Chapter 3 - The Second Will
By midnight, the Parker mansion had become a fortress.
Security lights illuminated every window.
The five lawyers remained in the dining room.
Nobody was permitted to leave.
Claire stood at the table with her grandfather's photograph in front of her.
She had spent the previous hour questioning each lawyer separately.
Their stories matched.
That frightened her more than contradictions would have.
Twenty years ago, Daniel Parker had disappeared.
Official records stated that he had died in a boating accident.
There had been no body.
No funeral.
No grave.
Just a certificate.
Claire had always accepted the story because she had been twelve.
Now she wondered whether the entire story had been built around her.
Howard finally admitted that Daniel had challenged Ray's control of Parker Holdings.
Daniel had discovered irregularities in the company's finances.
He had accused Ray of stealing from the family trust.
Three days later, Daniel disappeared.
Claire looked at Ray.
"Did you kill him?"
Ray's face remained expressionless.
"No."
"Did you order someone to?"
"No."
"Did you know he was alive?"
Ray hesitated.
Claire saw the answer.
"You knew."
Ray looked down.
"I suspected."
Patricia suddenly said, "Ray."
He ignored her.
Claire's voice hardened.
"How long?"
"Eleven years."
Claire stared at him.
"Eleven years?"
Ray nodded.
"I received letters."
"From Daniel?"
"Yes."
"What did they say?"
Ray looked toward Patricia.
"That he would return."
Claire felt something cold settle in her chest.
"And you did nothing?"
Ray answered quietly.
"I thought he wanted revenge."
Claire laughed once.
"Maybe he did."
Howard placed another folder on the table.
"There is something else."
Claire looked at him.
Howard opened the folder.
"This was delivered to me yesterday."
Inside was a second legal document.
Claire recognized the handwriting immediately.
Her grandfather.
She picked it up.
"What is this?"
Howard swallowed.
"The second will."
Patricia stood abruptly.
"No."
Claire looked at her.
"The second will?"
Howard nodded.
"The first will transferred everything according to the terms your family already knows."
He placed another document beside it.
"The second will activates only if the first will is challenged."
Claire stared.
"What happens then?"
Howard looked toward the other lawyers.
"The Parker estate becomes subject to an independent investigation."
Claire read further.
"Who controls the investigation?"
Howard said nothing.
Claire looked at the signature.
Her eyes widened.
The investigator was Daniel Parker.
Patricia sat down.
Tyler whispered, "That's impossible."
Claire turned another page.
A handwritten note appeared.
If Daniel cannot appear, the fifth attorney will represent him.
Claire looked at Howard.
"Who is the fifth attorney?"
Howard slowly closed the folder.
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because if I tell you now, you will become a target."
Claire's expression hardened.
"I already am."
The mansion lights suddenly came back on.
At that exact moment, the front door opened.
A young woman stepped inside.
She wore a dark coat and carried a leather case.
Everyone stared.
She looked at Claire.
"Captain Parker?"
Claire nodded.
The woman held out a card.
"My name is Evelyn Cross."
Claire read the card.
Attorney.
Private Counsel.
Daniel Parker.
Claire looked up.
"You represent Daniel?"
Evelyn nodded.
"Yes."
Patricia whispered, "No."
Evelyn turned toward her.
"Mrs. Parker."
Patricia's face went pale.
Evelyn placed a small key on the table.
"Daniel asked me to give this to Claire if the second will was ever activated."
Claire picked it up.
"What does it open?"
Evelyn looked directly at Howard.
"Your grandfather's private vault."
Howard closed his eyes.
Ray stood.
"We're not opening it."
Claire turned toward him.
"You don't get to decide that anymore."
May you like
Evelyn smiled faintly.
"That's exactly what Daniel wanted her to say."
