Chapter 6 - The Proof Beneath the Water
Richard’s message led Emma back to the pool blueprints.
The final proof is beneath the water.
The next morning, she spread copies of the villa’s architectural plans across her office floor. Daniel contacted federal investigators through Evelyn, but they required verifiable evidence connecting Margaret to the hidden accounts.
The ledger showed suspicious transfers.
The flash drive showed Richard’s suspicions.
Neither proved where the money had gone.
Emma examined the pool’s construction budget.
The original estimate had been two million dollars. The final cost exceeded eleven million. Payments had been divided among dozens of subcontractors, many of which were connected to the shell companies listed in Richard’s ledger.
A notation beside the statue caught her attention.
Foundation chamber, waterproof, restricted access.
Emma enlarged the digital plan.
The maintenance compartment inside the statue’s base was larger than necessary for an emergency release. Behind it was a second sealed chamber accessible only after the pool was drained or through a narrow underwater panel.
She called Marcus.
“Did Richard store anything inside the pool statue?”
“I don’t know.”
“You were head of security during construction.”
“I managed the property, not the architectural plans.”
“Richard wrote that the final proof was beneath the water.”
Marcus went silent.
“Did he ever ask you to install a security device near the statue?”
“A waterproof camera.”
“When?”
“Two weeks before his death.”
Emma stood.
“Where did the footage go?”
“To a private server.”
“Does the server still exist?”
“Margaret ordered it removed after the accident.”
“Who removed it?”
“I did.”
Disappointment tightened Emma’s chest.
Then Marcus said, “Richard told me never to destroy security evidence. I stored the server offline.”
“Where?”
“Inside the villa.”
“Beneath the water?”
“No. But I believe Richard copied something onto a physical drive and placed it inside the statue.”
“Can we retrieve it?”
“The pool would need to be closed, and Margaret would immediately know.”
“Could you create a maintenance problem?”
“Not without leaving a record.”
Emma looked at the plans.
“What if no one drained the pool?”
“Mrs. Whitmore, you are five months pregnant.”
“And I know how to swim.”
“No.”
“Marcus.”
“Richard hired me to prevent dangerous plans, including plans suggested by members of his own family.”
“I don’t need to enter the pool. Daniel can.”
“Your husband has no underwater maintenance training.”
“We can hire a diver.”
“Any outside contractor would be screened by Margaret.”
Emma pressed a hand against her forehead.
“There has to be another way.”
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Margaret is hosting a foundation event at Bellweather next Saturday. The pool will be inspected the night before. I can arrange for a trusted safety diver to examine the statue during that inspection.”
“Can you access the drive without Margaret knowing?”
“I can try.”
“Trying may not be enough.”
“It is what we have.”
The following Friday, Emma waited in her office for Marcus’s call.
At 9:40 p.m., he sent one photograph.
A waterproof metal box rested on a workbench. Inside it was a small recording device and a memory card.
The message beneath the photograph contained four words.
Richard was telling the truth.
Marcus called three minutes later.
“The card contains video from the night before the accident,” he said.
“What is on it?”
“Margaret and Charles beside the pool. They believed the cameras were disabled.”
Emma activated the recorder on her phone.
“What did they say?”
“Charles wanted to stop. Margaret told him Richard would remove them from the company the next morning. She said the alteration to his car had already been completed.”
Emma closed her eyes.
“Does the video show her saying that clearly?”
“Yes.”
“Where is the card now?”
“With me.”
“Take it to Evelyn.”
“I cannot leave the property. Margaret arrived early.”
“Does she know you opened the statue?”
“I replaced everything exactly.”
A sound came through the phone.
A door opening.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“I have to go.”
The line ended.
Emma immediately called Daniel.
He was at a meeting in the city. She told him what Marcus had found.
“I’m coming home,” he said.
“Go to Evelyn’s office instead. The investigators need to know the evidence exists.”
“I’m not leaving you alone.”
“I’m in a secure office building.”
“Margaret knows where you work.”
“She also knows you react emotionally when I’m threatened.”
Silence.
Emma softened her voice.
“Don’t give her what she wants. Take the flash drive to Evelyn. I’ll leave through the parking garage and meet you there.”
“Call me when you’re in the car.”
“I will.”
Emma packed her laptop and locked the office.
When the elevator doors opened at the parking level, Margaret was waiting beside Emma’s car.
She wore the navy suit with the gold buttons.
“You’ve caused a great deal of trouble,” Margaret said.
Emma remained inside the elevator.
“Move away from my car.”
“We should speak privately.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“I have something to say about Daniel.”
Emma pressed the button to close the doors.
Margaret held up her phone.
On the screen was a live video of Daniel entering Evelyn’s office building.
“You followed him.”
“I follow everyone who becomes unpredictable.”
“What do you want?”
“The card Marcus removed from the pool.”
“I don’t have it.”
“I know.”
Margaret stepped closer.
“But Marcus will give it to you.”
“Why would he?”
“Because Richard trusted him. And because loyal men are remarkably easy to control once you identify the person they are protecting.”
Emma understood.
“Who are you threatening?”
Margaret smiled.
“Come to the villa tomorrow at three. Alone.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Marcus has a daughter at Stanford. Daniel has a wife carrying his child. Evelyn has grandchildren.”
The elevator alarm began to sound because the doors had been blocked too long.
Margaret stepped aside.
“Three o’clock,” she repeated.
The doors closed.
May you like
Emma immediately called Daniel.
She told him everything except the final demand.
