Chapter 4 - The Story They Told About Emily
The rumors began before Emily even left the meeting.
By Monday morning, two business magazines had published articles suggesting Samuel had been manipulated during the final months of his life.
By Tuesday, an anonymous source claimed Emily had pressured him into changing his estate plan.
By Wednesday, the story became more personal.
She had supposedly abandoned him after her divorce.
She had supposedly refused to help with the company.
She had supposedly returned only when she learned about the inheritance.
Emily watched the accusations spread.
Then she received a message from Adrian.
You should stop before this gets worse.
She replied:
Stop what?
His answer came immediately.
Looking for answers you won't like.
That evening, Callahan called.
“Do not respond to the press.”
“I wasn't planning to.”
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“Someone accessed your father's private server.”
Emily sat upright.
“When?”
“Last night.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
“Could it be Adrian?”
“I don't know.”
Emily closed her eyes.
Then she remembered the photograph.
Thomas Reed.
The warehouse.
The date.
She searched her father's old files.
The photograph had been taken seven years earlier.
The same year Emily had started college.
The same year Adrian had joined Whitlock Holdings.
She found another document.
A purchase agreement.
The warehouse had been bought under the name of a company Emily had never heard of.
But the registered director was Adrian Whitlock.
Emily's stomach tightened.
She called Callahan.
“I found something.”
“What?”
“Adrian owned the warehouse where Thomas Reed was photographed.”
Silence.
Then Callahan said:
“Do not go there.”
Emily looked toward the window.
“Why?”
“Because your father did.”
“What happened?”
“He found something.”
“What?”
Callahan's voice dropped.
“And after he found it, someone tried to kill him.”
Emily froze.
“What?”
“I never told you because Samuel made me promise.”
“Who tried?”
Callahan didn't answer.
Instead he said:
“Tomorrow morning, I want you to meet me somewhere private.”
May you like
“Where?”
“The old Whitlock warehouse.”
