Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN IN THE SERVICE CORRIDOR
Rose was driven to her small apartment shortly after sunrise.
The building stood above a laundromat on a quiet street. It was not elegant, but it was clean, and the rent was low enough for her to send money to her younger brother, Peter, who lived with their aunt while recovering from a serious illness.
She had barely unlocked her door when her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She let it ring twice before answering.
“Hello?”
A man's voice spoke softly.
“You should forget what you saw last night.”
Rose's fingers tightened around the phone.
“Who is this?”
“Someone trying to help you.”
“I don't need your help.”
“You need to understand that rich people have private problems. You don't want to become part of them.”
“Are you threatening me?”
The caller laughed once.
“I'm giving you advice.”
The line went dead.
Rose stood in the doorway, listening to the silence.
Then she noticed the envelope on the floor.
It had been pushed beneath her door. Inside was a photograph of Peter leaving the rehabilitation clinic. On the back, someone had written:
YOU HAVE A LOT TO LOSE.
Rose's stomach turned.
She called Nathaniel.
He answered immediately.
“What happened?”
She told him.
His voice changed. “Don't touch the envelope again. Photograph it, then leave it where it is. Daniel is sending someone.”
“I don't want guards following my brother.”
“They won't approach him unless there's a direct threat. But we need to know who took that photograph.”
Rose sat down.
“Mr. Callaway, I only caught your mother's dress. I didn't do anything extraordinary.”
“You saved her life.”
“And now my brother is being watched.”
Nathaniel was quiet.
“I won't pretend I can make this harmless. But I can make sure you aren't facing it alone.”
An hour later, Daniel arrived with a female security officer named Priya. She collected the envelope and arranged discreet protection for Peter.
Rose disliked the arrangement, but she accepted it.
At the hospital, Nathaniel and Daniel searched the old library desk. The false bottom opened with a small brass lever hidden beneath the drawer.
Inside lay a thick file, several old photographs, and a flash drive.
The file contained copies of payments made to shell companies over four years. Marcus Bell had approved the transfers. Several were linked to companies controlled by Victoria's father, Richard Shaw.
The final document was a letter from Nathaniel's father.
If this reaches you, I have failed to resolve the matter myself. Marcus has been moving money through consulting contracts. Richard Shaw is providing cover. They appear to be preparing a plan to gain control of the voting trust. Eleanor must not be pressured into signing anything.
Nathaniel read it twice.
“Father knew.”
Daniel nodded. “And he kept collecting evidence.”
The flash drive contained scanned emails. One message, sent six weeks earlier, was from Victoria to Marcus.
The wedding gives us access. Eleanor will sign when she understands that Nathaniel's future depends on it. If she refuses, we use the second option.
Nathaniel stared at the screen.
“What is the second option?”
Daniel opened the next email.
Make the refusal look like confusion. The old woman is already fragile. Nobody will question a medical explanation.
Nathaniel's face went cold.
“They planned to discredit her.”
“Possibly,” Daniel said. “We need the original messages authenticated.”
Nathaniel closed the laptop.
“Then get them authenticated.”
His phone rang again.
This time, it was Victoria.
“I want to come home,” she said.
Nathaniel looked at the file.
“You can come to the house.”
May you like
“Good. We need to settle this.”
“Yes,” he replied. “We do.”
