Chapter 2 - The Man in the Photograph
Attorney Callahan arrived before sunrise.
He entered through the back door carrying a leather briefcase.
Emily had never seen him look nervous before.
Now he kept checking the windows.
“What is going on?”
Callahan placed the photograph on the kitchen table.
“Where did you find this?”
“In Dad’s study.”
“Did anyone see you take it?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Emily stared at him.
“Who is the man?”
Callahan sat down.
“His name was Thomas Reed.”
“Was?”
“He died six years ago.”
“What did he do?”
Callahan hesitated.
“He worked for your father.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“No. It doesn't.”
Callahan opened his briefcase.
Inside were several documents.
Bank transfers.
Company reports.
Contracts.
Emily recognized her father's signature.
But she also noticed something else.
Several payments had been authorized by a second signature.
Adrian’s.
Emily looked up.
“Why was my brother moving money?”
“I don't know.”
“You're my father's attorney.”
“I said I don't know.”
Callahan slid another document across the table.
“This is why your father hired me privately.”
Emily read it.
A holding company had been created years earlier.
The beneficiary was Emily.
She stared at the name.
“Why would Dad put this in my name?”
Callahan leaned forward.
“Because your father believed someone was preparing to take control of Whitlock Holdings.”
“Who?”
“I never got a complete answer.”
“Did he suspect Adrian?”
Callahan looked away.
“That is not a question I can answer.”
Emily stood.
“You're protecting him.”
“No.”
“Then you're protecting someone.”
Callahan said nothing.
Emily picked up the photograph.
“What happened to Thomas Reed?”
Callahan's face changed.
“He disappeared before he could testify.”
“Testify about what?”
The attorney closed the briefcase.
“That is exactly what your father wanted you to discover.”
Before Emily could respond, her phone rang.
It was Eleanor.
Emily answered.
“Hello?”
“You've been talking to Callahan.”
Emily froze.
“How do you know?”
Eleanor's voice became colder.
“Because your father made one mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“He trusted you.”
The call ended.
Emily slowly lowered the phone.
Callahan looked at her.
“She knows.”
May you like
“Knows what?”
“That Samuel left something for you.”
