Chapter 9 - What Victoria Wanted)
At 8:00 the next morning, Detective Cole was standing beside Nora’s window reading the messages.
“You’re certain this number is different?”
“Yes.”
“Both disconnected afterward?”
“Yes.”
Cole photographed the screen.
“Someone wants to guide you.”
“Thomas.”
“Maybe.”
“Who else knows about the packages?”
“Apparently more people than Benjamin thought.”
Nora looked at the lake visible only in her memory.
“What did Victoria want from Grandpa?”
“Money seems obvious.”
“No.”
Nora shook her head.
“Victoria has money.”
“How much?”
“Maybe twenty million.”
Cole raised an eyebrow.
“People with twenty million still steal.”
“I know. But this feels different.”
Nora remembered Victoria’s obsession with the house.
Not Samuel’s stock.
Not his Manhattan property.
Not his investments.
The lake house.
Why?
She called Evelyn Shaw.
The trustee arrived before noon.
Nora asked one question.
“What was under the lake house?”
Evelyn stared at her.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because Victoria doesn’t want the building.”
Nora leaned forward.
“She wants something inside it.”
Evelyn sat.
“Samuel had a basement archive.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Evelyn’s voice lowered.
“You know about the wine cellar.”
Nora felt cold.
“There’s another basement?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I never saw it.”
“But you knew?”
“Samuel mentioned a records room.”
“What records?”
“He refused to say.”
Cole looked interested.
“Could Victoria know?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“She visited Samuel frequently before his death.”
Nora almost laughed.
Victoria had always claimed Samuel disliked her.
Apparently that had not stopped her from visiting.
“How frequently?”
“Twice a month.”
Nora stared.
“I didn’t know that.”
“He asked me not to tell you.”
“Why?”
“He said he was negotiating.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know.”
Package Two arrived at 2:41 p.m.
Not electronically.
A courier delivered a metal case to Detective Cole.
Inside were three hard drives and a handwritten note.
Cole read it.
His face hardened.
“What?”
He handed it to Nora.
Samuel’s handwriting.
Aaron, if you are reading this, Victoria has done what I expected. Do not assume Julian understands the full history. Follow the Mercer accounts. Find Thomas before she does.
Nora read it twice.
“Grandpa knew you?”
Cole nodded slowly.
“I met him once.”
“You never told me.”
“It was fifteen years ago.”
“Why?”
“He reported suspected embezzlement but refused to identify the suspect.”
“Victoria.”
“Apparently.”
Cole connected the first drive.
Folders appeared.
Photographs.
Contracts.
Audio recordings.
One folder carried Victoria’s initials.
Inside was a recording dated six years earlier.
Samuel’s voice.
You will return every dollar.
Victoria answered.
You cannot prove anything.
I don’t need to.
Then Samuel said something that made Nora’s skin prickle.
You’re not stealing for yourself, Victoria.
Silence.
Samuel continued.
You’re paying someone.
Victoria whispered:
Stay away from him.
The recording ended.
Cole looked at Nora.
“Who is him?”
Nora had no answer.
The second drive contained photographs.
Victoria meeting a man in parking garages.
Restaurants.
A marina.
Always the same man.
Tall.
Silver-haired.
Nora did not recognize him.
Until Benjamin Cross entered the room.
He saw the photograph.
And dropped his briefcase.
“My God.”
Nora looked at him.
“You know him?”
Benjamin stared at the man beside Victoria.
“That’s Charles Caldwell.”
“Who?”
Benjamin swallowed.
“Victoria’s husband.”
Nora frowned.
“Victoria’s husband died thirty-seven years ago.”
May you like
Benjamin looked at her.
“That’s what she told everyone.”
