Chapter 11 - The Second USB)
They returned to the security office.
Emily was brought downstairs through employee corridors.
When Noah saw her, he ran.
“Mommy.”
Emily dropped to her knees and held him.
Daniel watched them.
That alone made exposing Rebecca worth everything.
But the wedding was no longer the biggest problem.
Rebecca was missing inside or near the hotel.
Richard remained unaccounted for.
And the second USB contained Catherine’s name.
Emily looked at Daniel.
“She took the first one?”
“Yes.”
“I thought she might.”
“You made two?”
“Three.”
Daniel stared.
Emily almost smiled.
“You raised me.”
“Where’s the third?”
“If I tell you, then there’s no point having a third.”
For the first time that day, Daniel laughed.
It lasted only a second.
Then he inserted the second USB into an isolated laptop.
The CATHERINE folder contained seventeen files.
Most were scans.
Bank records.
Photographs.
Notes.
One video.
Daniel opened it.
Catherine appeared on screen.
She was sitting in Daniel’s home office.
The timestamp was four years and three months earlier.
Three months before her death.
Daniel felt Emily move beside him.
Catherine looked healthy.
Alive.
Her dark hair was pulled back.
She adjusted the camera.
Then she spoke.
“If Daniel is watching this, something has already gone wrong.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Hearing her voice after four years hurt more than he expected.
Catherine continued.
“I’m making this because I discovered irregularities involving Arden Development.”
She held up several pages.
“Someone has been buying small debt positions connected to our redevelopment projects through shell companies.”
Daniel looked at Michael.
“Bellweather.”
Michael nodded.
Catherine continued.
“Individually, the positions mean nothing. Together, they could become leverage during a board transition.”
She looked down.
“I asked Richard for help because he understands the kind of people who structure deals like this.”
Daniel almost smiled at the insult.
Catherine went on.
“Richard believes someone wants Daniel’s voting control temporarily.”
Emily whispered, “Exactly what they tried today.”
Daniel nodded.
Catherine looked into the camera.
“I don’t know why.”
A pause.
“But I know one thing.”
She held up a document.
“Someone inside the family legal structure has been providing them information.”
Michael looked away.
Daniel noticed.
Catherine continued.
“I do not believe it is Samuel.”
The video jumped.
Catherine appeared again, now wearing the dark green coat from the photograph.
“I met a representative connected to Bellweather today.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“She offered me money.”
Catherine laughed.
“A lot of money.”
Then her expression became serious.
“She also knew something she should not know.”
The video suddenly distorted.
Audio crackled.
Daniel adjusted the volume.
Catherine said, “She knew the Bluebird clause.”
Daniel froze.
Thomas whispered, “The cabin.”
Catherine nodded on screen as though answering.
“The protective clause Daniel and I created after Emily was born.”
Daniel whispered, “That clause doesn’t exist.”
Emily looked at him.
“What?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I’ve never heard of it.”
Catherine continued.
“If Daniel genuinely doesn’t remember the Bluebird clause, then somebody altered documents he signed.”
Daniel felt cold.
Catherine stared into the camera.
“I need to speak to Samuel tomorrow.”
The recording ended.
Emily immediately opened the next file.
It was a scanned estate amendment.
At the top:
BLUEBIRD PROVISION.
Daniel read.
In the event that controlling interests of the Arden Family Trust became subject to coercion, fraud, incapacity, or unauthorized transfer, voting authority would automatically shift.
Not to Rebecca.
Not to Daniel.
Not even to Emily.
It would move to an independent protective trustee.
Daniel scanned downward.
The trustee’s identity had been redacted.
Emily said, “Who is it?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Michael stared at the page.
“That’s why.”
Everyone looked at him.
“Why what?” Daniel asked.
Michael pointed.
“That’s why Rebecca needed seventy-two hours.”
He stood.
“The people behind Bellweather don’t want your money.”
“We established that.”
“They want to trigger this clause.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why would they intentionally trigger something that removes my control?”
Michael’s face became pale.
“Because maybe the protective trustee is the person they’re actually trying to reach.”
Silence filled the room.
Emily looked at the document.
“So all of this is about finding whoever Mom named?”
Michael nodded.
“Or forcing them to appear.”
Daniel’s phone vibrated.
A text from an unknown number.
He opened it.
A photograph.
Samuel Price sat in a chair.
A newspaper rested on his lap.
He looked frightened but alive.
Beneath the picture was one sentence.
BRING CATHERINE’S FILE TO THE PARKING GARAGE OR SAMUEL DIES.
Emily grabbed Daniel’s arm.
“No.”
Daniel stared at the message.
A second text appeared.
COME ALONE.
Then a third.
AND DANIEL, ASK YOUR DAUGHTER WHY SHE HASN’T TOLD YOU WHAT SHE FOUND IN REBECCA’S HOUSE.
May you like
Daniel slowly looked toward Emily.
Her face had changed.
