Chapter 14 - The Woman Who Wanted Richard Alive)
Emily Trent found Caroline first.
A message appeared from an unknown number the following morning.
Your father has forty-eight hours.
Caroline replied.
For what?
No response.
Then another message arrived.
Rebecca is leaving the country.
Caroline immediately called Evan.
Within an hour they confirmed a private aircraft reservation connected to Rebecca’s husband.
Destination: Nassau.
Departure: 4:20 p.m.
Naomi contacted investigators.
Rebecca was intercepted before boarding.
She was not arrested.
There was not yet enough evidence for criminal charges.
But federal financial investigators wanted to question her regarding suspicious transfers.
She retained counsel and refused.
Richard was furious.
“Let her run.”
Caroline stared at him.
“What?”
“If she wants to leave, let her.”
“Why?”
“Because she’ll make mistakes.”
“You think she hasn’t made enough?”
“No. I think frightened people contact the person they’re frightened of.”
Caroline looked at her father differently.
For all his recklessness, Richard had survived four decades in business.
He understood predators.
Rebecca was eventually released after surrendering her passport voluntarily through counsel pending further review.
She returned to her house.
Surveillance followed.
At 11:43 p.m., she made a call.
Investigators could not hear the conversation.
But they identified the number.
Donald Reeves.
The missing attorney was alive.
His phone pinged near Lake Norman.
Then vanished.
The next morning Emily Trent contacted Caroline again.
Meet alone.
An address followed.
Caroline showed Naomi.
“No.”
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“She knows what happened to her father.”
“Then law enforcement can meet her.”
“She won’t show.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know she asked for me.”
Naomi stared.
“You inherited the part of Richard that makes me bill extra.”
Caroline almost smiled.
She agreed to wear a discreet emergency tracker and have security nearby.
The meeting location was an abandoned church being renovated north of Charlotte.
Emily stood inside near the old altar.
She looked exactly like the photograph.
Twenty-seven.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
Tired rather than threatening.
Caroline remained ten feet away.
“You were at the restaurant.”
“Yes.”
“You called Madison?”
“No.”
“Who did?”
“I don’t know.”
“You sent the letter?”
“No.”
Caroline’s stomach tightened.
“Then who is C?”
Emily gave her a strange look.
“You really don’t know?”
“No.”
Emily laughed softly.
“Your family has more secrets than mine.”
“Tell me about Samuel.”
Emily’s expression hardened.
“My father discovered illegal waste under South Crown.”
“We found photographs.”
“He made copies.”
“Where?”
“He gave them to someone.”
“Who?”
“My mother never knew.”
“What happened the night he died?”
Emily looked away.
“He called Mom. Said he was coming home. Said he had proof.”
“And?”
“He never came.”
“Accident?”
“That’s what they called it.”
“Do you believe Vale killed him?”
“I believe Marcus Vale arranged something.”
“What about my father?”
Emily looked at Caroline.
“I spent half my life believing Richard Hayes killed my father.”
Caroline swallowed.
“And now?”
“Now I think he was supposed to take the blame.”
“Why?”
“Because your father signed everything.”
Caroline almost laughed at the bitter symmetry.
“That does sound like him.”
“Vale understood Richard. So did Elaine. So did Rebecca.”
“What did they understand?”
“That if you flatter a man enough, he’ll stop reading.”
Caroline looked down.
Emily continued.
“They used Hayes Development as a financial engine. Richard wanted bigger projects. Rebecca brought opportunities. Elaine moved documents. Reeves cleaned structures. Vale controlled land and political contacts.”
“How long?”
“Twenty years.”
“Why didn’t you expose it?”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“My internship.”
Caroline stared.
“You interned there intentionally.”
“Yes.”
“Elaine hired you.”
“She didn’t recognize me at first.”
“What did you find?”
“Archived payments. Land transfers. Insurance records.”
“Did you take them?”
“Some.”
“Where are they?”
Emily said nothing.
Caroline stepped closer.
“Emily.”
“That depends on what you do next.”
“Meaning?”
“Your father cannot remain in control.”
“I agree.”
“That isn’t enough.”
“What do you want?”
“I want the truth public.”
“That could destroy Hayes Development.”
“It should.”
“Thousands of people had nothing to do with this.”
Emily’s face hardened.
“My father had nothing to do with it either.”
Caroline let the sentence sit.
Then asked, “Why warn me Richard is being framed?”
Emily’s eyes filled, but she did not cry.
“Because I spent twenty-one years wanting the wrong man punished.”
Caroline waited.
Emily continued.
“My father left a voicemail the night he died.”
“What did he say?”
“He said Richard tried to stop Vale.”
Caroline stopped breathing.
“Do you have it?”
“Yes.”
“Can I hear it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if I give you everything, you’ll do what rich families always do.”
“What’s that?”
“Protect yourselves.”
Caroline’s voice lowered.
“I bought my father’s debt.”
Emily almost smiled.
“That got my attention.”
“What happens in forty-eight hours?”
Emily looked toward the broken stained-glass windows.
“Marcus Vale is coming back to Charlotte.”
Caroline stared.
“Where has he been?”
“Closer than you think.”
“And what does he want?”
Emily met her eyes.
“Something your father has without knowing he has it.”
“What?”
“The original Trent evidence.”
“I thought your father gave it away.”
“He did.”
“To whom?”
Emily looked at Caroline for several seconds.
May you like
Then said one word.
“Diane.”
