Chapter 7 - the name above victoria
For two days, investigators searched Claire's files for the identity of the person above Victoria.
They found initials.
T.L.
R.C.
V.L.
And one repeated mark.
A single letter.
H.
Arthur assumed it meant Hamilton Asset Strategies.
Naomi disagreed.
"Claire wrote company names in full everywhere else."
They sat in the mansion library surrounded by copied documents.
Lily was upstairs with a child therapist recommended by Dr. Park.
Arthur could hear faint laughter from the hallway.
It was the first time he had heard Lily laugh since coming home.
He wanted to stop everything and listen.
Instead, Naomi slid an old board roster across the table.
"Look."
Bennett Global board of directors, seven years earlier.
One name was circled in Claire's notes.
Harold Bennett.
Arthur's uncle.
His father's younger brother.
Arthur stared.
Harold was seventy one now.
Semi retired.
A respected philanthropist.
He had served on Bennett Global's board for three decades.
Arthur had known him all his life.
"Impossible."
Naomi did not respond.
Arthur looked again.
Harold had supported him after Claire's death.
Harold had encouraged him to remarry.
Harold had introduced him to Victoria at a charity dinner.
Arthur went cold.
"He introduced us."
Naomi slowly nodded.
Arthur stood.
"No."
He walked away from the table.
He remembered the dinner.
Harold saying Victoria was brilliant.
Harold telling Arthur he had been alone too long.
Harold telling Lily that she deserved a woman in the house.
Arthur stopped.
"Pull every transaction involving Harold."
Naomi hesitated.
"Arthur."
"Do it."
The results arrived the next morning.
Nothing obvious.
Harold was careful.
But a trust controlled by Harold's longtime accountant had invested in Northstar Meridian Holdings nine years earlier.
Two million dollars.
The same year Claire began noticing money disappearing.
Arthur called Daniel.
"What happens if Lily's shares transfer to Northstar and I'm removed?"
Daniel answered slowly.
"Northstar plus Harold's holdings would control thirty nine percent."
"Enough?"
"With two smaller board members, yes."
Arthur closed his eyes.
Harold did not merely want money.
He wanted Bennett Global.
Arthur had inherited control after his father died.
Harold had always publicly supported the decision.
Perhaps he had never accepted it.
Arthur did not confront him.
Instead he invited Harold to dinner.
Harold arrived at seven.
He walked into the same foyer where Lily had been scrubbing the floor days earlier.
The wine stain was gone.
The broken crystal had been removed.
But Arthur still saw it.
Harold embraced him.
"I heard about Victoria. Terrible business."
Arthur forced a smile.
"Come in."
Harold looked around.
"Where's Lily?"
"Upstairs."
"Poor child."
Arthur watched his uncle's face.
Nothing.
No guilt.
No fear.
At dinner, Arthur spoke casually about the audit.
Harold cut his steak.
"Routine?"
"Probably."
"Probably?"
Arthur shrugged.
"We found some irregular foundation transfers."
Harold's fork paused.
Only for a fraction of a second.
Arthur saw it.
"Old transfers?"
"Some."
"Claire used to manage much of that."
Arthur stared.
"Interesting you mention Claire."
Harold smiled.
"Why?"
"Her name appeared in some archived records."
Harold drank water.
"She was meticulous."
"She was."
Arthur leaned back.
"She also kept videos."
The fork stopped again.
This time Harold looked directly at him.
"What kind of videos?"
Arthur smiled.
"Family things."
Harold relaxed.
"Ah."
Arthur had his answer.
Not proof.
But enough.
After dinner, Harold stood in the foyer.
He looked toward the side table.
The wooden lockbox was gone.
Arthur had moved it to a secure evidence room.
Harold's eyes lingered on the empty space.
"You rearranging?"
"Cleaning."
Harold nodded.
Then he said something Arthur would remember for years.
"Sometimes, Arthur, old things are better left buried."
Arthur opened the front door.
"Goodnight, Uncle Harold."
Harold smiled.
"Goodnight."
Marcus appeared after the car left.
"Was that enough?"
Arthur looked through the glass.
"No."
He took out his phone.
"But he gave us a direction."
A message had arrived from Detective Mitchell.
May you like
Russell Crane had asked for a deal.
And he was finally willing to name the person who had ordered the forged trust transfer.
