Chapter 12 - The Last Recording
They moved to a secure apartment before sunset.
Claire refused to sleep.
The documents were spread across the table.
Every secret pointed toward another secret.
Every answer created another question.
At 2:00 AM, Margaret discovered something hidden inside the original will.
A second layer of paper.
A recording device.
Claire activated it.
Her grandfather's voice filled the room.
"Claire."
She closed her eyes.
"If you are hearing this, then Daniel has failed to keep you away from the truth."
Claire whispered, "Where are you?"
The recording continued.
"I am not dead."
Everyone stared at one another.
"I am hiding because the person who betrayed me is closer than you think."
The recording paused.
Then came the sentence Claire had feared.
"I was wrong about Patricia."
Patricia covered her mouth.
"I was wrong about Ray."
Ray was not there.
"And I was wrong about Daniel."
Claire stared at the device.
"Then who?"
Her grandfather continued.
"The person I trusted most."
A pause.
"The person who had access to every document."
Another pause.
"The person who could change the law without changing a single word."
Claire looked toward the five lawyers.
The recording continued.
"One of them is not working for me."
The device clicked.
Then her grandfather said:
"One of them is working for himself."
The recording ended.
Claire stared at the five lawyers.
Margaret whispered, "We need to separate."
Claire nodded.
One by one, the lawyers were moved into different rooms.
Claire questioned each.
Howard admitted he had hidden documents.
Another admitted he had altered a transfer date.
A third admitted he had helped create the false death certificate.
The fourth refused to speak.
Margaret remained silent.
Finally, Claire entered the last room.
The fourth lawyer sat alone.
His name was Steven Cole.
Claire placed a folder before him.
"Your signature appears on Daniel's death certificate."
Steven looked at it.
"I was ordered to sign."
"By whom?"
"I cannot tell you."
"Why?"
"Because I made a promise."
Claire leaned forward.
"To Ray?"
Steven shook his head.
"To your grandfather."
Claire froze.
"What did he promise you?"
Steven looked at the floor.
"That if I stayed silent, he would protect my daughter."
Claire sat back.
"From whom?"
Steven looked toward the door.
"From the sixth person."
Claire whispered.
"Who is the sixth person?"
Steven finally looked at her.
"You've already met him."
Claire's blood ran cold.
"Who?"
Steven opened his mouth.
The apartment lights went out.
A gunshot sounded somewhere outside.
Then another.
Nobody moved.
When the emergency lights came on, Steven was gone.
His chair was empty.
The window was open.
On the table was a single handwritten message.
You are looking at the wrong family.
Claire picked it up.
Beneath the sentence was a name.
One she had never heard before.
She looked at Margaret.
"Who is this?"
Margaret read the name.
Her face changed completely.
"That can't be."
Claire demanded, "Who?"
Margaret whispered.
"The original owner of Parker Holdings."
Claire stared.
"Grandfather?"
"No."
May you like
Margaret looked at the name again.
"His father."
