Chapter 8 - The Transfer
At 7:58 AM, the Parker Holdings boardroom was full.
Ray stood at the head of the table.
Patricia sat beside him.
Tyler occupied the opposite side.
The five estate lawyers sat behind them.
A large screen displayed a transfer agreement.
Claire entered at exactly 8:00.
Everyone turned.
Ray frowned.
"You came."
Claire smiled.
"You expected me not to?"
Patricia stood.
"Claire, we need to talk privately."
"No."
Claire walked to the table.
"Everyone can hear this."
Ray's jaw tightened.
The chairman of Parker Holdings cleared his throat.
"We are here to finalize the transfer."
Claire looked at the document.
"To whom?"
Ray answered.
"The Parker family trust."
Claire shook her head.
"That isn't what the document says."
Everyone went silent.
She pointed to the final page.
"It says ownership will be transferred to a private foundation."
Tyler stood.
"That's a technicality."
"No."
Claire looked at him.
"It's fraud."
One lawyer immediately closed his folder.
"Captain Parker, be careful."
Claire smiled.
"I have been careful."
She placed a flash drive on the table.
"Now you should be careful."
Ray stared at it.
"What is that?"
"Everything your lawyers thought they erased."
Patricia whispered, "Claire."
Claire looked at her.
"Eleven years."
She placed another file on the table.
"Eleven years of lies."
Then another.
"Eleven years of missing money."
Another.
"Eleven years of pretending Daniel was dead."
The room erupted.
Tyler shouted, "Stop!"
Claire turned toward him.
"Why?"
Tyler froze.
Claire stepped closer.
"Are you afraid someone will hear the truth?"
Ray slammed his hand onto the table.
"You have no idea what you're doing."
Claire looked at him calmly.
"Actually, I do."
She turned toward the five lawyers.
"One of you already confessed."
All five stared at one another.
Patricia whispered, "Who?"
Claire smiled.
"You'll find out."
She walked toward the door.
Ray followed.
"Claire."
She stopped.
"You think you've won?"
Claire looked back.
"No."
She smiled.
"I think I've finally started."
Then every screen in the boardroom went black.
A live video appeared.
Daniel Parker.
He was sitting in a dark room.
Ray froze.
Daniel looked into the camera.
"Good morning, brother."
Ray's face went white.
Tyler whispered, "Dad..."
Daniel continued.
"You have eight minutes before the first file becomes public."
Patricia began crying.
Claire watched her.
Daniel looked toward the camera.
"And Claire."
Claire's expression changed.
"Yes?"
Daniel said quietly.
"Do not trust your mother."
The transmission ended.
Claire turned toward Patricia.
Patricia shook her head.
"You have to believe me."
Claire's voice was cold.
"Then tell me what happened that night."
Patricia closed her eyes.
"The night Daniel disappeared?"
Claire nodded.
May you like
Patricia whispered.
"I was in the car."
