Chapter 6 - The Man in the Photograph
The unknown man was named Thomas Vale.
At least according to the writing on another photograph.
Nobody in the family admitted knowing him.
Victoria claimed she had never seen him.
Marlene claimed the same.
Lucas simply looked confused.
Emily did not believe her mother.
The photograph had been taken approximately seventeen years earlier.
Charles stood beside Victoria outside a financial office.
Thomas Vale stood between them.
He was tall, gray-haired even then, wearing a dark suit and a small circular pin on his lapel.
Behind them was a sign:
Meridian Trust Services.
Alexander saw it too.
His expression changed.
“What?” Emily asked.
He took the photograph.
“That company doesn’t exist anymore.”
“You know it?”
“My father did.”
Emily stared.
Alexander looked at Grant.
Grant nodded slowly.
“Meridian Trust Services collapsed after a regulatory investigation fourteen years ago.”
Victoria turned pale again.
Lucas noticed.
“Mom?”
She walked toward the window.
One investigator, Detective Elaine Porter, placed her notebook on the table.
“Mrs. Carter, perhaps now would be a good time to explain why your daughter’s trust was managed by Meridian.”
Victoria said nothing.
Porter continued.
“Or why Thomas Vale appears on authorization records involving at least four withdrawals.”
Marlene sat down hard.
Emily looked at her aunt.
“You know him.”
Marlene shook her head too quickly.
Alexander turned toward Emily.
“Thomas Vale was a private wealth manager.”
“Was?”
“He disappeared after Meridian collapsed.”
“Disappeared?”
“According to regulators, yes.”
Porter corrected him.
“Until six weeks ago.”
Everyone looked at her.
She opened a tablet.
A surveillance photograph appeared.
Thomas Vale.
Older.
He was walking into a bank in Delaware.
Emily felt cold.
“He’s alive.”
Porter nodded.
“And using another name.”
Victoria whispered something.
Emily barely heard it.
“What?”
Victoria looked at the photograph.
“Impossible.”
Porter’s attention sharpened.
“Why impossible?”
Victoria realized the mistake.
“I meant… after so many years.”
Emily stepped toward her.
“You knew he disappeared.”
“No.”
“You just said it was impossible.”
“Emily.”
“What happened?”
Victoria finally looked at her daughter.
For one moment, the cruelty vanished.
In its place was something much more frightening.
Fear.
“Your father trusted the wrong people.”
“Thomas Vale?”
Victoria looked toward Alexander.
Then at the investigators.
“I want an attorney.”
Porter nodded.
“That’s your right.”
The interview ended.
But the wedding problem remained.
Guests would arrive the next morning.
Caterers were waiting.
Musicians had traveled from another state.
Flowers were already arranged.
Sophia stood alone on the terrace as the sun began falling.
Emily found her there.
“Have you decided?”
Sophia watched workers carrying chairs across the lawn.
“I spent fourteen months planning tomorrow.”
Emily said nothing.
“I imagined walking down those steps a thousand times.”
“You still can.”
Sophia laughed sadly.
“To a man who let his mother steal millions from his sister?”
“He says he didn’t know.”
“Do you believe him?”
Emily considered.
“Yes.”
Sophia turned.
“Really?”
“I think Lucas has been weak. I think he’s been selfish. I think he’s allowed Mom to control him because being the favorite was easier than questioning anything.”
Emily looked toward the library windows.
“But I don’t think he knew.”
Sophia’s eyes filled.
“That almost makes it worse.”
Emily understood.
Ignorance did not erase cowardice.
Behind them, footsteps approached.
Lucas.
He stopped several feet away.
“Sophia.”
She did not turn.
“I called the officiant,” he said.
Emily glanced at him.
Lucas’s eyes were red.
“I told him tomorrow might not happen.”
Sophia finally faced him.
He swallowed.
“And I called every vendor personally. I told them if the wedding is canceled, none of this is Emily’s fault.”
Emily was surprised.
Lucas continued.
“I also told investigators they can have access to my accounts.”
Sophia studied him.
“And your mother?”
Lucas looked toward the library.
“I’m done protecting her.”
Sophia’s expression softened slightly.
Not forgiveness.
Possibility.
Then Alexander stepped outside.
“Emily.”
Something in his tone made her turn.
“What happened?”
He held his phone.
“We found Thomas Vale.”
Porter came behind him.
“He boarded a flight two hours ago.”
“To where?”
May you like
Alexander looked directly at Emily.
“Here.”
