Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN ON THE RECORDS
The hospital room smelled of antiseptic and fresh linen.
Emily slept beneath a thin blanket while a nurse checked her pulse. Doctors had found dehydration, malnutrition, and injuries caused by prolonged confinement. They told Richard that she would need careful treatment and time. He listened to every instruction, asking questions until the physician assured him that she was stable.
Sophia sat near the window, still wearing her housemaid uniform. She had refused to go home.
“You should rest,” Richard told her.
“I can wait.”
“You found her. You did more than anyone else in this house.”
Sophia lowered her eyes. “I heard her knocking three nights ago. I thought it was the pipes. Tonight I heard it again, and I couldn't ignore it.”
Richard looked toward Emily.
“Thank you for not ignoring it.”
His phone vibrated. His attorney, Martin Hale, was calling.
“Mr. Vale is here,” Martin said. “He brought copies of the documents Vanessa submitted.”
“Who is Mr. Vale?”
“Your chief financial officer.”
Richard frowned. “I thought he was in London.”
“He returned yesterday. He says he has been trying to reach you for two weeks.”
Richard walked into the corridor.
Martin handed him a folder when he arrived. Inside were copies of board resolutions, banking instructions, property transfers, and a power of attorney bearing Richard's electronic signature.
The documents appeared legitimate at first glance.
Then Richard noticed the dates.
Several had been signed while he was overseas. Others carried approval codes from his private office, although he had never seen them. One document transferred control of the family foundation to a company registered in Nevada.
“Who submitted these?” Richard asked.
“Vanessa,” Martin replied. “She claimed you had authorized her to act on your behalf while you handled a confidential acquisition.”
“I never gave her power of attorney.”
“We suspected that. But the electronic approvals came through your account.”
Richard stared at the signature.
“Someone had access.”
Martin nodded. “Your credentials were copied. We need a forensic audit.”
A nurse approached. “Mr. Richard? Your wife is awake.”
He returned to the room. Emily looked frightened when she saw the folder in his hand.
“Did you find them?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“She kept a red notebook. She wrote down every transfer. She said if anything happened, the notebook would prove what she'd done.”
“Where is it?”
Emily swallowed. “In the library. Behind the portrait of your father.”
Richard glanced at Martin.
“Have the police retrieve it. Don't let anyone search the house alone.”
Emily reached for his hand.
“There's a name in that notebook. A woman named Claire. Vanessa said Claire was the one who handled the signatures.”
Richard's face tightened.
“Claire Donovan?”
Emily nodded.
Claire had been his executive assistant for eleven years. She knew his calendar, his travel arrangements, and the way he signed his name.
May you like
Richard looked at Martin.
“Find her.”
