Chapter 21 - The Second Man
Arthur turned the photograph over.
A second man appeared in another image.
Margaret didn't recognize him.
Claire did.
“That's Victor Hale.”
Arthur frowned.
“Who is he?”
“The attorney who manages the Hayes trust.”
Margaret remembered him.
Victor had represented Ryan during the property dispute.
Claire continued.
“He has been connected to the network for thirty years.”
Arthur looked at the photograph.
“Why would Ryan work with him?”
Margaret answered before Claire could.
“To get the house.”
Claire shook her head.
“Not just the house.”
She opened another file.
“Your entire estate.”
Margaret stared.
The trust contained more than the mansion.
Stocks.
Land.
Companies.
Private accounts.
Millions.
Arthur whispered:
“Ryan knew.”
Claire nodded.
“Linda knew too.”
Margaret sat down.
“They weren't trying to make me homeless.”
“No.”
“They were trying to make me legally disappear.”
Claire closed the file.
“That was the plan.”
Margaret looked up.
“And now?”
Claire's expression changed.
“Now they're improvising.”
A phone rang upstairs.
Everyone froze.
Margaret recognized the ringtone.
Her private landline.
The one nobody outside the family knew existed.
May you like
Claire whispered:
“They know we're here.”
