Robert turned.
Police surrounded him.
For the first time, fear crossed his face.
“You think this ends anything?”
Arthur answered,
“No.”
Robert smiled.
“Then you know about the second account.”
Arthur froze.
“What second account?”
Robert laughed.
“Ask your mother.”
He was taken away.
Arthur immediately called the detective.
“Question Margaret.”
They returned to the police station.
Margaret sat in the interrogation room.
Arthur entered.
She looked at him.
“You came.”
“Tell me about the second account.”
Margaret smiled.
“You found Robert.”
“Yes.”
“You think he was the mastermind.”
“He admitted it.”
Margaret shook her head.
“Robert was greedy.”
“And you?”
“I was protecting what belonged to me.”
“You stole millions.”
“I built that company.”
“My father built it.”
“He couldn't have done it without me.”
Arthur placed the documents on the table.
“Dad knew.”
Margaret stared at them.
“He was going to expose you.”
“He was going to destroy us.”
“No.”
Arthur's voice became quiet.
“He was going to protect us.”
Margaret looked away.
Arthur stood.
“Where is the second account?”
She said nothing.
“Mom.”
Silence.
Finally she whispered,
“Your father hid it.”
“Where?”
“Under the house.”
Arthur frowned.
“What?”
“The original family estate.”
Arthur stared.
“The mansion?”
Margaret nodded.
“There is something beneath it.”
“What?”
“A vault.”
Arthur's blood ran cold.
“What is inside?”
Margaret looked directly at him.
“Everything.”
That night, Arthur returned to the mansion.
The basement was sealed.
He found the hidden entrance beneath the wine cellar.
Inside was a steel vault.
The combination was his father's birthday.
The door opened.
Arthur stepped inside.
There were boxes.
Photographs.
Money.
Documents.
And one final recording.
Arthur pressed play.
Richard's voice returned.
“Arthur, if you're hearing this, then Margaret has already failed.”
He paused.
“There is one thing I need you to know.”
Arthur leaned closer.
“Your mother did not act alone.”
The recording stopped.
Arthur looked at Claire.
Then Thomas.
A second voice began.
It was Margaret.
“Richard, you should have listened to me.”
Arthur froze.
The recording continued.
May you like
And what he heard next changed everything.
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