Chapter 6 - Caleb’s Second Life
The phone contained more than business records.
It held messages between Caleb and Martin Vale, the company’s chief financial officer. Together, they had created false invoices and transferred money through shell companies.
One message mentioned Lillian directly.
Once she signs the final papers, make the accounts point to her.
Another message from Caleb read:
If she refuses, I will make sure she cannot speak to anyone.
There were also photographs of a storage facility near the river and a code for unit 314.
Detective Bell obtained a warrant without alerting Caleb. Inside the storage unit, police found original contracts, computer drives, and boxes of financial records. They also discovered jewelry and paintings reported missing from Hart company offices.
The investigation was now larger than Lillian’s marriage.
Caleb was facing serious charges.
But the police needed one final connection proving that he personally controlled the hidden materials. They arranged surveillance around the storage facility and waited.
Caleb never appeared.
Instead, Martin Vale arrived carrying two cans of fuel.
Officers stopped him before he could destroy anything.
During questioning, Martin immediately blamed Caleb.
He agreed to cooperate in exchange for consideration from prosecutors.
By then, Caleb sensed that something was wrong. He dismissed staff members, canceled meetings, and rarely left Lillian alone.
Evelyn followed her from room to room.
At dinner one evening, Caleb placed a stack of papers beside Lillian’s plate.
“Sign them.”
“What are they?”
“A routine transfer.”
“I need time to read them.”
His smile vanished.
“You have until breakfast on Friday.”
After dinner, he cornered her in the hallway.
“You think you are clever,” he whispered. “But everything you have belongs to me.”
Lillian looked directly at him.
“No, Caleb. It doesn’t.”
His face changed.
For a second, she saw that he understood.
She knew too much.
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That night, Lillian sent Detective Bell a message containing only four words.
Friday breakfast. Be ready.
