Chapter 7 - the guest who knew too much)
Adrian arrived at eleven the next morning.
He wore a pale gray suit despite the heat.
He smiled at Rosa.
He complimented the view.
He brought Isabella a box of chocolates.
Daniel watched every movement.
"Where is she?" Adrian asked.
"Upstairs."
"Still shy?"
Daniel smiled faintly.
"More observant than shy."
Adrian paused.
Only for a fraction of a second.
Then the smile returned.
Ethan waited in the library pretending to review restructuring papers.
Mara monitored audio from a room above the garage.
Jonah remained outside.
Isabella was with Rosa in a locked section of the house Daniel had converted overnight into a secure family space.
Adrian sat on the terrace.
"Beautiful day."
"Very."
"Where's Beatriz?"
Daniel poured coffee.
"Out."
"Shopping?"
"I didn't ask."
Adrian accepted the cup.
"You two having problems?"
Daniel studied him.
"Why would you ask?"
Adrian shrugged.
"You seem tense."
"I found something strange yesterday."
Adrian lifted his coffee.
"What?"
"A hidden camera."
The cup stopped halfway to his mouth.
Then continued.
"In the villa?"
"Yes."
"That's disturbing."
"Isn't it?"
"Police?"
"Not yet."
Adrian lowered the cup.
"Why not?"
"I thought I'd find out who installed it first."
"Smart."
Daniel leaned back.
"You've been here when I was away."
Adrian smiled.
"Business."
"With Beatriz."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"She asked questions about your schedule."
"Why?"
Adrian's expression changed slightly.
"I assumed she wanted to surprise you."
Daniel almost admired the lie.
"She surprised me."
A breeze moved across the terrace.
Adrian looked toward the lawn.
"Daniel, if this is about your relationship, I would rather not get involved."
"It's about money."
Adrian returned his gaze.
"Everything eventually is."
Daniel slid a document across the table.
A printout of the BMR registration.
Adrian looked down.
He did not touch it.
"Recognize it?"
"Yes."
Daniel waited.
Adrian sighed.
"I helped Beatriz establish a consulting company."
"For what?"
"Property investments."
"She doesn't invest in property."
"She wanted to."
"Why are you company secretary?"
"Administrative convenience."
Daniel slid another page.
The payment.
Adrian read it.
"You paid her two hundred fifty thousand euros."
"A consulting fee."
"For what?"
"Introductions."
"To whom?"
"Daniel."
"Names."
Adrian's eyes hardened.
"This interrogation is unnecessary."
Daniel leaned forward.
"My eight year old daughter was found dragging garbage through my garden while Beatriz stood above her laughing."
Adrian did not react enough.
That was the reaction.
Daniel saw it.
"You knew."
"I knew she was strict."
"Strict?"
"Her word."
Daniel stood.
Adrian remained seated.
"You watched the recordings."
Adrian's expression changed.
Daniel knew he had hit something.
"Recordings?"
"The hidden camera."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Daniel stepped closer.
"The server belongs to a company with your name attached."
"No. It belongs to Beatriz's company."
"You're secretary."
"Nominally."
"You funded it."
"For legitimate work."
"You altered my security permissions."
"I did not."
"You inserted a clause into the Madrid restructuring."
Adrian stood.
"Your lawyers reviewed that agreement."
"Not that version."
Silence.
Daniel saw calculation behind Adrian's eyes.
Not panic.
Calculation.
Then Adrian smiled.
"I think we should postpone this conversation."
Daniel blocked the path toward the villa.
"Sit down."
Adrian's smile disappeared.
"Move."
"No."
They stood facing each other.
Then a child's voice came from the doorway.
"Uncle Adrian?"
Daniel turned.
Isabella stood inside the glass doors.
Rosa was behind her.
Daniel's heart stopped.
She had left the secure room.
Adrian's expression softened instantly.
"Isabella."
She did not smile.
"Do you remember me?"
"Of course."
Her eyes moved toward Daniel.
"He was here."
Daniel looked at her.
"When?"
"When you were in New York."
Adrian said quietly, "Daniel."
Isabella continued.
"He went downstairs with Beatriz."
Daniel stared at Adrian.
"Blue room?"
Isabella nodded.
Adrian stepped backward.
"I can explain."
"Good."
Daniel's voice was almost a whisper.
"Start."
Adrian looked at Isabella.
Then at Daniel.
"I installed the camera."
Daniel's hands curled.
Ethan appeared in the doorway.
Mara's audio continued recording.
"Why?"
Adrian adjusted his jacket.
"Because Beatriz was unstable."
Daniel blinked.
"What?"
"She came to me eight months ago asking questions about the trust."
"Why you?"
"Because she knew I helped design it."
"What did you tell her?"
"Nothing useful."
"Then why pay her?"
Adrian's expression tightened.
"Because I needed her cooperation."
"For what?"
"To document what she was doing."
Daniel stared at him.
"You expect me to believe you secretly paid the woman terrorizing my daughter so you could investigate her?"
"No."
Adrian looked toward Isabella.
"I expect you to believe there is something much larger happening."
Daniel's voice hardened.
"Then prove it."
Adrian slowly reached into his jacket.
Jonah appeared at the terrace entrance.
"Hands visible."
Adrian froze.
Then pulled out an envelope.
He placed it on the table.
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Claire.
Taken four years earlier.
She was leaving a building in Marbella.
Beside her stood a man Daniel did not recognize.
On the back, a date had been written.
Three days before Claire died.
Daniel looked at Adrian.
"Who is he?"
Adrian's face had lost its arrogance.
"That's why I came when you were away."
"Who is he?"
Adrian looked at Isabella.
Then at Ethan.
Then back to Daniel.
"The man Claire discovered had been stealing from Isabella's trust before she was even old enough to inherit it."
Daniel stared.
"That's impossible."
"The trust didn't exist yet."
Adrian nodded.
"Exactly."
Daniel felt the meaning slowly open beneath him.
Claire's inheritance had been targeted before she created the trust.
Which meant the plan had begun before Isabella's assets were legally separated.
"Name."
Adrian looked toward the villa entrance.
A car engine sounded outside the gate.
His face changed.
"Did you invite anyone?"
Daniel shook his head.
Adrian stepped away from the terrace.
"We need to get Isabella inside."
Daniel's pulse accelerated.
"Why?"
May you like
Adrian stared toward the gate.
"Because if that's who I think it is, Beatriz was never the most dangerous person in this house."
