Chapter 13 - Daniel’s Final Bargain
The bullet struck the wooden frame, not Daniel.
By the time private security reached the property, the black vehicle had disappeared.
Daniel was brought inside with his hands restrained.
Karen refused to remove them.
“You have five minutes,” she said.
Daniel sat across from her in Arthur’s study.
Lily remained upstairs with Margaret.
“You were working with Arthur,” Karen began.
Daniel nodded.
“Six years ago, Arthur discovered someone was buying debt connected to Westbrook suppliers. The purchases appeared random, but together they could force the company into a liquidity crisis.”
“Victor?”
“That’s what Arthur believed.”
“Did you see him?”
“No.”
“Then why are you certain he is alive?”
Daniel placed the torn ledger pages on the desk.
The payments listed under Northstar ended at a company named Vesper Management.
The signature authorizing the final transfer belonged to Victor Westbrook.
Karen examined it.
“A signature can be forged.”
“Arthur verified it.”
“Arthur died before the final payment.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Arthur did not die on the date you believe.”
Karen became still.
Daniel continued.
“The heart attack was real, but he survived the first night. He asked the hospital to report him dead because someone had already attempted to alter his medication.”
Karen stood so quickly that the chair struck the wall.
“You are lying.”
“I was there.”
“I saw his body.”
“You saw a body prepared by a private medical team.”
Karen crossed the desk and grabbed Daniel’s collar.
“You let me bury a stranger?”
“Arthur ordered it.”
“You let Elena believe her father was dead.”
“He said it was the only way to draw Victor out.”
Karen released him.
Her hands shook.
“How long did Arthur live?”
“Fourteen days.”
The final ledger entry.
Two weeks after the funeral.
Karen turned away.
All the grief she had carried for five years changed shape inside her.
“Where did he die?”
“At the old Westbrook distribution center.”
“Who was with him?”
“I was.”
“What happened?”
Daniel looked down.
“Victor never came. But someone else did.”
“Who?”
“I didn’t see the person’s face.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“The building lost power. Arthur told me to take the ledger and run. I heard a struggle. When I returned, he was gone.”
“Gone?”
“There was blood, but no body.”
Karen stared at him.
“So Arthur may still be alive.”
“I searched for two years.”
“That is not an answer.”
“No. I never found him.”
Karen looked toward the broken window.
“Why help Julian?”
“Because Northstar contacted me eighteen months ago. They knew about the hidden ledger. They knew Arthur had chosen Elena as the final beneficiary. They threatened to expose the false death certificate and destroy the company.”
“So you handed them the company instead.”
“I built a structure that looked like theft. Julian believed he would own everything. Northstar believed the funds were moving toward them.”
“Where did they actually go?”
“Into protected holding accounts.”
Karen remembered the twenty-nine million dollars already frozen.
“And the missing eleven million?”
Daniel’s face tightened.
“Northstar intercepted it.”
“Who controls Northstar?”
“I don’t know.”
“Victor?”
“Maybe.”
Karen laughed without humor.
“You destroyed Elena’s life for eighteen months based on maybe.”
“I kept Julian close because Northstar chose him.”
“Why?”
“Because he was greedy, insecure, and easy to manipulate.”
“You let him control my daughter.”
“I did not know what he was doing inside the house.”
“You knew enough.”
Daniel lowered his head.
“Yes.”
Karen returned to her chair.
The betrayal remained unforgivable, even if some of his story was true.
“What is the second answer beneath the company?”
Daniel looked up.
“You found Arthur’s letter.”
“What is beneath Westbrook Holdings?”
“The original building has a lower archive level. Arthur sealed it before his death.”
“And the third answer buried beneath his name?”
“I don’t know.”
Karen studied him.
“Why come here?”
“Because Northstar ordered me to kill Julian before he could speak.”
“Did you intend to?”
“No.”
“Why should I believe you?”
Daniel nodded toward the broken window.
“Because they tried to kill me instead.”
Margaret entered.
“The forensic team opened Julian’s ring.”
She placed a tablet on the desk.
The storage chip contained photographs, account numbers, and audio messages sent to Julian.
One message was dated the morning of Karen’s return.
A distorted voice said, “Keep Karen inside the villa until the transfer is complete. Daniel will become unnecessary afterward.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Karen played the message again.
Beneath the distortion was a faint sound.
Church bells.
Elena had heard the same bells every morning while attending school as a child.
May you like
They belonged to Saint Arthur’s Chapel.
The chapel stood beside the original Westbrook company building.
